Offensive guard John Hannah was a first-ballot selection when he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991, and rightfully so. Hannah played 13 seasons for the New England Patriots and was an All-Pro 10 years in a row.
Hannah’s passion for the game fueled his greatness. During his induction speech, he called football “the greatest game that was ever created.” He talked about growing up as a kid and racing home from church on Sundays to watch his NFL heroes — the first name he mentioned specifically was Ray Nitschke, the hard-nosed Green Bay Packers middle linebacker who embodied football toughness.
Nitschke was about much more than toughness, though. He had that same love of the game that Hannah felt — and after Nitschke was enshrined in Canton in 1978, he made it his mission to educate all the new members of the Hall what it meant to be part of this elite fraternity.
The Class of 2026 — quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Luke Kuechly, kicker Adam Vinatieri and running back Roger Craig — will be enshrined in Canton Saturday afternoon. But first, on Friday, they will be welcomed to the Hall in a private luncheon — only Gold Jackets allowed. Nitschke was always among the most powerful speakers at this event. After he died in 1998, the annual gathering officially became known as the Ray Nitschke Luncheon.
“Nitschke was a stud,” Hannah told Athlon Sports. “I know when he was still with us, he would start frothing at the mouth and he was like, ‘Let's go! Let's get it going!’”
Hannah gets back to Canton for enshrinement weekend whenever he can. Unfortunately for the 75-year-old Hannah, he won’t make it this year because he’s got too much work to do on his 30-acre farm in Blountsville, Alabama. He’ll miss being part of the ceremony, but he’ll miss the closed-door luncheon more.
“The highlight of the weekend is the Nitschke Luncheon,” Hannah said. “Because I enjoy hearing other guys talk about their experiences and what it means to them. And, you know, it's just kind of like being in a locker room again.
“Basically, people just kind of, they welcome the new class members and let them know what's expected of them. Welcoming them to the team, so to speak. But it's a great time.”
Hannah said he’ll never forget his first luncheon, the weekend he was enshrined in 1991. Nitschke spoke up, of course, along with legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Buck Buchanan.
“Oh, yeah. I remember,” Hannah said. “All the guys that I had grown up with and they had become my heroes, so to speak. And, you know, they got up, they started talking and they challenged you pretty good. And it was just, if you were inducted, you had to be involved with the NFL in some fashion.”
Mike Haynes, who was a teammate of Hannah’s for seven years in New England, recalled his initial encounter with Nitschke when he was enshrined in 1997.
“I remember the first time I met him at that luncheon — shaking my hand and looking me in the eyes — I’ll never forget that,” said Haynes. “Oh yeah, and how it’s important to come back every year. You could tell he loved football, and he loved what football did for him — the experiences he had, and how proud he was to be part of the Hall of Fame team.”
Former Patriots and Jets running back Curtis Martin, who was inducted in 2012, has said he feels it’s “part of your duty as a Hall of Famer” to return to Canton every summer you are able.
“And it really started with that luncheon” Martin said. “When I was in college, I never pledged any fraternity or was part of any group other than the football team. I was never a frat type of guy, but you feel the brotherhood in that room. You feel as though these are people who all of your life you’re going to be connected to.”
Hannah is disappointed he won’t be in the room for this year’s Nitschke Luncheon. He said the camaraderie in the locker room is the best thing about playing football. The Nitschke Luncheon is essentially a locker room filled with the greatest football players of all time.
We asked Hannah what his message would be for the Class of 2026 if he were there. He kept it simple:
“Support the Hall of Fame. It’s a team, and we need each other to show up and help promote professional football, because it’s the greatest game ever created.”
