CANTON, Ohio – Ron Wolf became one of 295 men to own a "Gold Jacket," symbolic of membership to the Professional Football Hall of Fame. The presentation was made on Thursday night at the Canton Civic Center.
The former Packers general manager, the man largely credited for having resurrected the franchise, was selected to the Hall of Fame in the "contributors" category, along with former Colts GM Bill Polian. Wolf and Polian are the first such Hall of Fame members.
It's an honor to go in with Ron. To be the first two out of the box is a great honor," Polian said.
Wolf will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday night, in enshrinement ceremonies at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. His son Eliot, the Packers' director of player personnel, will present his father for induction.
"It feels marvelous to be associated with the great group that makes this the best game that ever was," Wolf said after receiving his "Gold Jacket" on Thursday. The event annually kicks off the Hall of Fame weekend.
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View photos of HOF Inductee Ron Wolf receiving his Gold Jacket in Canton, OH. Photos by Bobbi Jo Eisenreich and AP Images.
rett Favre, for whom Wolf began the Packers' resurrection by trading for the quarterback in 1992, offered a video tribute to his former GM: "You've just been traded for a first-round pick, so you're essentially a first-round pick, and this is according to one man's judgment."
It's expected Favre will be elected to the Hall of Fame next year, his first year of eligibility.
"The game is about life," Wolf said. "This is such a spectacular game."
Other Packers Hall of Famers in attendance on Thursday are: Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg, James Lofton, Jan Stenerud, Dave Robinson and Jim Taylor. More than 100 Hall of Famers returned for this year's event.
Joining Wolf and Polian in the 2015 class of eight inductees are: Jerome Bettis, Charles Haley, Junior Seau, Will Shields, Mick Tingelhoff and Tim Brown.
