Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis is discussing the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s decision on Tuesday that the family of late Denver Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen will receiver his Hall of Fame ring and gold jacket, a departure from the Hall of Fame’s stance that only living inductees will get those honors.
With inductees such as Junior Seau and Ken Stabler passing away before induction, their families missed out on the honors that Bowlen’s family is receiving following the death of Pat.
Davis believes that the policy should change for the long-term.
“David Baker and the Hall of Fame made the right decision, and I believe it opens the door to reconsidering awarding rings and jackets to the families of all deceased enshrinees,” Davis said, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez.
Davis’ father Al, who died back in 2011, was enshrined in 1992, while Al’s father George, who passed away in 1990, was enshrined in 2002.
Hall of Fame spokesman Pete Fierle said that the “process” to create Bowlen’s jacket and ring were already “underway” when he Bowlen died back on June 13, adding that they would be “presented to the Pat Bowlen estate to be displayed in the front lobby of the UCHealth Training Center”, according to Denver 9News.
“As previously planned prior to his death, the Gold Jacket and Ring of Excellence will be presented to the Pat Bowlen estate to be displayed in the front lobby of the UC Health Training Center.
“The Gold Jacket and Ring of Excellence will serve as an everlasting reminder of the impact Pat Bowlen made on the Broncos and the National Football League. He epitomized the values and virtues learned from the game of football that serve as inspiration to fans to live a ‘Hall of Fame life’ of character.”
Back in 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Hall of Fame jackets and rings were to be presented to “living Hall of Fame members to be worn exclusively by them as evidence and pride of their having been elected to sport’s most elite fraternity.”
Allen states that he will continue to push for change to the policy.
“There’s no reason I should have my father’s ring and Bruce Allen does not have his” Allen stated. “As a new member of the NFL owners Hall of Fame Committee, I’ll continue to advocate for the families.”