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 Saturday, January 29
Hall of Fame thumbnails
 
 ATLANTA (AP) -- Thumbnail sketches of those elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday:

Howie Long
Defensive end ... 1981-93 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders ... Raiders' No. 2 pick (48th overall) of 1981 draft ... Moved into starting role beginning in fifth game of strike-shortened 1982 season ... Had career-best 13 sacks in 1983 with five in one game vs. Redskins ... Recorded 84 career sacks, not including 7.5 sacks in 1981 before sack was an official NFL stat ... Named NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year by NFL Alumni, 1984 when he had 58 tackles, 12 sacks, and nine passes defensed ... Named NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year by national fan vote, 1986 ... Missed much of 1988 season due to injury ... All-Pro three times, 1983, 1984, 1985 ... Second team All-Pro 1983, 1986, 1989 ... All-AFC four times, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 ... Selected to eight Pro Bowls, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994.

Ronnie Lott
Safety ... 1981-90 San Francisco 49ers, 1991-92 Los Angeles Raiders, 1993-94 New York Jets ... Selected by San Francisco in first round (eighth player overall) of 1981 NFL draft ... Starting left cornerback as a rookie and finished second in Rookie of the Year balloting ... Switched to safety in 1985 ... A hard-hitting versatile player, Lott was used at both left and right cornerback positions and as a free and strong safety during his career ... Earned All-Pro honors eight times and at three different positions _ cornerback, free safety, and strong safety ... Recorded 100-plus tackles in five seasons ... Led the NFL in interceptions twice _ 10 in 1986 and eight in 1991 ... Was the driving force on defense during 49ers' four Super Bowl seasons ... His nine postseason interceptions are an NFL record ... A complete player, he amassed 1,161 tackles, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, 8.5 sacks, 170 passes defensed, and five touchdowns.

Joe Montana
Quarterback... 1979-92 San Francisco 49ers (injured 1991), 1993-94 Kansas City Chiefs ... Selected by the 49ers in the third round (82nd player overall) of the 1979 NFL draft ... Master of late-game come-from-behind wins, Montana directed 31 fourth-quarter comebacks in his career ... Led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was named game's MVP in Super Bowls XVI, XIX, and XXIV ... Orchestrated 92-yard winning drive in closing seconds of Super Bowl XXIII ... Named All-NFL three times and All-NFC five times ... His eight Pro Bowl bids is an NFL record for a quarterback ... Led the NFL in passing in 1987 and 1989 ... In 1994, became just the fifth quarterback to pass for more than 40,000 yards in a career ... At time of retirement, he ranked fourth in career passing yardage (40,551), attempts (5,391), and passing touchdowns (273) ... His 3,409 completions ranked third all-time, and his career passer rating of 92.3 still ranks second all-time.

Dan Rooney
Contributor ... 1955-present Pittsburgh Steelers ... Has spent 45 years in various capacities with family-owned Steelers ... Appointed team president in 1975 and has implemented a philosophy and management style that emphasizes open, practical and efficient management ... The oldest son of Steelers founder Art Rooney ... Has been an integral part of one of the modern-eras most successful franchises ... Team played in Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV, and XXX, winning IX, X, XIII, and XIV ... A central figure in NFL operations over the last two decades ... Has served on the board of directors for the NFL Trust Fund, NFL Films, and the Scheduling Committee ... Chairman of the 1973 NFL Expansion Committee that added Seattle and Tampa Bay franchises ... Chairman of the NFL's 1976 Negotiating Committee ... Serves on Hall of Fame Committee, Management Council Executive Committee, NFL Properties Committee, and the Player/Club Operations.<

Dave Wilcox
Linebacker ... 1964-74 San Francisco 49ers ... Selected by San Francisco in third round (29th player overall) of 1964 NFL draft and by Houston Oilers in sixth round (46th player overall) in 1964 AFL draft ... Coaches nicknamed him "The Intimidator" for his aggressive style of play ... Intercepted 14 passes during career ... Was particularly effective at keeping tight ends from getting off the line ... Prided himself at not allowing opponents to block him ... In 1973, he recorded 104 solo tackles, four forced fumbles, and dropped ball carriers for a loss 13 times ... Considered by many to be finest outside linebacker of his day, was named All-NFL in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 ... All-NFC in 1971, 1972, 1973 ... Seven times he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl.

 


ALSO SEE
49ers' Montana, Lott head Canton's Class of 2000

Ratto: Striking gold in Canton

Long humbled by election to prestigious class

Hall of Fame members