Junior Seau Induction into Professional Football Hall of Fame
In San Diego, Junior Seau was considered by fans to be the complete package
By NBC 7 Staff ••
The late Junior Seau, considered by many to be the greatest linebacker in NFL history, will be inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame Saturday.
The induction can be seen live via ESPN's stream here, beginning at 4 p.m. PT.
Seau was the only first-time eligible candidate selected for the HOF Class of 2015. He’ll join Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Bill Polian, Will Shields, Mick Tingelhoff, Ron Wolf when the class is officially inducted on August 8.
Tiaina Seau, Jr. played 20 years in the NFL. Wearing number 55, Seau played 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, three seasons with the Miami Dolphins and four with the New England Patriots.
"Junior is one of the greatest players in the history of the game, regardless of position,” said San Diego-based sportswriter Jim Trotter, one of the HOF voters.
Another selection committee member echoed Trotter’s thoughts. “He was a fierce tackler. He’s everything you want in a player and an immense leader,” said Charean Williams.
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A look at some of the images of the late pro linebacker and San Diego native Junior Seau.
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Former San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau is inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame during half time of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in 2011, in San Diego.
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Seau with his fans in an image from the Junior Seau Foundation Facebook page.
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Linebacker Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in 1991.
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Junior Seau runs past a blocker against the Houston Oilers at Jack Murphy Stadium in 1993.
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Seau during an interview with host Jay Leno on November 1, 1994 (Photo by: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
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Seau in action against the Houston Texans at Qualcomm Stadium.
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An image of Seau from the Junior Seau Foundation Facebook page.
Facebook/Thomas Henry Berry
July 1995 - Linebacker Junior Seau signs autographs during the Chargers training camp. in La Jolla. MANDATORY CREDIT: CRAIG JONES/ALLSPORT
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Junior Seau was selected for the Class of 2015 in the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
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An image of Seau and his family posted to the Junior Seau Foundation Facebook page.
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He helped the Bolts reach their only Super Bowl, in 1994, when Seau made 154 tackles, an astonishing 123 of them solo.
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Linebacker Junior Seau, then of the Miami Dolphins hugs running back LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers after a game on October 27, 2003, played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona due to wildfires in San Diego. The Dolphins won 26-10.
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Seau loved working with children at the annual "Shop with a Jock" event - in this image from the Junior Seau Foundation Facebook page.
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Junior Seau retired from football in 2009.
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Seau #55 of the San Diego Chargers looks on during the game against the New York Giants at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Giants defeated the Chargers 34-16. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport
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After the Chargers, Junior Seau moved on to the Miami Dolphins and finally retired from the New England Patriots.
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Linebacker Junior Seau celebrates a Chargers win during the game against the Houston Texans in 2002.
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U.S. President George W. Bush presents an award to Junior Seau during the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and presentation of the President's Volunteer Service Awards at the East Room of the White House May 25, 2005.
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Junior Seau is most notable for his time with the San Diego Chargers.
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An image of the former linebacker from the Junior Seau Foundation Facebook page.
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Seau was a star linebacker at the University of Southern California before he became a Charger. He was with the Chargers until 2003, and then played for the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots.
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The former Charger averaged 100 tackles a season and nearly seven tackles per game during his 17-year career, according the NFL.
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Seau retired from football in 2009 but continued to be a major part of the Charger culture after his retirement.
AP
Seau is considered by many to be the best linebacker in NFL history.
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Junior Seau #55 of the New England Patriots holds up the Lamar Hunt trophy in celebration after the National Football League AFC Championship game against the San Diego Chargers in 2008.
Michel Dussack
Seau was chosen in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft by Bobby Beathard's San Diego Chargers as the fifth overall draft selection. Seau quickly became one of the most popular players on the Chargers, receiving the nickname "Tasmanian Devil".
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San Diego Chargers football player Junior Seau smiles during a news conference announcing his retirement from pro football in San Diego.
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In this Dec. 23, 2007, file photo, New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau (55) reacts after a defensive play during a football game against the Miami Dolphins.
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Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers sits on the bench during the Chargers 27-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
In San Diego, where Seau made his home, he was considered by fans to be the complete package - successful on the field and off, charitable, handsome, friendly and approachable. He embodied the power of an NFL linebacker with the spirit of a surfer.
On May 2, 2012, Seau was found dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound in his Oceanside home right along the shore. His death occurred less than three years after his retirement from football.
When family and friends gather in Canton, Ohio to remember Seau they will be thinking about the eight-time All-Pro linebacker who helped to lead the Chargers to their first Super Bowl in 1994.
They will be reminiscing about the man named as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 and to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
They will be applauding the man who was drafted in the first round in 1990 and by the end of his career had tallied 56.5 career sacks and 18 interceptions.
But most of all, they will be honoring the charismatic, iconic San Diegan who will be considered by many to be the greatest Charger of all time.
A compilation of video from NBC 7 archives showing Junior Seau in action on the field at Qualcomm Stadium.
NBC 7's Derek Togerson will be at the induction and will report for NBC 7 SportsWrap. NBC 7 will be presenting a special program honoring Junior Seau’s Induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
