PRO FOOTBALL’S GREATEST REUNION

CANTON, OH – Pro Football’s Greatest Reunion will be held this summer as all living Pro Football Hall of Famers have been invited to Canton for the kickoff of the National Football League’s NFL Century celebration, Hall of Fame Executive Director John Bankert and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced today.

Ever since its charter class was honored in 1963, the Hall of Fame has referred to its annual enshrinement weekend celebration as "Pro Football’s Greatest Weekend." When the Class of 2000 – Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Dan Rooney, and Dave Wilcox – is honored during festivities this year, the Canton shrine will also serve as the backdrop for the largest-ever reunion of pro football’s greatest all-time stars.

All living Hall of Fame members have been invited to attend the 2000 Enshrinement Weekend Celebration (July 28-31) as guests of the Hall of Fame and the NFL.

"While we traditionally invite the 10- 20- and 30-year anniversary classes back to the Hall of Fame as our guests, this is the first time we’ve been able to invite all of our members back in the same year," stated Bankert. "Obviously we are excited at the prospect of having so many living legends on our grounds at one time. It will truly be an historic event. We sincerely appreciate the National Football League’s and specifically Commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s efforts to make this unprecedented reunion a reality."

There are 138 living Hall of Famers including the Class of 2000. Judging from early responses to the invitation, it is expected the reunion will represent the largest number of Hall of Fame members – from any sport – ever assembled in one place.

"Our NFL Century celebration will help us kickoff the first season of the new Millennium in a special way," says Commissioner Tagliabue. "The celebration will be a season-long series of events that will highlight today’s great players and link them to the 80-year tradition of NFL games, alumni, and teams that have helped make pro football the fans’ favorite sport."

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 29, followed by the annual Hall of Fame Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots on Monday, July 31.

Final plans for special events involving the reunion of the Hall of Fame members will be announced this spring.