The upcoming Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony will present a former player, a classic no-doubter and legendary defender Julius Peppers.
The defensive end suited up for three teams in his 17-year career, was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and the 2010s and was selected to nine Pro Bowls.
The list of accomplishments further includes being a three-time All-Pro and earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2002.
He became the single-season sack leader at least once at each NFL stop.
The second overall selection by the Carolina Panthers in 2002 went on to record at least ten quarterback sacks in ten different seasons before he hung up his cleats.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame posted a great video of Peppers opening the black box that contained his Gold Jacket for his induction into Canton.
He will become the 377th member of the hallowed hall.
Peppers led a stout Panthers defense to Super Bowl XXXVIII and came up short by only three points of earning a championship ring against the Patriots.
He was a quarterback’s nightmare, and by the end of his 17-strong NFL years, he was fourth on the all-time sack list with 159.5.
The outstanding lineman even hauled in 11 interceptions and registered four pick-sixes and a pair of fumble returns for scores.
His induction into Canton was a no-brainer from the day he left the game, and any discussion of the greatest NFL defenders would be woefully incomplete without Peppers in the mix.
The ceremony will be held on August 3.
