Marvin Harrison’s Hall of Fame Selection Will Be Announced at Super Bowl 50
Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison was declared as one of the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2016 during NFL Honors Night on Saturday evening.
However, it was announced in-show that Harrison wasn’t able to attend because of a prior commitment:
Regarding Marvin Harrison not showing tonight, as I understand it, he was very frustrated by missing cut last year. But, that's the process
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) February 7, 2016
As a result, according to the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, the Hall of Fame committee ended up calling Harrison in order to inform him of his selection. While Harrison ended up answering the phone, he had to be assured by team owner Jim Irsay that the phone call was indeed real:
So, dead serious... Harrison answers the phone and literally had no idea what was going. Who is this?
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) February 7, 2016
Irsay took the phone and validated that call was really from the Hall of Fame. He was aware he'd made it, but was initially guarded on phone
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) February 7, 2016
According to CBS4’s Mike Chappell, Harrison and Irsay had a very positive conversation, and the wide receiver great was incredibly honored by the news:
"“I told Jim he was my first phone call,’’ Harrison said Saturday via CBS4. “He was like, ‘You’re kidding me.’ I said, ‘Jim, I’m telling you first because of everything you’ve done for me, my family and the city of Indianapolis.’“I told him everything he did for me meant a lot to me,” added Harrison. “To be a part of the horseshoe and to be going into the Hall of Fame under the Indianapolis Colts just means a ton to me. That’s what I wanted to share with him.’’"
While Harrison has always been very quiet and reserved in his private life, it’s very unusual that he wouldn’t attend such a prestigious event regarding his illustrious football career:
Tim Brown has priceless reaction when Marvin Harrison doesn't show up for 2016 #HOF announcement #nflhonors https://t.co/V7l5L4y6RL
— Bill Enright (@BillEnright) February 7, 2016
However, Holder is reporting that Harrison will now be flown out to Santa Clara, California for Super Bowl 50 and his selection will be announced during the game’s festivities:
The HoF will fly him out and he will be in attendance and introduced at the game tomorrow night.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) February 7, 2016