CANTON, OHIO – For the second time in two years, thanks to the generosity of New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, a group of Pro Football Hall of Famers, are traveling through Israel.
Eighteen Hall of Famers, and their spouses or guests, are participating in the weeklong "Touchdown in Israel II". The group of football legends are accompanying Kraft on the ambassador trip to Israel. The Hall of Famers will experience the culture and history of Israel and participate in special football events showcasing the growth of the game in the country.
Pro Football Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker is also traveling on the trip that aligns with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Mission is to "Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE."
"Touchdown in Israel II" provides the football greats an opportunity to witness the growth of the game in Israel, experience a journey through the historic country, and provide inspiration through the focus on values learned from the game.
Israeli football fans and youth players will engage with the 18 Gold Jackets, a term used to describe living members of the Hall, during scheduled events. The programs were created for the Gold Jackets to provide inspiration to future generations of fans in Israel by sharing stories from their legendary careers and by illustrating how they applied values learned from the game – commitment, integrity, courage, respect and excellence – to their lives after football.
The following Pro Football Hall of Famers are participating in "Touchdown in Israel II"
LEM BARNEY
Enshrined in 1992(Jackson State) Cornerback 6-0, 1881967-1977 Detroit Lions
Lemuel Jackson Barney ... Second-round draft pick, 1967 ... NFL interception co-leader, defensive Rookie of Year, 1967... Fifth cornerback to enter Hall ... Returned kicks, emergency punter ... Career record: 1,077 yards on 56 interceptions, 1,312 yards on
punt returns, 1,274 yards on kickoff returns ... Scored 11 career touchdowns ... In seven Pro Bowls, All-NFL/NFC four times ... Born September 8, 1945, in Gulfport, Mississippi.
JEROME BETTIS
Enshrined in 2015(Notre Dame) Running Back 5-11, 2431993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Jerome Abram Bettis … Selected by Rams in 1st round (10th player overall) in 1993 … Earned Rookie of Year honors ... Finished second in rushing, third in total yards from scrimmage first season ... Leading rusher for Rams three seasons, Steelers eight times … Eight 1,000-plus yard seasons tied for third-best in NFL history at retirement … His 13,662 ranked fifth all-time in career rushing yards … Six Pro Bowls … All-Pro: 1993, 1996; All-Pro second-team 1997 … Born February 16, 1972 in Detroit, Michigan.
JIM BROWN
Enshrined in 1971(Syracuse) Fullback 6-2, 2321957-1965 Cleveland Browns
James Nathaniel Brown ... Syracuse All-American, 1956 ... Browns' No. 1 draft pick, 1957 ... Awesome runner, led NFL rushers eight years ... All-NFL eight of nine years ... NFL's Most Valuable Player, 1957, 1958 and 1965 ... Rookie of the Year, 1957 ... Played
in nine straight Pro Bowls ... Career marks: 12,312 yards rushing, 262 receptions, 15,459 combined net yards, 756 points scored ... Born February 17, 1936, in St. Simons, Georgia.
CRIS CARTER
Enshrined in 2013(Ohio State) Wide Receiver 6-3, 2021987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Christopher Darin Carter ... Fourth round pick by Philadelphia in the 1987 Supplemental Draft ... Durable, played full 16-game schedule 13 of 16 seasons ... Recorded eight straight 1,000-yard seasons ... Caught 70-plus passes in 10 seasons ... Scored 130 career touchdowns, amassed 1,101 receptions - both second most ever at time of retirement ... Had 100-yard receiving games 42 times ... Selected to eight Pro Bowls (1994-2001) ...
Named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s ... Born November 25, 1965, in Troy, Ohio.
DAVE CASPER
Enshrined in 2002(Notre Dame) Tight End 6-4, 2401974-1980/1984 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1980-83 Houston Oilers, 1983 Minnesota Vikings
David John Casper ... Raiders' second-round draft pick, 1974 ... Nicknamed "The Ghost," earned starting tight end spot in 1976, finished season with impressive 53 catches for 691 yards, 10 touchdowns ... Named All-Pro and All-AFC four consecutive years, 1976-1979 ... Outstanding blocker as well as receiver ... Career record: 378 receptions, 5,216 yards, 52 touchdowns ... Named to five Pro Bowls ... Born February 2, 1952 in Bemidji, Minnesota.
