ESPN and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have extended their long-standing relationship with a new multi-year media rights agreement which will keep the annual Enshrinement ceremony airing on ESPN.
- Coverage of the summer tradition dates back to 1995 for ESPN and the new agreement will ensure the platform’s participation for beyond 30 years.
- The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be honored on Saturday, August 5, at noon ET and includes:
- Ronde Barber (Buccaneers)
- Don Coryell (Cardinals and Chargers)
- Chuck Howley (Bears and Cowboys)
- Joe Klecko (Jets, Colts)
- Darrelle Revis (Jets, Buccaneers, Patriots, Chiefs)
- Ken Riley (Bengals), Joe Thomas (Browns)
- Zach Thomas (Dolphins, Cowboys)
- Demarcus Ware (Cowboys, Broncos)
- For the 23rd year, ESPN’s Chris Berman, who was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2010, will emcee the ceremony. On ESPN, Kevin Negandhi will host the Enshrinement for the first time, alongside analyst Louis Riddick, who returns for his third enshrinement. ESPN Radio will air highlights of the speeches throughout the day.
- ESPN reporters Kimberley Martin, Rich Cimini (Jets) and Jake Trotter (Browns) will be in Canton, Ohio, for the coverage of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Browns and Jets leading into Saturday’s Enshrinement.
- Leading into the festivities, ESPN.com has extensive coverage of the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, including
- A look at each of the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023
- ‘You ever look at a ninja?’: The untold stories of Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas By Jake Trotter
- How Ronde Barber’s iconic pick-six helped spark a franchise and a Hall of Fame induction By Jenna Laine
- How the Dolphins’ Zach Thomas blended humility and fury into a HOF career By Marcel Louis-Jacques
- How the Cowboys’ Superman — DeMarcus Ware — secured Hall of Fame legend status after scary neck injury By Todd Archer
- ‘Revis Island’ resonates long after Darrelle Revis’ Hall of Fame career ended By Rich Cimini
What they’re saying:
- Julie Sobieski, ESPN Senior Vice President of League Programming: “The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement is a special celebration of the game and meaningful recognition for the greats who contributed at the highest level. We look forward to honoring these legends each summer and showcasing the start of another football season. We thank the Hall of Fame for all their collaboration through the years and look forward to continuing the relationship for years to come.”
- Jim Porter, President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: “To realize that ESPN has been at our side for three decades shows the depth of a relationship that I know both sides feel is stronger than ever. We’re pleased to extend our agreement, and we look forward to the next chapters of the stories we will tell together.”