Football's 10 oldest living Hall of Famers
(Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
A player’s time on the gridiron is short, but the glory can last a lifetime if they play well enough to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
We just did the 10 oldest baseball hall of famers, so here are the 10 oldest living Hall of Famers who have been enjoying that honor for decades:
1. Charley Trippi — 98
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: December 14, 1921
Inducted: 1968
Trippi was part of the Chicago Cardinals’ famed “Million Dollar Backfield” that won the 1947 NFL championship. He’s been the oldest living NFL Hall of Famer since the death of NFL Films founder Ed Sabol in 2015.
2. Marv Levy — 94
(Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: August 3, 1925
Inducted: 2001
The beloved Bills coach has a great football legacy that includes stops at three different colleges, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL and the Chicago Blitz of the USFL.
3. Bud Grant — 93
(Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: May 20, 1927
Inducted: 1994
Is the secret to a long life losing Super Bowls? Like Levy, Grant also lost the big game on four different occasions. But he’s still active and beloved by all football fans, not just those in Minnesota.
4. Hugh McElhenny — 91
(Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: December 31, 1928
Inducted: 1970
McElhenny was a star running back for the 49ers in the 1950s and finished out his career with the Vikings, Giants and Lions. His No. 39 is retired by the Niners.
5. Joe Schmidt — 88
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: January 18, 1932
Inducted: 1973
Schmidt (center) was a linebacker for the Lions for 13 seasons and a member of their last two NFL titles in 1953 and 1957. He was an eight-time first-team ALL-Pro, the NFL’s defensive MVP in 1960 and 1963 and coach of the team from 1967-72.
6. Raymond Berry — 87
(USA TODAY Sports)
Born: February 27, 1933
Inducted: 1973
Berry was a receiver with the Balitmore Colts from 1955-67, winning back-to-back NFL titles in 1958-59. He later had a lengthy NFL coaching career, taking the 1985 New England Patriots to a surprise Super Bowl appearance.
7. Lenny Moore — 86
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: November 25, 1933
Inducted: 1975
A seven-time Pro Bowl running back, Moore teamed with Berry on those great Colts teams of the late ’50s and early ’60s. Moore was a dual threat before it was fashionable, rushing for 63 touchdowns and recording 48 receiving TDs.
8. Sonny Jurgensen — 85
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: August 23, 1934
Inducted: 1983
Jurgensen had a long career with both the Eagles and Washington football club from 1957-74, leading the league in passing five different seasons.
9. Sam Huff — 85
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: October 4, 1934
Inducted: 1982
Huff, a linebacker, played for the New York Giants and Washington from 1956 to 1969. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and a member of New York’s NFL title team in 1956.
10. Don Maynard — 85
(David Boss-USA TODAY Sports)
Born: January 25, 1935
Inducted: 1987
Maynard was a wide receiver who had a long career (1958-1974) with most of it spent with the New York Jets. He was a member of the Jets’ team that upset the Colts in Super Bowl III.
