Steve Atwater got in dozens of thank yous during his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement Saturday, but he saved the most heartfelt ones for his parents.
At a ceremony inside Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Atwater’s eight-minute, 45-second speech credited his late mom, Jesse, and his father, Jeff, for setting him up for a Hall of Fame career.
“To my mom, thank you for the sacrifices you made, for always loving me and for showing me how to never give up on those you love,” Atwater said. “To my dad, you always loved me unconditionally and I know how much you sacrificed to send me to Lutheran North High School, and that laid the foundation for everything that followed… Thank you for believing in me.