MOBILE — A star-studded group of former All-Pros were announced as the five next members of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 17. Two Alabama alumni as well as a UAB graduate are among the new honorees.

The newest Hall of Famers include former New York Jets defensive tackle Marty Lyons (1979), former Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (2003), former Texans linebacker and Houston’s current head coach DeMeco Ryans (2006), former safety for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers Eric Weddle (2007), and former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (2005).

Three groundbreaking newcomers will also be recognized as Rookies of the Year at the annual induction ceremony emceed by NFL Network host Rhett Lewis at The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear on Sunday, June 30.

The Senior Bowl has chosen record-breaking Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua as the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year where Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end YaYa Diaby as well as Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young were selected as Co-Defensive Rookies of the Year.

“We are excited to bring another accomplished group of Senior Bowl alumni back to Mobile,” said Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy. “Each of these men is among the greatest players in their respective NFL franchise’ histories and we are thrilled to be honoring their incredible careers.” 

In conjunction with the Hall of Fame festivities, the nation’s premiere all-star game is hosting its Fourth Annual Senior Bowl Charities Celebrity Golf Classic, which will be held on Monday, July 1 at Lakewood Golf Club on the property of The Grand Hotel. This exclusive event will pair 22 foursomes with celebrities from across the football world, including the five current Senior Bowl Hall of Fame inductees and three Rookies of the Year. The full slate of participants from around the NFL and college football will be released periodically over the next few weeks.

Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit the Mobile Baldwin Athletic Partnership, established in 2021. This program provides needed resources, ranging from pants and jerseys to blocking sleds and video technology, for underfunded public high school football programs in the two-county area.

The Senior Bowl Hall of Fame, established in 1988, includes many players who are also members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Past honorees are all-time greats such as Doak Walker, Ray Nitschke, Joe Namath, Mean Joe Green, Walter Payton, Franco Harris, Ozzie Newsome, Steve Largent, Kellen Winslow, Dan Marino, Bo Jackson, Derrick Thomas, Terrell Owens, Patrick Willis, and Von Miller.  In addition, Paul Brown, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Paul “Bear” Bryant, and Eddie Robinson are among the list of inducted legendary pro and college coaches.

New Hall of Famers react to the honor

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Senior Bowl Committee for this great honor. It’s a privilege to represent the University of Alabama, the coaching staff, my teammates, and the great fans of the Crimson Tide,” said former New York Jets DT Marty Lyons. “Playing in the Senior Bowl provided me with an invaluable opportunity to showcase my talent against the best players in college football. The experience played a pivotal role in my journey to becoming a first-round pick of the New York Jets, where I spent my entire 11-year NFL career. Thank you and Roll Tide!”

“Getting an invite to the Senior Bowl was one of the big goals I set for myself as a college freshman. It was a proud moment and I viewed it as the start of my professional career,” said former Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer. “Competing every day at Senior Bowl practices gave me an opportunity to see what my competitors looked like up-close and personal, while also showing me things I needed to continue to work on and develop as a player. I’ll always remember the great week I had in Mobile.”

“Being from Alabama, it was a huge honor to get the invite and participate in the 2006 Senior Bowl. I’m thankful to have played my last collegiate game in front of my home state fans. This game provided me a pivotal opportunity as a draft prospect to prove myself against the best competition in college football,” said former Houston Texans LB and current head coach DeMeco Ryans. “Now as a coach, I continue to follow the game closely to evaluate the top talent in the draft each year. This game helped me as a player many years ago, and it is still assisting players in reaching their dream of playing in the NFL.”

“I am truly humbled by this honor. The Senior Bowl back in 2007 was a big steppingstone for my NFL career,” said former San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams FS Eric Weddle. “Being on the same field with the best of the best and more than holding my own gave me the confidence that I belonged. Never in my wildest dreams would I consider myself a Hall of Famer and I am beyond thankful.”

“Being invited to the Senior Bowl was special because it gave me an opportunity to compete against the best guys in the nation,” said former Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White. “Doing well throughout the week in Mobile drastically improved my draft stock. I enjoyed learning an NFL playbook for the first time and meetings with Jon Gruden were intense and full of energy.”