I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning as my husband drove our vehicle into the parking lot of the uniquely shaped building. I practically bounced out of my seat. Wearing my “adventure hat,” a tie-dyed hat from the M&M store I had acquired on our last vacation, I was ready to check off a major bucket list item: We were in Canton, Ohio, and I was going to explore the Pro Football Hall of Fame (HOF).

Before visiting, I knew little of what to expect inside. Immediately, we were greeted by friendly employees and an exhibit which explained the birth of professional American football. Men who represented ten football teams met in an automobile showroom on Sept. 17, 1920, in Canton. When they ran out of chairs, some of them sat on the running boards of Hupmobiles on display. Therefore, the first thing we encountered was a vehicle dubbed “Pro Football’s Most Significant Automobile” Not only am I a football fanatic, but I absolutely love history. The HOF combined both of these passions to provide a wonderful experience for this diehard Chicago Bears fan. The HOF exists to enshrine the best players, coaches, and personalities related to the sport, as well as preserve the history of the sport. The detailed signage on the displays let visitors know the significance of what is being viewed. Throughout the HOF are videos to provide even more background regarding the display. Original footage is used and gives the visitor a feeling of being there for the first time or reminiscing, as I did when I found myself exclaiming aloud, “I remember that!” after seeing a famous pass, run, or significant event on the video screen. 

Beginning with the Pre-NFL years (1892-1919), the walls of the first floor’s circular room displayed each decade’s fundamental and noteworthy events and personalities. Original players’ equipment has visitors mentally comparing it to today’s protective gear. Players’ contracts and tickets to games from 100 years ago give today’s fabs new insight into the early years of the sport. Displays spotlighted individual and team achievements that may otherwise be forgotten, such as this one: In 1929 player Ernie Nevers scored all 40 points against another team in a victory (Cardinals defeat Bears 40-6). That’s incredible!

As the timeline of the museum progresses, technology’s evolution is noted. The game could be enjoyed by fans in new ways. Radio broadcast the first national NFL game on Thanksgiving 1934. Then the first televised NFL game occurred in 1939 (mainly so the audience at the NYC World’s Fair could see it at the RCA Pavillion since most people did not own television sets!). 

Interesting papers from the early years gave insight into team culture. Players were expected to conduct themselves in a certain manner to be part of a team, which was spelled out in a letter on display from 1940: “The player is expected to conduct himself always like a gentleman and an athlete, and to keep in the best possible physical condition. We have no place for wastrels, dissipaters, or cheaters.”

Some aspects of the game which improved over the century that the game of football has been played surprised me. In 1892, scoring differed greatly from today’s game: four points for a touchdown, two points for point after attempt, five points for a field goal, and two points for a safety. Those values changed in the first decade of the 20th century, and scoring has remained consistent since 1994 when the two-point conversion option was added. Football’s size and shape has altered throughout the years. Seeing the original “pigskin” was interesting. Even the size of the football field was different. Originally a playing field measured 110 yards with a 55-yard-line, and there were no end zones because forward passes were illegal. How that rule change has transformed the game cannot be overstated!

The second floor of the circle featured many hands-on exhibits, quite literally. I really enjoyed being able to place my hand in the grip molded on a display of three different quarterbacks’ preferred placements. My husband went “under the hood” to watch some replay footage and see if he saw the calls the same way the referees did. He also compared his biceps to the wall of molded biceps from NFL players. I even tried on a set of protective pads.

Then we reached the HOF gallery, the room where the busts from all inductees into the Hall are displayed in order of induction since the opening in 1963. I paused and was slightly in awe of all of the men, which is just a small percentage of all of the players, coaches, owners, broadcasters, scouts, and referees involved in the NFL over the past century. There were 362 bronze busts in the room when we visited; nine more will be added next month when the 2023 class is inducted. I looked at each one of them, taking photos of the busts of the players who were significant to me, including one with my favorite player to watch: Brian Urlacher, class of 2018.

I asked the employee in the room how people are chosen for the HOF. Players, coaches, and contributors are eligible to be nominated by any fan after having been retired for at least five years. These eligible candidates then go to the HOF Selection Committee, which reviews the list and narrows it down four times before the final selection meeting. A finalist must receive 80% of the vote; the committee members represent each pro football city, with NYC and LA having two due to hosting two teams. There are also 17 “at-large” members who are involved in media or pro football, and one person represents the Pro Football Writers of America. Women and men, active and retired, are on the committee (the list of the current committee can be found here). This is to ensure it is not simply a popularity contest but that the honor is truly deserved by the person’s contribution to the sport.

Also with the busts in the HOF gallery, visitors are encouraged to use one of three large touch screen monitors to look up inductees by name, team, or year. Thirty-six players, coaches, and owners who were involved with the Chicago Bears at some point in their careers are in the HOF. I watched the short videos for each of the 36 men. It was especially interesting to learn about the early ones I had never seen play. I got pumped up as I watched members of the 1985 Super Bowl Championship Bears and truly enjoyed watching Urlacher sack quarterbacks, intercept balls, and even return a fumble 90+ yards for a touchdown (a franchise record). Also in the room was a very cool hologram of the HOF rings.

If all of that was not enough, there were a couple of theaters which featured movies or unique presentations. We went into the “locker room” where a hologram of Joe Namath told us about some of the unexpected players and moments in the game and related it back to life outside of the game. The multi-sensory presentation ends with holograms of legendary coaches Vince Lambeau (Green Bay Packers) and “Papa Bear” George Halas giving inspiring locker room speeches to their teams. This presentation, A Game for Life, was immersive and inspiring to me. Here is a trailer to give you an idea about it.

The fun didn’t stop there. There was an epic display on the history of the Super Bowl, where I was able to pose next to a Super Bowl trophy (a dream come true!) . The Black College Football Hall of Fame is featured alongside a temporary exhibit area (Sunday Night Football on TV when we visited). Some modern “artifacts” are featured in the Pro Football Today Gallery. Among my favorite items were the split jersey Donna Kelce wore to Super Bowl LVII in which her two sons competed against each other (an NFL first), Patrick Mahomes’ jersey from his recording-breaking game against Pittsburgh in 2018, and the shoes from Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust who made history as the first female coach to win a Super Bowl in 2021.

The visit left me speechless. As my husband and I drove to our next stop on our East Coast road trip, I thought about all that I had seen. I am grateful that I got to experience this history and celebrate the game I love.

If you ever go, there is a way to get a discount. The website Visit Canton offers a discount. I called the HOF before I went to confirm it was legit; it was. We saved $12 a ticket!

Miss football like I do? Preseason kicks off August 3 with the Jets vs. the Browns for the HOF game. The regular season opens with Detroit at Kansas City on Sept. 7. Go Bears!