Search By First Name of HOFers
Leroy Kelly
Inducted:
1994
Player Stats
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
202 lb (92 kg)
Born:
May 20, 1942
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Position:
Running back
College:
Morgan State (1960-1963)
Leroy Kelly was one of the most consistent and explosive running backs of the late 1960s, known for his balance, vision, and scoring ability. Born on May 20, 1942, he joined the Cleveland Browns in 1964, initially serving as a backup to the legendary Jim Brown. When Brown retired in 1966, Kelly took over and immediately became one of the league’s top rushers.
Over a 10-year career, he rushed for 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns, earning six consecutive Pro Bowl selections and two NFL rushing titles. Kelly’s blend of speed, agility, and durability made him a cornerstone of the Browns’ offense. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, he remains one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Kelly's Awards and Honors
- NFL champion (1964)
- 4× First-team All-Pro (1966–1968, 1971)
- Second-team All-Pro (1969)
- 6× Pro Bowl (1966–1971)
- 2× NFL rushing yards leader (1967, 1968)
- 3× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1966–1968)
- NFL scoring leader (1968)
- NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
NFL Records
- Succeeded Jim Brown and maintained Cleveland’s dominance in the run game
- Led the NFL in total touchdowns three straight seasons (1966–1968)
- Retired as one of the top 10 all-time rushers of his era
NFL Teams
Cleveland Browns (1964–1973)
NFL Draft:
1964: 8th round, 110th overall pick
Cleveland Browns
Number Worn:
44
NFL Stats
Seasons:
10 (1964–1973)
Games Played:
136
Game Started:
110
Rushing yards:
7,274
Average:
4.2
Rushing touchdowns:
74
Receptions:
190
Receiving yards:
2,281
Receiving touchdowns:
13
Return yards:
2,774
Return touchdowns:
3
Les Richter
Inducted:
2011
Player Stats
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
238 lb (108 kg)
Born:
October 6, 1930
Fresno, California, U.S.
Died:
June 12, 2010
Riverside, California, U.S.
Position:
Linebacker
Guard
Placekicker
College:
California
Les Richter was one of the toughest and most respected linebackers of the 1950s and early 1960s. Born in 1930, he was selected second overall in the 1952 NFL Draft and became the heart of the Los Angeles Rams’ defense for nearly a decade. Known for his physical strength, relentless work ethic, and leadership, Richter played both linebacker and center early in his career, showcasing his versatility and football intelligence.
Over nine seasons, he appeared in 112 consecutive games — never missing one — and earned eight Pro Bowl selections. His impact went beyond statistics; he anchored a defense that defined the Rams’ identity throughout the decade. After retiring from football, Richter continued serving the sport through various executive and motorsport roles. His enduring influence and dedication to the game earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Richter's Awards and Honors
- 4× First-team All-Pro (1955–1958)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (1959, 1960)
- 8× Pro Bowl (1954–1961)
- NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
- Louis Football Ring of Fame
NFL Records
- Played 112 consecutive games without missing one
- One of few players to star on both defense and offense
- Ranked among Rams’ all-time leaders in interceptions for a linebacker
NFL Teams
Los Angeles Rams (1954–1962)
NFL Draft:
1952: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
New York Yanks
Number Worn:
67, 48
NFL Stats
Seasons:
9 (1954–1962)
Games Played:
112
Games Started:
104
Fumble recoveries:
12
Interceptions:
16
Points:
193
Link Lyman
Inducted:
1964
Player Stats
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
233 lb (106 kg)
Born:
November 30, 1898
Table Rock, Nebraska, U.S.
Died:
December 28, 1972
Barstow, California, U.S.
Position:
Offensive tackle
College:
Nebraska
Link Lyman was one of the earliest and most dominant linemen in professional football, helping define the position during the sport’s formative years. Playing primarily for the Chicago Bears under George Halas, Lyman anchored the defensive and offensive lines from the 1920s through the early 1930s.
Known for his combination of size, strength, and intelligence, he was among the first players to use strategic line play rather than pure brute force, pioneering techniques that influenced generations of linemen. Lyman’s consistency and leadership were key to the Bears’ success, contributing to four NFL Championships and establishing Chicago’s reputation for toughness. His ability to control the line of scrimmage and adapt to evolving tactics made him one of the league’s most respected players.
In recognition of his impact on both the game’s strategy and success of early professional football, Link Lyman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 as one of the sport’s true trailblazers.
Lyman's Awards and Records
- 4× NFL champion (1922-1924, 1933)
- 2× First-team All-Pro (1930, 1934)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (1924, 1928, 1931)
- 100 greatest Bears of All-Time
Notable Achievements
- One of the first linemen to use strategic “read and react” techniques
- Key member of early Bears championship teams
- Among the pioneers of professional two-way line play
NFL Teams
Canton Bulldogs (1922–1923)
Cleveland Bulldogs (1924)
Canton Bulldogs (1925)
Frankford Yellow Jackets (1925)
Chicago Bears (1926–1928, 1930–1931, 1933–1934)
Number Worn:
14, 2, 16, 12, 11
NFL Stats
Seasons:
10 (1922–1934)
Games played:
133
Games started:
117
Lou Creekmur
Inducted:
1996
Player Stats
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
246 lb (112 kg)
Born:
January 22, 1927
Hopelawn, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:
July 5, 2009
Tamarac, Florida, U.S.
