On Saturday, August 6, NFL Alumni President and CEO Frank Krauser teamed with Hall of Famer “Bullet” Bill Dudley to kick off  Hall of Fame Weekend 2005. During the Enshrinees Dinner at the Canton (Ohio) Memorial Civic Center, Krauser and Dudley presented gold jackets symbolizing enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Dan Marino, Steve Young and relatives of deceased inductees Benny Friedman and Fritz Pollard. “This was a unique class of inductees because it spans literally the entire history of the NFL,” Krauser said.

Fritz Pollard earned All-America honors at Brown University and served in World War I before joining the Akron Pros (1919) of the newly founded American Professional Football Association, later renamed the National Football League. Pollard led the Pros to an 8-0-3 record and the league’s first championship crown. One of just two African Americans in the new league, Pollard also became the NFL’s first African-American head coach when the Pros named him a player-coach in 1921. The most feared running back of his day, Pollard played and/or coached for the Pros/Indians, Milwaukee Badgers, Hammond Pros and Providence Steam Roller between 1919 and 1926.

Often hailed as the NFL’s first great passer, Benny Friedman set numerous passing records during his career with the Cleveland Bulldogs, Detroit Wolverines, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers (1927-34). A superb runner, passer and kicker, he led the NFL in touchdown passes four consecutive years (1927-30). In 1928, Friedman led the NFL in both rushing touchdowns and touchdown passes, a feat that has never been duplicated.

Dan Marino became the most prolific passer in NFL history during his 17-year tenure with the Miami Dolphins (1983-99). He rewrote the record book with career statistics that include 4,967 pass completions, 8,358 attempts, 61,361 passing yards and 420 touchdowns. Marino followed up his 1983 Rookie of the Year campaign by becoming the first NFL player to pass for 5,000 yards in a season and throwing for a then-record 48 touchdowns. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Marino retired with a record 13 seasons in which he threw for 3,000-yards or more.

A consensus All-American at Brigham Young University, Steve Young played two seasons in the USFL before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984 and the San Francisco 49ers in 1987. Tied with Sammy Baugh as the only players to win six NFL passing titles, Young was voted league MVP twice and was also named MVP of Super Bowl XXIX. An offensive threat throwing and running, Young recorded 232 career passing touchdowns and 43 rushing touchdowns.

“These great athletes were very much products of their times,” Krauser said. “But each also possessed special gifts that enabled him to transcend his era. A result, these four men have earned a rightful spot among the immortals of the game.”

The day following the jacket ceremony, Friedman, Marino, Pollard and Young were officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame during a nationally televised ceremony. “Football Greatest Weekend” was capped with the annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game in which the Chicago Bears beat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 on a preseason telecast of Monday Night Football.