ERIC DICKERSON
Enshrined in 1999(Southern Methodist) Running Back 6-3, 2201983-87 Los Angeles Rams, 1987-1991 Indianapolis Colts, 1992 Los Angeles Raiders, 1993 Atlanta Falcons
Eric Demetric Dickerson ... Rams' first-round draft pick, second player overall, 1983 draft ... Rushed for NFL-record 2,105 yards, 1984 ... Gained 1,800 or more rushing yards three of first four seasons ... Retired as the second all-time leading rusher
with 13,259 yards on 2,996 carries ... Named to six Pro Bowls ... All-Pro five times ... Led the league in rushing three times with Rams, once with Colts ... Born September 2, 1960, in Sealy, Texas.
MARSHALL FAULK
Enshrined in 2011(San Diego State) Running Back 5-10, 2081994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams
Marshall William Faulk ... Colts' first-round pick (second player overall), 1994 … Rushed for 143 yards, scored three touchdowns in rookie debut … Rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of first eight seasons … Second in NFL history to eclipse 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and receiving in same season, set then-record for yards from scrimmage (2,429), 1999 … NFL's MVP, 2000 … First player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage four straight seasons (1998-2001) … Born February 26, 1973 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
JOE GREENE
Enshrined in 1987(North Texas State) Defensive Tackle 6-4, 2751969-1981 Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles Edward Greene ... Consensus All-American, 1968 ... No. 1 draft pick, 1969 ... Became "cornerstone of franchise" that dominated the NFL in 1970s ... Exceptional team leader, possessed size, speed, quickness, strength, determination ... NFL
Defensive Player of Year, 1972, 1974 ... All-Pro or All-AFC nine years ... Played in four Super Bowls, six AFC title games, 10 Pro Bowls ... Born September 24, 1946, in Temple, Texas.
WILLIE LANIER
Enshrined in 1986(Morgan State) Linebacker 6-1, 2451967-1977 Kansas City Chiefs
Willie Edward Lanier ... Chiefs' No. 2 pick, 1967 draft ... Fast, agile, quick-thinking, anchor of Kansas City's vaunted defense ... Nicknamed "Contact" because of ferocious tackling ... Durable, missed only one game his last 10 years ... Intercepted 27 passes
for 440 yards, two TDs ... Defensive star in Super Bowl IV upset ... All-AFL/AFC eight times ... Elected to two AFL All-Star games, six AFC-NFC Pro Bowls ... Born August 21, 1945, in Clover, Virginia.
JOE MONTANA
Enshrined in 2000(Notre Dame) Quarterback 6-2, 200 1979-1992 San Francisco 49ers, 1993-94 Kansas City Chiefs
Joseph Clifford Montana ... Third round draft pick, 1979 ... Master of come-from-behind victories ... Led 49ers to four Super Bowl wins ... Named Super Bowl MVP three times ... Orchestrated 92-yard winning drive in closing seconds, Super Bowl XXIII... All-NFL three times, All-NFC five times ... Missed entire 1991 season with injury ... Selected to eight Pro Bowls ... Career statistics: 3,409 completions, 40,551 yards, 273 TDs, 92.3 passer rating ... Born June 11, 1956, in New Eagle, Pennsylvania.
ANDRE REED
Enshrined in 2014(Kutztown) Wide Receiver 6-2, 1901985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Andre Darnell Reed ... Fourth round pick by Buffalo, 1985 ... Most prolific receiver in Bills history, 941 receptions are 266 more than number two on that list ... Amassed 13,198 career receiving yards ... Known for his "yards after catch," ... His 951 career receptions third all-time at the time of his retirement ... His 13 seasons with 50-plus receptions exceeded only by Jerry Rice ... All-AFC four times ... Seven Pro Bowls ... Born January 29, 1964 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
MIKE SINGLETARY
Enshrined in 1998(Baylor) Linebacker 6-0, 2301981-1992 Chicago Bears
Michael Singletary ... Bears' second-round draft pick, 1981 ... Finished as team's first or second leading tackler each of last 11 seasons ... Career statistics: 1488 tackles (885 solo), 51 passes defensed, 12 fumble recoveries, 7 interceptions ... All-Pro eight times, 1983-1989, 1991 ... All-NFC selection nine straight years, 1983-1991 ... Selected
to ten consecutive Pro Bowls ... Defensive Player of the Year, 1985, 1988 ... Born October 9, 1958, in Houston, Texas.