Position:
Offensive tackle
College:
William & Mary (1944; 1947–1949)
Lou Creekmur was the cornerstone of the Detroit Lions' dominant offensive line in the 1950s. After serving in the Army during WWII, he joined the Lions in 1950 and played every single snap from his rookie season through 1958—a streak of 165 consecutive games.
Versatile and durable, he began as a guard before moving to tackle, earning All-Pro honors six times and Pro Bowl nods eight straight years. Creekmur anchored the line during Detroit’s three NFL championship runs in 1952, 1953, and 1957. Known as "The Spirit," he protected quarterbacks like Bobby Layne and paved the way for powerful rushers like Doak Walker.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Creekmur is remembered as one of the toughest, most reliable linemen in NFL history.
Creekmur's Awards and Records
- 3× NFL champion (1952, 1953, 1957)
- 6× First-team All-Pro (1951–1954, 1956, 1957)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1955, 1958)
- 8× Pro Bowl (1950–1957)
- Pride of the Lions
- Detroit Lions 75th Anniversary Team
- Detroit Lions All-Time Team
- Second-team All-SoCon (1949)
NFL Teams
Detroit Lions (1950–1959)
NFL Draft:
1948: 26th round, 243rd pick
Detroit Lions
Number Worn:
76
NFL Stats
NFL Seasons:
10 (1950–1959)
Games Played:
116
Games Started:
107
Positions:
Offensive Guard (1950–51)
Offensive Tackle (1952–59)
Consecutive Games Played:
165 (1950–58)
Fumble Recoveries:
3
Lou Groza
Inducted:
1974
Player Stats
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
Born:
January 25, 1924
Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S.
Died:
November 29, 2000
Middleburg Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Position:
Offensive tackle
Placekicker
College:
Ohio State
Lou Groza was one of the NFL’s earliest and most versatile stars, known both as a dominant offensive tackle and a pioneering placekicker. Playing his entire career for the Cleveland Browns from 1946 to 1967, Groza helped lead the team to multiple championships in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the NFL.
Nicknamed "The Toe," he was one of the first players to popularize the use of the placekick, revolutionizing scoring in professional football. Groza’s longevity and consistency made him a key figure for the Browns, contributing to their dominance in the 1950s. His strong blocking and reliable kicking helped shape the modern NFL, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Groza's Awards and Honors
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1954)
- 4× NFL champion (1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)
- 4× AAFC champion (1946–1949)
- 4× First-team All-Pro (1952–1955)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1956, 1957)
NFL Records
- NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
- NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL scoring leader (1957)
- Most seasons played with a single team at the time of his retirement
- First offensive lineman to also lead the league in scoring (1957)
- First player in NFL history to be recognized as an elite dual-position athlete
NFL Team
Cleveland Browns (1946–1959; 1961–1967)
Lynn Swann
Inducted:
2001
Player Stats
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Born:
March 7, 1952
Alcoa, Tennessee, U.S.
Position:
Wide receiver
College:
USC (1970–1973)
Lynn Swann was one of the NFL’s most graceful and electrifying wide receivers, elevating the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s with his signature mix of athleticism, body control, and big-game brilliance. Drafted in the first round in 1974, Swann quickly became known for his acrobatic catches, fluid leaping ability, and clutch performances in championship moments. His standout display in Super Bowl X—where he made several spectacular receptions and earned Super Bowl MVP—remains one of the most iconic receiving performances in league history.
Though injuries affected parts of his career, Swann consistently delivered when it mattered most, helping the Steelers capture four Super Bowl titles. His postseason legacy includes numerous highlight-reel plays that became defining images of the NFL’s rise in popularity. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, Swann is remembered as a receiver whose skill, artistry, and timing set a new standard for elegance at the position.
Swann's Awards and Honors
- 4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- Super Bowl MVP (X)
- NFL Man of the Year (1981)
- 3× First-team All-Pro (1975, 1977, 1978)
- 3× Pro Bowl (1975, 1977, 1978)
NFL Records
- NFL receiving touchdowns co-leader (1975)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- Super Bowl X MVP
- First-Team All-Pro (1975)
NFL Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers (1974–1982)
NFL Draft:
1974: 1st round, 21st overall pick
Pittsburgh Steelers
Number Worn:
88
NFL Stats
Seasons:
9 (1974–1982)
Games Played:
116
Game Started:
96
Receptions:
336
Receiving yards:
5,462
Receiving touchdowns:
51
Yards per reception:
16.3
Rushing Yards:
72
Super Bowl champion:
4 (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
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