Steve Hutchinson Selected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
2/1/2020 10:21:00 PM | Football
MIAMI, Fla. -- The National Football League announced Saturday (Feb. 1) the selection of former University of Michigan great Steve Hutchinson (1996-2000) for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Hutchinson, a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s, becomes the 10th individual with ties to Michigan to receive the prestigious honor of selection into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The NFL announced the 2020 Hall of Fame class that includes five members on the eve of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers: Steve Atwater (Denver Broncos), Isaac Bruce (St. Louis Rams), Edgerrin James (Indianapolis Colts) and Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers). This group of modern-era players joins the previously announced centennial class consisting of two coaches, three contributors and 10 senior inductees in the Class of 2020.
Hutchinson is one of only two players in school history to earn All-Big Ten Conference first team honors all four years, collecting the accolades from 1997 through 2000. He earned All-America honors in 1999 and 2000 and was the Big Ten's Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2000. Hutchinson was a finalist for the 2000 Rotary Lombardi Award after being a semifinalist during the 1999 season.
A native of Coral Springs, Florida, Hutchinson arrived at Michigan as a defensive lineman but switched over to the offensive line during his redshirt season. He started 45 of 47 career games, which is currently tied for the sixth-best mark all-time among U-M's offensive linemen. The Wolverines compiled a 41-8 overall record and a 27-5 Big Ten mark during his four seasons as a starter, winning three conference titles and the 1997 national championship. Hutchinson helped lead Michigan to victories in four consecutive bowl games.
Hutchinson was the 17th overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He played 12 years in the NFL with three different organizations -- Seattle (2001-05), Minnesota Vikings (2006-11) and Tennessee Titans (2012). One of the most decorated professional football players in school history, Hutchinson was named All-Pro seven times and was selected to the Pro Bowl on seven occasions (2003-09). He was the 2006 and 2009 NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year and was chosen to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. Hutchinson started 169 games during his career.
Following are the individuals with ties to the University of Michigan enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (alphabetical order with year of induction): George Allen (2002), Dan Dierdorf (1996), Len Ford (1976), Benny Friedman (2005), Bill Hewitt (1971), Elroy Hirsch (1968), Tom Mack (1999), Ralph Wilson Jr. (2009) and Ty Law (2019).
The 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, Aug. 8, in Canton, Ohio.
