James Lofton, the Green Bay Packers' all-time leader in receiving yards and the first NFL player to catch a touchdown pass in the 70s, 80s and 90s, has been selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the NFL announced Saturday.
The sixth player taken in the 1978 NFL Draft, Lofton played for five different teams over his NFL career, but spent nine of his 16 years in Green Bay.
From 1978-86, Lofton led the Packers in receptions eight times, racking up 530 catches for his Packers career -- second only to Sterling Sharpe's 595 -- and gathering a team-record 9,656 yards receiving.
He made 49 touchdown catches and scored one rushing touchdown, the latter on an 83-yard scamper that stands tied for the third-longest rush from scrimmage in team history. His 300 career points rank him 14th on the Packers' all-time list.
Lofton will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with running back Marcus Allen, defensive end Elvin Bethea, offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure, and coach Hank Stram.
Lofton is the 20th member of the Packers to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Enshrinement of the Class of 2003 will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Sunday, August 3.
James Lofton - Wide Receiver . . .6-3, 192 . . .Stanford . . .1978-1986 Green Bay Packers, 1987-1988 Los Angeles Raiders, 1989-1992 Buffalo Bills, 1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1993 Philadelphia Eagles . . .16 seasons, 233 games . . .An Academic All-America choice at Stanford as well as an accomplished track star . . .Selected by Green Bay in 1st round (6th player overall) of 1978 NFL Draft . . .A deep-threat receiver, he possessed both speed and great hands . . .Nine times he recorded more than 50 receptions in a season. . .Was the first NFL player to score a touchdown in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. . . In 16 seasons, he caught 764 passes for 14,004 yards - an NFL record at the time of his retirement - and 75 touchdowns . . .Lofton's 43 games with 100-plus receiving yardage was third best at time of retirement . . .Led Packers in receptions each year except one (1979) . . .Six times he gained more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season . . .At age 35 became the oldest NFL player to gain more than 1,000 yards in a season . . .Named All-Pro four times, All-NFC three times, and was selected to play in eight Pro Bowls. . .Born July 5, 1956, at Fort Ord, California.
