Floyd Little elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
Former Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little (1967-75) was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010, it was announced on Saturday at the Broward County Convention Center.
Little will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 7, in a ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. He joins tackle Gary Zimmerman (1993-97, Class of 2008) and quarterback John Elway (1983-98, Class of 2004) as Pro Football Hall of Famers who spent a primary portion of their career with the Broncos.
"This is a great day for Floyd Little individually as well as for the Denver Broncos' entire organization and our fans," Broncos President and CEO Pat Bowlen said. "Floyd has made immeasurable contributions to this franchise and the NFL, and he deservedly will take his place among the greatest to play this game in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Although his playing career with the Broncos took place before my time with the team, I am well aware of what Floyd Little means to this franchise, city and league. Aside from his stellar play on the field, he helped make the Broncos relevant in the NFL and strengthened the bond between this team and its fans. He has waited a long time for this honor, and I couldn't be happier for him."
Little spent all nine of his professional seasons with the Broncos from 1967-75 and ranked seventh on the NFL's all-time rushing list (6,323 yards) and eighth on its all-time combined yards list (12,173 yards) at the time of his retirement. Selected by Denver with the sixth overall pick in the 1967 draft from Syracuse University, Little was the first No. 1 draft choice to sign with the Broncos and made five All-Star appearances (3 Pro Bowls, 2 AFL All-Star) with the team.
During his nine-year career, Little totaled the most all-purpose yards in pro football and ranked second to only O.J. Simpson in rushing yards over that period. Little is one of only three players in NFL history with 6,000 career rushing yards and 3,000 career special-teams return yards.
A 1984 Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Little led the Broncos in rushing for a club-record seven consecutive seasons from 1967-73, including in 1971 when he captured the NFL's rushing crown with 1,133 yards. His eight years with at least 1,000 combined yards tied for second in league history at the time of his retirement and currently rank second in Broncos annals.
In addition, Little's 61 career games with at least 100 combined yards were the most in pro football during his nine-year career and represent the most in Broncos history (17 more than the next closest player).
In 117 career games (93 starts), Little posted 1,643 rushes for 6,323 yards with 43 touchdowns, 215 receptions for 2,418 yards with nine touchdowns, 104 kickoff returns for 2,523 yards, and 81 punt returns for 893 yards with two touchdowns.
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A hearty congratulations for a great career Mr Little! Looking forward to Canton!
Imagination is more important than knowledge. A. Einstein
+1
to studbucket, Jezru, and firstfan!
Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
+2, great work guys, be proud.
Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM
by UB3 on Feb 6, 2010 5:17 PM MST up reply actions
Letter to the Denver Broncos
Try and get 22 players LIKE Floyd Little on your squad and you will not have to worry about integrity or courage or smarts or versatility or TOUGHNESS.
This MAN knew how to play.
Just saw Little's talk on the stage
Great day, now we need to look at getting #53 in. Great work and many thanks to the HOF committee at MHR, you guys did a great job.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
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"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
Credit where it's due
John, I don’t know much about the selection process. But the video you made of Floyd Little inspired me, and I’m sure it did the selectors as well. So, along with many congrats to the great Floyd Little, a Hall of Famer, I tip my hat to Guru, who is a difference-maker.
Full Disclosure...
That video was made by studbucket who ran the HOF committee….They all did a GREAT JOB!
-TSG
SBNation's Denver Broncos Blogger
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by John Bena on Feb 6, 2010 5:15 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
One word to describe this: SATISFACTION!
Tonight, I will definately be celebrating my boyhood hero’s welcome to the Hall. This is a huge event not just for one man, but it lets one of our finest represent our team from an era, that we refuse to forget. Now we have #44 there, younger generations will see that “yes” there was football in Denver back in the day. I’m taking personal pride in helping First Fan and the letters and emails I sent. I was really concerned that it would be over the top. I just can’t express all my feelings on this, but in the end, all the emotions run toward “Satisfaction”.
