Visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame Website

 

  

Watch a movie about the 2007 season

 

The entire exhibit slowly rotates.

 

  

Peyton Manning's rookie Colts jersey from 1998.  He broke nearly every  rookie season passing record that year, including passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts in a single season.

 

 

Steeler QB and Hall of Famer  Bobby Layne wore this helmet in his final NFL season (1962) as he led the Steelers to a 9 - 5 record.  This was the first time the Steelers used the logo of U.S. Steel on their helmets.   ► Receiver Lance Alworth was the first AFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.  Nicknamed "Bambi" for his smooth, graceful style and leaping ability, he played for the SD Chargers from '62 - '70 and the Cowboys in '71 - '72.  He wore this jersey in his 7th consecutive AFL All-Star game played in 1970 (the last AFL game before the NFL merger) .  ► Hall of Famer DE Doug Atkins' helmet.  He played 17 seasons in the NFL (Browns '53-'54, Bears '55-'66, and Saints '67-'69) and 8 Pro Bowls.

 

 

  

Hall of Famer Fred Dean (SD Chargers '75-'81, 49ers '81-'85) contributed 12 sacks in 11 games as he and his 49'ers went on to win their first Super Bowl (XVI) against the Bengals in 1982.  Before retiring in 1985, he and the 49'ers would win their second Super Bowl of the 1984 season against the Dolphins.  ►Mementos (view larger) commemorating Hall of Famer  Joe Montana's 3 Super Bowl MVP awards; most for any NFL player to date.  He holds Super Bowl passing records for most yards, completions and touch-downs.  ►Hall of Fame SD Charger QB Dan Fouts' jersey worn during his 1979 season when he logged 4,082 yards passing, a then-NFL record. In his career, he had 43,040 yards passing and 254 touchdowns.
 

The San Diego Chargers, charter members for the American Football League (AFL), were located in Los Angeles for their inaugural 1960 season when they used this game ball.  ►This July 30, 1960 preseason game program is from the first ever AFL game in which the Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills, 28-7.  ►Celebrating their 10th anniversary, AFL players wore this commemorative patch on their jerseys during the 1969 season. Click to see all 3 items enlarged.  Exhibit background photo:  The 1961 AFL Denver Broncos (and their jersey.)

 

 

  

On Sept. 8, 1985, Atlanta Falcons WR/Punt returner Billy "White Shoes" Johnson wore this jersey and shoes when he established a new NFL record for career punt return yardage.  Johnson's career record of 3,317 yards was surpassed in 1997 by NE Patriots running back David Meggett.
Billy Johnson  "funky chicken" chex mix promo video
Billy video comments on his "funky chicken" celebration
Johnson Was a Trendsetter

 

The flat-crowned leather football helmet was the helmet of choice in the 1910-1920 era.  ►Goodyear "Silents" 1918 Loving Cup Trophy - A typical example of a pre-NFL factory team, the Silents were unique in that the entire squad was comprised of deaf employees of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. See team photo from Gallaudet University archives.  ►Shoulder pads typical of those worn in pro football's earliest days.

  

Former Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame standout Ozzie Newsome wore this jersey in 1990, his final season.  The "Wizard of Oz" retired as the NFL's all-time leading TE.  ►GB Packer WR Sterling Sharpe's receivers gloves.  He was the 1st receiver in NFL history to record back-to-back 100+ reception seasons (1992-109 catches, 1993-112 catches).  ►For years, rivals often ridiculed GB Packer fans and Wisconsin residents as "cheeseheads."  In 1989, the Packers achieved their first 10 win season since 1972.  Packer fans exclaimed that "the Pack is Back" and began to embrace the state's cheese producing heritage by wearing these foam cheese wedge hats.

 

 

 

Super Bowl 25 Ticket

"Silver Anniversary"

Sunday, Jan. 27, 1991
Tampa Stadium

 

NY Giants  20
Buffalo Bills  19

 

 

  

 

Super Bowl 37 Ticket

 

Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers  48
Oakland Raiders                21

 
     

 

In 1971, when the Mets didn't allow the Jets to play exhibition games in Shea Stadium, the Jets played the Detroit Lions in Tampa.  Joe Namath tried to tackle Mike Lucci, who had recovered a fumble. Namath was blocked by Paul Naumoff and tore his left knee. Broadway Joe was out for 10 games. The Jets played four preseason games in Tampa before the Bucs joined the league.

Hall of Fame listing

  

In 1972 Tampa had no NFL team and would not field the Bucs until 1976.  In 1972,  Carroll Rosenbloom owned the Baltimore Colts and Johnny Unitas was still the QB.  Rosenbloom brought his Colts and Johnny U.  to Tampa, to play three exhibition games at old Tampa Stadium.  Tampa had to guarantee the sale of 26,000 three-game packages. Selling much more, Rosenbloom pledged to Tampa's NFL drive.  Rumors of the Colts moving to Tampa circulated, and  "Don't Tampa with our Colts" bumper stickers began to appear.

 

See the new 2008 shield and the one it replaced.                       Read about the 2008 logo change.

 

 

Super Bowl Rings On Display at the NFL Experience

Click the top level to see the Giants, Colts and Steelers rings close up.

The NFL pays for the cost of 150 rings to the winning team, at roughly $5,000 apiece, depending upon the fluctuating cost of gold and diamonds. The winning team can typically present rings to whomever they choose, including usually, but not limited to: players (active roster or injured), coaches, trainers, executives, personnel, and general staff. Teams can distribute any number of rings, but must pay for any over the 150-ring limit

 

Jewelry companies who want to enter the Super Bowl Ring competition start working with possible designs once they have an idea which teams might be contenders for the title. They don't present the ring designs until after the Super Bowl.  The spending limits don't actually affect the ring designs much, because jewelry companies compete heavily to be chosen as the ring provider, sometimes offering the rings at a heavily discounted price in order to be awarded the prestigious contract.

You can usually tell at first glance which team is depicted on a Super Bowl ring. Sometimes their logo is used, sometimes their colors, often their names. The designs also might include hidden meanings in the number and types of gemstones used or in the arrangement of the stones.  One side of each Super Bowl ring's shank is always adorned with the Super Bowl symbol for that year and the final game score.  Most of the rings were made by Jostens, the same company that makes class rings.  Jostens has created twenty-seven Super Bowl rings.

See close up of Bucs ring

See all 27 of Josten's Super Bowl rings at the Josten website, from the Packers' Super Bowl 1 to the Steelers' Super Bowl 40