By Darin “It doesn’t come as a complete surprise, because there’s been so much talk about it lately. A lot of people around the country sent me a clipping of a story which listed me as one of those under consideration. The story kind of prepared me for it.” ~ Bronko Nagurski, at the age of 54 after it was announced that he would be a charter enshrinee of the new Pro Football Hall of Fame on January 29, 1960.
Nagurski still felt that this honor was still behind the time when he was selected as an All-America team for the first time in 1929 as a member of the University of Minnesota Gophers football team.
The Dickinson Press
Wed, Jan 30, 1963 ·Page 5
The Charter Class: Establishing the Pro Football Hall of Fame
On January 29, 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its inaugural “charter class,” a selection of seventeen legends who laid the foundation for professional football in America. This announcement predated the physical opening of the museum in Canton, Ohio, which occurred later that year on September 7.
The Seventeen Immortals
The first class was a prestigious group composed of players, coaches, and foundational executives.
The Eleven Superstar Players: The initial list of players represented the “Golden Era” of the sport, including:
- Jim Thorpe: Often cited as the greatest athlete of the 20th century.
- Harold “Red” Grange: The “Galloping Ghost” who helped legitimize the NFL.
- Sammy Baugh: The revolutionary quarterback and punter for the Redskins.
- Dutch Clark: The versatile triple-threat back of the Lions.
- Don Hutson: The first modern wide receiver for the Packers.
- Mel Hein: The iron-man center for the Giants.
- Johnny “Blood” McNally: The nomadic and eccentric star back.
- Ernie Nevers: The powerhouse back who once scored 40 points in a single game.
- Bronko Nagurski: The legendary bruising fullback and tackle.
- Cal Hubbard: The only man in both the Pro Football and Baseball Halls of Fame.
- Wilbur “Pete” Henry: The dominant tackle of the 1920s.
The Owners, Coaches, and Builders: Beyond the players, the charter class recognized the men who built the leagues:
- Curly Lambeau: Founder, player, and coach of the Green Bay Packers.
- George Preston Marshall: The influential owner of the Washington Redskins.
- Tim Mara: The founder of the New York Giants.
- Bert Bell: Former NFL Commissioner and owner.
- Joe Carr: The NFL President who brought stability to the league’s early years.
The Three-Way Legend: Standing in a category of his own was George Halas. “Papa Bear” was inducted for his unprecedented contributions as a player, a coach, and the founder/owner of the Chicago Bears.
Growth of the Sanctuary
In 1963, the museum opened as a modest two-room structure covering roughly 19,000 square feet. By 2017, reflecting the massive growth of the sport’s popularity, the Hall of Fame had expanded into a massive complex. The facility now consists of five interconnected buildings encompassing more than 118,000 square feet of “pigskin nostalgia,” archives, and interactive exhibits.
