“The Hitman” Rodney Harrison Being Inducted Into Chargers Hall of Fame
During his era he was one of the best strong safeties in the NFL. However, he played at a time when the league was looking to change the way defenders played the game. Hence he was sometimes labeled as a “dirty player” because of his style of play which was hard-hitting and ferocious. But that’s what football used to be about and he played accordingly. And now his top-tier playing abilities are being recognized, as “the hitman” Rodney Harrison is being inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.
Harrison was drafted by the (San Diego) Chargers in the fifth-round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He spent nine years with the team. In his rookie year he helped them get to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. In his third season, he became a full-time starter, recording five interceptions and 125 tackles in 16 games. And so his former teammate and current Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a FaceTime call to Harrison recently.
Harbaugh had the pleasure of informing Harrison that he was being inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame. He said to Harrison:
“The way you conducted your business, the way you played, anybody who knows football loves the way you played the game,” Harbaugh told Harrison, his teammate in San Diego for two seasons. “Forever been proud to have been your teammate, man. You got what you deserved.”
Harrison earned his first Pro Bowl honor and made first-team All-Pro in 1998. And earned another Pro Bowl nod in 2001. However, after the 2002 season, the Chargers released Harrison and he joined the New England Patriots. Once there he was instrumental in helping the Pats when their back-to-back Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004. He spent six seasons in New England before hanging up his cleats for good.
“The Hitman” Rodney Harrison Being Inducted Into Chargers Hall of Fame
Rodney Harrison is part of the NFL’s exclusive “30-30 Club,” meaning he has both 30 or more sacks and 30 or more interceptions in his career. Former Baltimore Ravens Ray Lewis also managed this feat but Harrison was the first to do it. Harrison finished his career with 1,206 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 34 interceptions and 10 QB hits in 186 games. He’ll be the 36th player to be inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and 44th member overall.
Interestingly, this will be Harrison’s second Hall of Fame induction. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2019. But the granddaddy of Hall of Fames still eludes him. He has been nominated several times for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But as CBS Sports pointed out, “He’s been close to induction on several occasions (he was a semifinalist for induction in 2024), but Harrison and former Cowboy Darren Woodson are considered the best safeties who do not currently have a spot in Canton, Ohio.”
Perhaps being inducted into the Hall of Fame of two different teams might improve his chances of getting into the Pro Hall. Or the voters may continue to hold his style of play against him. Which is ironic because players from the 70’s are in the Hall and played far more fiercely than Harrison or Woodson did.
Chargers Recognizing Rodney Harrison’s Contributions To The Team
At any rate, Chargers president of football operations John Spanos released a statement about the induction:
“Rodney personified an era of Chargers football defined by physicality, emotion, relentless effort, toughness and grit,” Chargers president of football operations John Spanos said in a statement. “For nearly a decade, he gave everything he had to the Chargers, establishing a standard of accountability and setting the bar for competitive greatness. He made an immediate impact his rookie year, helping lead us to an unforgettable AFC Championship victory in Pittsburgh and appearance in Super Bowl XXIX.
“The fire that burned inside Rodney was the stuff of legend and, as is the case with all the great ones, it never once faded over the course of his career. And as much as he gave of himself on the field, Rodney found a way to give even more to our community, especially in his work with local youth. Inducting Rodney into the Chargers Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a player who gave this franchise everything he had and more.”
The induction will take place during halftime of their Week 8 Thursday Night Football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 23. Congratulations to Rodney Harrison on a well-deserved accolade!
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