Gene J. Puskar/AP Roger Goodell looks on during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s gold jacket presentation.
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Wolf, who still lives in Green Bay part time, appreciates that as much as anything.
Wolf served as the Packers’ GM from 1991-2001 and is credited with reviving the franchise during his tenure.
When Wolf accepted his jacket from Goodell, he took a moment to make light of the league’s persecution of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, saying “Way to go on that Brady thing”.
Wolf’s speech-timed at less than seven minutes-was one of the shortest in years.
“To think that Ronnie Wolf from New Freedom, Penn., who graduated 101st in a class of 83 from Susquehannock High School is being inducted into this fabled Hall is remarkable”, Wolf said in his second enshrinement speech.
“And I vowed if I ever got the opportunity again that would never happen”, Wolf said.
“At that time there was always a threat to players of other teams that if they didn’t shape up, they would be traded to Green Bay”, Wolf said. “We worked hard to eliminate that stigma”.
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Wolf thanked legendary Raiders owner Al Davis for giving Wolf his pro football start in the mid-1960s. “Michael Jordan said that, but the same applies to professional football”, Wolf said. His clubs never had a losing season, made the playoffs six times and reached the Super Bowl twice, winning after the 1996 season. It is a game of human will and athletic grace. He said that football is the ultimate team game, and said that no matter how much the rules might change, it is still at the end of the day about running, blocking, kicking and the basic elements of football, and said that’s why he loves the game.