About playing against Joe Namath "He's the best in the Business, he can do everything, but I've never seen a Quarterback yet that can throw on his back." - Dave Costa 1969
I can't wait to get a fanpost from the mhr hof committee!!!!
If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.
"I think we’re past that. I love the city of Denver. I started there and I’d like to finish there." - Brandon Marshall at the 2010 Pro Bowl
Great News!
It was worth it watching Floyd beam on the NFL Network tonight.
by Baltimore Bronco on Feb 6, 2010 5:24 PM MST reply actions
I am just happy...
As a Bronco fan from near the beginning, 1962, I know how close Denver was to either Moving, or Folding. I don’t think many at this site realize how much love we fans had for Floyd, or maybe more important, the love and dedication he gave back to us.
I am really happy………….Its a good day…….I guess I need to update my signature….one down seven to go…..
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Little, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, Davis, and Sharpe...
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
I never thought I'd see it.
Wow. Just wow.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Congratulations Floyd! Justice is still not done though....
Finally Floyd Little makes the HOF!! Justice will not be done though until Rich ‘Tombstone’ Jackson, Randy Gradishar, Billy Thompson, and Louis Wright are also in. Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Davis will make it on their own merit in the next years, but there is some history to catch up on first!
Thompson
Uh, I don’t know if Thompson has enough postseason credentials(Pro Bowls, All-Pros) to get in, but I would put Atwater in instead. Although, Thompson would be in if he played in Dallas or New York.
Had tears in my eyes when Floyd retired.
Had tears in my eyes when I heard the news. Thanks to the Hall of Fame commitee. Thanks Floyd, for the memories.
This is just a great, great day in Bronco history!!!!
Congratulations Mr Floyd! You deserve it!!!
oh and its about damn time!!!!
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
Keep it simple
Floyd Litte is in the ( MF) HALL OF FAME. Shannon will get in too. Be patient Big Guy you are now a member of the media, ahem those are the guys that vote so “you in, just don’t know when”.
by WYO(MF)BRONCOBOY on Feb 6, 2010 7:13 PM MST reply actions
Congrats to Floyd
He was the Denver Broncos for the first 5 years that I followed them (69-73). So cool to see him get an awesome accolade like induction into the HOF.
We live in an age when instant gratification isn't fast enough
Congrats to Floyd Little!
Today is a great day in Bronco Country. Little so deserves to be in the HOF and I am so glad his day has finally come. I hope this opens the door for the rest of the Broncos that deserve to be there like Gradishar. I am bummed Sharpe didn’t get in, however he will get his day.
2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
Sweet!
This is great news! The man deserves it, and it makes me believe that one day TD will make it, as well as some other well deserving Broncos.
And guys, Big Play Shay will get his day. Next year. I can feel it.
Its nice to have some regular old GOOD news in Broncos Country for a change!
Don't argue with fools. It's how they reproduce.
Congratulations, Mr. Little
My dad took me to my first Bronco game when I was 7, in 1972. A couple of years before that he had bought me a Floyd Little poster which took up a large part of my bedroom wall. He was my hero from day 1. When I finally got to go to that first game, my dad stopped me right before we walked through the portal to our seats and said, “Remember this, son”. The very first thing I saw when we walked in was #44. I shouted at the top of my lungs, “Hey, Dad, there’s Floyd Little!”. The whole game I was trying to just watch him, to see what he was doing. This honor is so well deserved, and should have been bestowed 20 years ago.
by BroncoFanUntilIDie on Feb 7, 2010 7:48 AM MST reply actions
When I heard the news...
….it made me just as happy as when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl. Little getting in will make watching the game tonight a lot better.
Take it easy. But take it. Studs Terkel
Finally!
Some justice is served. Gradishar needs to be the next Bronco senior nominee to make it. It is so ludicrous that he is not in it just makes me sick.
Congrats Floyd. You were my sports hero as a young kid growing up, and I grew to know what you meant for not only the franchise, but the city of Denver.
And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select: Someone other than Ryan O'Reilly. LOL@Detoilet.

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