BRUCE SMITH
Enshrined in 2009(Virginia Tech) Defensive End 6-4, 2801985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington Redskins
Bruce Bernard Smith ... Bills' first-round draft pick (1st player overall), 1985 NFL Draft ... Considered one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history ... His 200 career sacks is NFL all-time record ... Recorded 10 or more sacks in an NFL record 13
seasons ... NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1990 and 1996 ... Named to NFL's All-Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s ... First- or second-team All-Pro 11 times ... Selected to 11 Pro Bowls ... Born June 18, 1963 in Norfolk, Virginia.
JOHN STALLWORTH
Enshrined in 2002(Alabama A&M) Wide Receiver 6-2, 1911974-1987 Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnny Lee Stallworth ... Steelers' fourth-round draft pick, 1974 ... Played in six AFC championship games, four Super Bowls ... Scored winning TD on 73-yard reception, Super Bowl XIV ... Career statistics: 537 receptions for 8,723 yards, 63 TDs ... All-Pro, 1979 ... All-AFC, 1979, 1984 ... Played in four Pro Bowl games ... Two-time Steelers MVP ... Born July 15, 1952, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
ROGER STAUBACH
Enshrined in 1985(New Mexico Military Institute, Navy) Quarterback 6-3, 1971969-1979 Dallas Cowboys
Roger Thomas Staubach ... 1963 Heisman Trophy winner ... Four-year Navy service preceded pro play ... Noted for last-minute heroics, guided Dallas to four NFC titles, Super Bowl VI, XII wins ... MVP in Super Bowl VI ... All-NFC five years ... Career stats:
22,700 yards, 153 TDs passing; 2,264 yards, 20 TDs rushing ... 83.4 NFL passer rating best ever at time of retirement ... Four-time NFL passing leader ... Born February 5, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
ANDRE TIPPETT
Enshrined in 2008(Iowa, Ellsworth [IA] Junior College) Linebacker 6-3, 2401982-1993 New England Patriots
Andre Bernard Tippett ... Patriots' second round pick, 1982 ... Established team record 18.5 sacks, 1984 ... Led AFC with 16.5 sacks, named AFC Defensive Player of the Year during Patriots Super Bowl season, 1985 ... Recorded AFC-leading 12.5 sacks, 1987 ... At time of retirement, held team marks for career sacks, sacks in a season, opponent fumbles recovered ... Five straight Pro Bowls ... Named to NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s ... Born December 27, 1959 in Birmingham, Alabama.
AENEAS WILLIAMS
Enshrined in 2014(Southern University) Cornerback-Free Safety 5-11, 1941991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
Aeneas Demetrius Williams ... Cardinals' 3rd round pick, 1991 … Starred at cornerback for 12 seasons before switching to safety … Named to Pro Bowlseven times as CB, once as S … First career interception came in NFL debut … Five or more picks in a season six times … Recorded 55 interceptions for 807 yards, 9 TDs … Then-record 104-yard fumble return vs. Redskins, 2000 … Selected to NFL's All-Decade Team 1990s … Born January 29, 1968 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
RON YARY
Enshrined in 2001(Cerritos Junior College, Southern California) Tackle 6-5, 2551968-1981 Minnesota Vikings, 1982 Los Angeles Rams
Anthony Ronald Yary ... First player selected overall, 1968 draft ... Possessed speed, agility, hard-work ethic ... Extremely durable, missed only two games in career due to injury ... Became regular starter at right tackle in second season ... All-Pro six straight seasons, 1971-76 ... All-NFC eight straight years, 1970-77 ... Played in seven Pro Bowls ... Started in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, XI and five NFL/NFC championship games ... Born July 16, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois.
In 2015, Kraft led 19 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame took part in a week-long tour of Israel in a historic trip called "Touchdown in Israel: Mission of Excellence."
