FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/13/2019

WEEKLY “NOTES & NUGGETS” FROM THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME NEW ARTIFACTS FROM THE 2019 NFL SEASON; JOHN RANDLE TOOK PART IN A HEART OF A HALL OF FAMER PROGRAM; FROM THE ARCHIVES: NFL ON CHRISTMAS

CANTON, OHIO – The following is a sampling of events, happenings and notes that highlight how the Pro Football Hall of Fame serves its important mission to “Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE!”

NEW ARTIFACTS FROM THE 2019 NFL SEASON ARRIVE AT THE HALL The Pro Football Hall of Fame is home to the world’s largest collection on pro football. Each year, the collection in the Ralph Wilson, Jr. Pro Football Research & Preservation Center grows as artifacts from milestone moments during the current NFL season arrive in Canton.

Recently, the Hall of Fame has acquired several artifacts from the NFL’s 100th Season including:

• Jersey and gloves worn by , defensive end with the , on Dec. 8, 2019 against the when he became the youngest player in NFL history (25 years, 40 days old) to reach 50 sacks. Hunter recorded three sacks against the Lions and has 12.5 sacks this season. He played in his first NFL game at only 20 years old in 2015. The jersey is pictured from a special video on the Hall’s (@ProFootballHOF) featuring Hall of Famer JOHN RANDLE congratulating Hunter.

• The uniform worn by on Sept. 29, 2019 when he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 11,000 career receiving yards (115 games). The previous record was held by Calvin Johnson who reached the mark in 127 games.

September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.

JOHN RANDLE TOOK PART IN A HEART OF A HALL OF FAMER PROGRAM The Heart of a Hall of Famer series, powered by Extreme Networks, provides students the opportunity to learn first-hand what it took beyond athletic ability for legendary Heroes of the Game to achieve success on and off the field. The program focuses on the Hall of Fame’s core values of commitment, integrity, courage, respect and excellence.

On Tuesday, Hall of Fame JOHN RANDLE took part in a “Heart of a Hall of Famer” program from the Hall. Nearly 300 students were in attendance from a dozen entities including: • Andrew J. Rickoff School (Cleveland, Ohio) • Barnesville (Ohio) High School • Canton (Ohio) Local Schools • David Anderson High School (Lisbon, Ohio) • East Canton (Ohio) High School • Glenville High School (Cleveland, Ohio) • Kenmore Garfield High School (Akron, Ohio) • Lehman Middle School (Canton, Ohio) • Local Stark County (Ohio) YMCA Partners • North Canton (Ohio) Middle School • Strasburg (Ohio) High School • Tuscarawas Valley High School (Zoarville, Ohio)

“It doesn’t matter where you grow up at. It doesn’t matter where you start at – it’s about how you finish it,” Randle shared with those in attendance. “To make it in this world, it takes hard work. It is going to take some sacrifices, but you can achieve it…Don’t listen when people tell you that you can’t make it, because you can make it.”

September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.

FROM THE RALPH WILSON, JR. PRO FOOTBALL RESEARCH & PRESERVATION CENTER: The Ralph Wilson, Jr. Pro Football Research & Preservation Center is home to the world’s largest collection on football including a personal legacy archive on every player who has competed in the NFL since its founding in 1920. Contained inside the archives are more than 40 million pages of documents and six million photographic images.

Staff help a variety of patrons from fans, researchers, authors, and students as well as serving as a resource of information to the , its 32 clubs and members of the media.

NFL GAMES PLAYED ON CHRISTMAS DAY As the Holiday season is upon us, the Research Staff of the Ralph Wilson, Jr. Pro Football Research & Preservation Center compiled a list of National Football League games that were played on Christmas Day over the years.

Complete list can be downloaded at: https://profootballhof.box.com/shared/static/xlod5hx9uzqby552lrcfhkncgvwf79ul.pdf

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CONTACT: Rachel Gutting, Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives [email protected]; 330-588-3671

ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. AAM accreditation is national recognition for the museum’s commitment to excellence and the highest professional standards of museum operation and public service.

Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport. Fans can also enjoy the Hall of Fame Store at the Hall, and online at www.profootballhof.com/store, for merchandise from all 32 NFL clubs plus the Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the Store support the Hall’s Mission.

Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a mixed-use development project, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.

@ProFootballHOF

September 16-19, 2020 A once-in-every- other-lifetime celebration to kick off the NFL’s next century in the city where the league was born.