Two New York Football Legends Nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Andrew Hugos and Jack Shea are sports enthusiasts looking to shine a light on former NFL players Homer Jones and Jack Kemp, who made lasting impacts on the game of football.
Hugos said, "They were never nominated and never considered. And, you know, we're doing a generational transfer of knowledge. And I feel that their legacies are great. So to have them in the hall of fame will preserve this legacy and extend them to future generations. "
Homer Jones was a wide receiver with the New York Giants in the '60s, widely known for starting the spike touchdown celebration and being the leader in all-time yards per catch in the NFL.
Jack Kemp was a quarterback with the Buffalo Bills and was known for his exceptional leadership and quarterback skills, leading the AFL in all-time passing yards.
Once Hugos and Shea found out that anyone could nominate players, they knew they had to advocate for some of the often-overlooked greats.
Shea said, "It's all about, you know, the recent players, the favorite players from the 2010s, mostly for my generation. So players that have gotten overlooked over the years just haven't gotten the recognition that they deserve. That's what this is all about. "
They officially signed and mailed the nominations in on July 12 hopeful the selection committee will see the strong case they've made for their inductions and finally get them the recognition that's been long overdue.
"I feel like when you know, the Giants fans and the Bills fans hear about this and start looking into the careers of Jack Kemp and Homer Jones that they're going to see how much they deserve this," said Shea.