ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː, hiː wʌz nˈeɪmd tə ðə pɹˈoʊ fˈʊtbɔːl ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃɚz ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən hˈɔːl ʌv vˈɛɹi ɡˈʊd ɪnðɪ ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃənz ɪnˈɔːɡjʊɹɹəl hˈɑːvɡ klˈæs; hiː ɪz wˈʌn ʌv tˈuː plˈeɪɚz ðætðɪ ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən əfˈɪʃəli səpˈoːɹts fɔːɹ ɪndˈʌkʃən ˌɪntʊ ðə pɹˈoʊ fˈʊtbɔːl hˈɔːl ʌv fˈeɪm.
In 2003, he was named to the Pro Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's inaugural HOVG class; he is one of two players that the Association officially supports for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.