Today, ESPN commentators Jerome Bettis and Bill Polian were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bettis, who rushed for 13,662 yards in his career – sixth best in NFL history, and Polian, a six-time National Football League Executive of the Year, will be enshrined with the Class of 2015.
ESPN’s executive vice president of programming and production John Wildhack and commentators Chris Berman and Chris Mortensen offer their thoughts on today’s announcement:
John Wildhack: “Jerome and Bill are Super Bowl champions who brought success to their teams and an unrivaled professionalism to the NFL with the way they approached their jobs. Both are so deserving of this honor and ESPN is proud to have these Hall of Famers on our NFL team. We look forward to carrying their enshrinement in August.”
Chris Berman: “Nobody has ever handled all levels of football administration better than Bill Polian. And maybe more important than that, he does it with a smile and a love for football that’s been evident every year he’s been involved with the game. I’ve known Bill since the ‘80’s. He’s all about football. He’s all about getting it right. And his record of building three teams to championship-caliber speaks for itself. I’m elated that Bill Polian is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many of us have known that he’s been a Hall of Famer for a long time.”
Chris Mortensen: “From almost the first day I met Bill Polian 30 years ago at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, I knew he was a scout’s scout who was as passionate, intelligent and tenaciously competitive as any I have encountered in the NFL. Bill has educated many with his thoughtful evaluations of players, as well as his insights on coaches and league issues. His personnel career is highlighted by making the big decisions on players who now welcome him as a fellow Hall of Famer and those who will follow him into this elite fraternity in the future. Like so many Hall of Famers, Bill meets the criteria that you can’t write the history of the NFL without him. It is a good day for Bill and Eileen Polian, but even a better day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
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