Curry, Hali, Hutchinson inducted into HOF

MOBILE , Ala. (Mar. 31) – The Reese’s Senior Bowl welcomed three new members into its Hall of Fame with the addition of former Alabama Head Coach Bill Curry, Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali and former All-Pro offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson.

“What an honor for the Reese’s Senior Bowl to recognize three individuals who have not only excelled on the field but have been tremendous representatives for the sport off the field as well,” said Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage.

The trio makes up the 28th class in the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame, presented by Mobile Gas, and pushes the total number of inductees to 111 – an exclusive club when you consider more than 5,000 players have donned a Senior Bowl uniform in its 65-year history. 

The three former Senior Bowlers were inducted March 31 at the Battle House Hotel in downtown Mobile, Ala., and joined a prestigious group that includes Joe Namath, Walter Payton, Dan Marino, Bo Jackson and Brett Favre.

"Bill Curry has experienced an amazing football life,” Savage said. “As a center for Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas; as a player for Bobby Dodd, Vince Lombardi and Don Shula; as a coach for Pat Swilling and Derrick Thomas and as an analyst for ESPN, he has indeed made an impact on thousands of lives through his unique perspective on the game and his own never-compromised character."

Curry, who played in the 1965 Senior Bowl, spent 10 seasons in the NFL with four different clubs before enjoying a successful 26-year coaching career. He was the head coach at Georgia Tech, where he was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1995. He then took over at Alabama, where he guided the Tide to the 1989 SEC Championship and was named the SEC Coach of the Year.

“The Senior Bowl was a wonderful event for me,” Curry said. “I formed three very important relationships with people that had already made their marks and would go on to do even greater things: Joe Namath, Bob Hayes and Tom Landry. It was an incredible, positive experience.”

Hali, 32, a 2006 Senior Bowl alumnus, just signed a new three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been to the past six Pro Bowls, racking up 86 career sacks.

"Tamba elevated his draft stock with a Defensive MVP performance in the 2006 Senior Bowl,” Savage said. “After being selected in the first round by Kansas City, he has turned into one of the Chiefs all-time top defensive players, sitting second on their all-time sack list behind only the great Derrick Thomas.”

“I am so honored to have been selected to the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame,” Hali said. “The privilege of playing in the game is something I will never forget. It was a tremendous experience playing with the best of the best from college football. I am so excited. I feel truly blessed.”

Hutchinson, who played in the 2001 Senior Bowl, enjoyed a 12-year career that included seven trips to the Pro Bowl. The former first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks blocked for the likes of Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson and was arguably the top guard in mid and late 2000s.

“I’m humbled,” said Hutchinson. “If you think about it, a majority of the guys that have done well (in the NFL) have played in the Senior Bowl.

"Steve set the standard for offensive guard play during his remarkable NFL career that included seven trips to the Pro Bowl,” Savage said. “Blessed with excellent athletic ability, strength and football instincts, he became the prototype for the position and a model of consistency for both the Seahawks and Vikings."

SEAHAWKS’ TYLER LOCKETT NAMED SENIOR BOWL ROOKIE OF YEAR 

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett was honored at the Reese’s Senior Bowl Rookie of the Year during the March 31 ceremony.

Lockett, who played in the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl and was drafted by the Seahawks in the third round of the NFL Draft, was named to the Pro Bowl in February.

The speedy wide receiver joined Gayle Sayers as the only rookie to record at least five receiving touchdowns, a punt return touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown. He finished the season with 51 receptions for 664 yards and six touchdowns.

He was the only rookie to be named to the Associated Press All-Pro first team.