As they have done for the past five years, the New England Patriots will not be playing in the Super Bowl. But several former players will be attending tonight’s Super Bowl… Hopefully it will lead to Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Former Patriots Rodney Harrison, Fred Taylor and Steve McMichael are among the 2024 Hall of Fame finalists, announced Thursday night at the NFL Tribute Show at the Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas. Patriots quarterback Jonathan Jones is the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the league’s highest honor off the field.
It’s a far cry from the Patriots’ decades-long dynasty that saw them win six Super Bowls and a postseason berth. New England went 4-13 this year and failed to advance to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2000.The event begins with a red carpet show on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the 2023 contest’s grand prize winner on CBS at 9 p.m. The show is hosted by actor Keegan-Michael Key.
Award presenters include current and former NFL players such as Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Tony Gonzalez, Damar Hamlin, Justin Jefferson, Cam Jordan, Ray Lewis, Micah Parsons and Deion Sanders. Other hosts include soccer player Diana Flores and celebrities Alix Earle and Taraji P. Henson, Issa Ray and Miles Teller.
Harrison, Taylor and McMichael are among the 15 finalists for induction into the Hall of Fame. Patriot Vince Wilfork advanced to the semifinals. While McMichael (6 games in 1980) and Taylor (13 games in 2009-10) only made cameo appearances in Foxborough, Harrison has a resume with the Patriots.
Throughout his career, he has been one of the most feared strong safeties in the NFL. After spending the first nine of his 15 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Harrison joined the Patriots in 2003. He was a key component of the Pats defense that won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 2003 and 2004 (XXXVIII, XXXIX).
His most memorable moment as a Patriot was his interception in Super Bowl XXXIX that ended the final game for the Philadelphia Eagles. Harrison’s leadership qualities were evident when he was named team captain for six seasons with the Pats.Harrison was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro.
He has the distinction of becoming the first player in NFL history (accomplished as a member of the Chargers in 1997) to record an interception return, fumble return and kickoff return all in the same season. As a Patriot, Harrison was at his brightest in the postseason. In the 2004–05 NFL playoffs, he had four interceptions in three games. His seven playoff catches (including a punt return) are a Patriots team record.
On October 21, 2007, Harrison became a founding member of the 30/30 player club with 30 interceptions and 30 sacks (shared only by himself and NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis). He finished his career in 2009 with 1,205 tackles, 34 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. Harrison has the most sacks (30.5) of any defensive player in NFL history.
After his retirement, Patriots coach Bill Belichick called Harrison “one of the best players” he had ever coached. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2019. Taylor is best known for his 11-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But he ended up scoring four goals in his last two seasons in Foxboro. The Patriots drafted McMichael third overall in 1980, but he played 13 years in Chicago and was part of the famous “85 Bears” defense that suffocated the Patriots in Super Bowl XX in 1986.
Earlier this year, Jones received the Ron Burton Community Service Award from the Patriots for his contributions to communities across the country. In January, he made history as the first male ambassador for iPlay Like A Girl, an organization that supports women and girls in STEM fields and sports. Jones also promoted his contribution to the fight against hunger.
Partner with the Auburn Sustenance Project to host a community fundraiser in February and collect food for those in need. Thus, the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation became the food bank agency of East Alabama.
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