Black College Football Hall of Fame

The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF)[1] is an American hall of fame for college football players, coaches and contributors from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It was founded in 2009 in Atlanta, centrally located to many of the country's black universities.[2] Its museum is located within the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.[3] Players are eligible for induction if they played at least two seasons at an HBCU and finished their college career at an HBCU. They can be nominated five years after their last college season. Any current or former head coach of an HBCU is eligible. Anyone can be nominated as a contributor.[4]

Black College Football Hall of Fame
Established2009 in Atlanta
LocationPro Football Hall of Fame
Canton, Ohio
TypeHall of fame
FounderJames "Shack" Harris & Doug Williams
Websitewww.blackcollegefootballhof.org

History

The BCFHOF was co-founded by James Harris and Doug Williams, former quarterbacks who both played football at the historically black university Grambling State University before playing professionally.[5][6][7] As a rookie with the Buffalo Bills in 1969, Harris become the first black quarterback to be the starter in a season opener in either the American Football League or the National Football League (NFL). Williams was the first black quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, starting for the Washington Redskins and winning Super Bowl XXII while being named the Super Bowl MVP.[6]

At its inception in 2009, the BCFHOF did not have a building.[2] Its induction ceremonies and educational programs were held at various hotels in Atlanta.[8] In 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that it was providing a permanent home for the BCFHOF.[9] The exhibit officially opened in 2019, held on the same weekend as the inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.[1][8][10] The BCFHOF continues to run independently with its board of directors and choosing its inductees.[11]

In 2021, the BCFHOF partnered with the NFL, Pro Football Hall of Fame and Tulane University to establish the HBCU Legacy Bowl, a postseason all-star game for NFL Draft-eligible players from HBCUs.[12][13]

Mel Blount
Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson
Deacon Jones
Larry Little
Steve McNair
Walter Payton
Jerry Rice
Shannon Sharpe
John Stallworth
Doug Williams
Inductees[14]
Name Role Year
Cleveland AbbottCoach2012
Coy BaconPlayer2021
Willard BaileyCoach2021
Earl BanksCoach2011
Lem BarneyPlayer2011
Elvin BetheaPlayer2013
Mel BlountPlayer2011
Emerson BoozerPlayer2019
Charlie BrackinsPlayer2013
Robert BrazilePlayer2014
Roger BrownPlayer2015
Rosey BrownPlayer2011
Willie BrownPlayer2012
Buck BuchananPlayer2010
Ken BurroughPlayer2016
Harold CarmichaelPlayer2018
Harry CarsonPlayer2012
Marino CasemPlayer2014
Raymond ChesterPlayer2018
Ben CoatesPlayer2022*
Greg ColemanPlayer2021
Willie DavisPlayer2011
Richard DentPlayer2015
Eldridge DickeyPlayer2012
Parnell DickinsonPlayer2017
Hugh DouglasPlayer2019
Donald DriverPlayer2022*
Jake GaitherCoach2010
Willie GalimorePlayer2010
Jimmie GilesPlayer2021
Joe GilliamPlayer2013
W. C. GordenCoach2015
Jackie GravesContributor[lower-alpha 1]2012
L. C. GreenwoodPlayer2015
James "Shack" HarrisPlayer2012
Earl "Air" HarveyPlayer[lower-alpha 2]2020
Bill HayesCoach2018
Bob HayesCoach2011
Thomas HendersonPlayer2018
Winston HillPlayer2021
Ken HoustonPlayer2013
Claude HumphreyPlayer2012
James HunterPlayer2020
Harold JacksonPlayer2017
Rich JacksonPlayer2019
Willie JeffriesCoach2011
Billy JoeCoach2017
Gary "Big Hands" JohnsonPlayer2017
Charlie JoinerPlayer2013
Deacon JonesPlayer2010
Ed "Too Tall" JonesPlayer2013
Leroy KellyPlayer2014
Joe KendallPlayer2011
Ernie LaddPlayer2015
Willie LanierPlayer2010
Frank LewisPlayer2019
Leo LewisPlayer2018
Larry LittlePlayer2013
Greg LloydPlayer2018
Robert MathisPlayer2020
Steve McNairPlayer2012
John MerrittCoach2013
John "Big Train" MoodyPlayer2022*
Ace MumfordCoach2019
Roscoe NanceContributor2022*
Charlie NealContributor[lower-alpha 3]2013
Timmy NewsomePlayer2019
Nate NewtonPlayer2022*
Collie J. NicholsonContributor[lower-alpha 4]2011
Billy NicksCoach2022*
Bill NunnContributor2010
Walter PaytonPlayer2010
Robert PorcherPlayer2017
Jethro PughPlayer2016
Jerry RicePlayer2010
Willie RichardsonPlayer2012
Ken RileyPlayer2015
Isiah RobertsonPlayer2017
Eddie RobinsonCoach2010
Johnny SamplePlayer2012
Shannon SharpePlayer2013
Art ShellPlayer2011
Donnie ShellPlayer2015
Jackie SlaterPlayer2013
John StallworthPlayer2014
Ben StevensonPlayer2010
Michael StrahanPlayer2014
Joe TaylorCoach2020
John TaylorPlayer2019
Otis TaylorPlayer2016
Dennis ThomasContributor[lower-alpha 5]2020
Emmitt ThomasPlayer2016
Willie TottenPlayer2014
Everson WallsPlayer2018
Lloyd C. A. WellsContributor2016
Sammy WhitePlayer2022*
Doug WilkersonPlayer2014
Aeneas WilliamsPlayer2016
Doug WilliamsPlayer2011
Erik WilliamsPlayer2020
Rayfield WrightPlayer2012
Roynell YoungPlayer2021
Paul "Tank" YoungerPlayer2010

* Induction scheduled for June 18, 2022[15]

See also

Notes
  1. Director of personnel and scout for the Philadelphia Eagles
  2. Quarterback at North Carolina Central University (1985–1988)
  3. Broadcaster and commentator for Black college football
  4. Sports information director at Grambling State University
  5. Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; athletic director at Hampton University

References
  1. "Black College Football Hall of Fame". ProFootballHOF.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  2. Stafford, Leon (August 11, 2012). "Black football hall to honor unsung stars". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. Tomasson, Chris (November 20, 2020). "Ex-Vikings punter and 'pioneer' Greg Coleman humbled by selection to Black College Football Hall of Fame". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  4. "Selection Crieria". BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. Balint, Ed (August 29, 2019). "Football pioneer honors history of black colleges". CantonRep.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  6. Brady, Erik (August 28, 2019). "The QB and the ball boy: A Hall of Fame friendship forged with the Bills". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020.
  7. Clay, Gregory (May 27, 2016). "Black College Football Hall of Fame gets permanent home". The Undefeated. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  8. Strickland, Ray (September 1, 2019). "Pro Football Hall of Fame unveils exhibit honoring historically black college & university legends". WKYC.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  9. "Black College Football Hall to find home in Canton, Ohio". Pittsburg Courier. May 20, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  10. Bona, Marc (August 31, 2019). "Why is the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic important?". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  11. Doerschuk, Steve (May 12, 2016). "Black College Football Hall of Fame moving to Canton, Hall of Fame Village". The Columbus Dispatch.
  12. "HBCU Legacy Bowl debuts in Louisiana next year". WBRZ.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  13. "Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces Establishment of the HBCU Legacy Bowl" (Press release). Black College Football Hall of Fame. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  14. "All Inductees". BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  15. Ledbetter, D. Orlando (January 5, 2022). "Morris Brown has two going into Black College Football Hall of Fame". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
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