Ty Law has been patient for his entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame since he first became eligible five seasons ago.
Now, after reaching the finalist stage the last few years, No. 24 got the call he'd been waiting for Saturday evening:
Law is the ninth entry into Canton with Patriots ties, joining John Hannah, Nick Buoniconti, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Bill Parcells, Curtis Martin, Junior Seau, and last year's inductee, Randy Moss.
Law is also one of two cornerbacks to make this year's class, joining his counterpart Champ Bailey, who earned enshrinement in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility.
One of the premier shutdown corners of his era, whose physicality at the position influenced a re-emphasis on contact rules that still affects the position today, Law was one of the fulcrums of the early part of the Patriots dynasty, winning the first three Super Bowls in a career in New England that spanned from 1995-2004. He earned five Pro Bowl nods over his career, including First Team All-Pro honors in 1998 and 2003, and was named to the NFL's 2000's All-Decade Team upon his retirement in 2009.
Former Boston Herald columnist Ron Borges, a Hall of Fame voter, has lobbied on Law's behalf in the past. A letter from Tom Brady to the committe, revealed last month, advocated strongly for Law's selection to Canton, beginning his letter by noting, "Ty Law was a pain in the a** . . . which I know he would acknowledge as the term of endearment it is intended to be."
Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, and Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, joined Bailey as first-ballot entries. The rest of the class includes New York Jets and Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae; Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen; long-time former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt; and Chiefs safety/flanker Johnny Robinson.
Law is also the third native of the legendary Western Pennsylvania town of Aliquippa to reach the Hall. Nicknamed "The Heart of American Football", Aliquippa's two other entries are Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka. Former Patriots and Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is expected to be the fourth when he is eligible in 2022.
New England Patriots
Richard Seymour, another integral part of those first three Super Bowl championship teams, was named a finalist last month. Bill Belichick's first-ever first-round pick for New England earned five Pro Bowl nods during his time with the Patriots from 2001-09, then earned two more with the Oakland Raiders before retiring in 2012. He was named to the 2000's All-Decade Team alongside Law. Belichick wrote the letter to the selection committee advocating for Seymour.
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