30 Sports Collectors Digest / August 16, 2019 http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com
A
fter an illustrious 16-year NFL career, with eight Pro
Bowl appearances, Kevin Mawae fi nally was asked to
sign autographs at a sports memorabilia convention. He
signed at the 33rd annual TRISTAR Collectors Show, held June
7-9 at NRG Arena in Houston.
His autograph is now: Kevin Mawae, Hall of Fame 2019.
Yep, this past February the former center who played for
the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans was
named to the Class of 2019 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This year’s class also includes cornerback Champ Bailey,
contributor Pat Bowlen, contributor Gil Brandt, tight end Tony
Gonzalez, cornerback Ty Law, safety Ed Reed and safety Johnny
Robinson.
The Class of 2019 will be enshrined into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.
“It’s pretty cool that instead of just being Kevin Mawae, the
former NFL player; I am now Kevin Mawae, Pro Football Hall
of Famer. That’s pretty special; I’m excited about that,” he said
moments before sitting down to greet fans and sign autographs
at the TRISTAR Show in Houston. “It’s exciting to be here. Go-
ing to events such as this TRISTAR show, and being recognized
as a Hall of Famer, that’s pretty special.”
Mawae was selected in the second-round of the 1994 NFL
Draft by the Seattle Seahawks out of LSU, where he earned First
Team All-SEC honors in 1991 and then, in 2007, was inducted
into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
He was greeted in his hotel room on the fi rst Saturday of
February earlier this year by Pro Football Hall of Fame President
David Baker who knocked on his door and told him, “Kevin
Mawae, I want to welcome you to the Hall of Fame ... your life
will now be changed forever.”
Mawae said, “It’s a moment that you can’t describe.”
“Take the 100 greatest moments from your football career,
throw them all in a pot ... well, the Hall of Fame is bigger than
that pot,” he added.
Mawae was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1994 and
ultimately was a seven-time First Team All-Pro. He was named
to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
He also has been inducted into the New York Jets Ring of
Honor.
“The Hall of Fame doesn’t change anything about your
life; it changes everything about your career,” Mawae said. “As
we get closer to the Hall of Fame (induction), I’m writing my
speech, refl ecting on my career, thinking back, remembering all
of my teammates and coaches, all of the great moments.”
The Class of 2019 includes three fi rst-ballot inductees –
Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez and Ed Reed.
“It’sa classyclass,a bunchofgoodguys,”Mawaesaid.
During the TRISTAR Show, he said then that his Hall of
Fame speech was only two pages long at that time.
“It’s a work in progress,” he said. “I don’t want to be long-
winded, but the challenge is to recognize all of the guys who
have meant something to you during your career, but not put
everyone to sleep.”
Mawae, drafted by Seattle in 1994, was LSU’s highest select-
ed offensive lineman at the time in more than 30 years (since Bo
Strange in 1961). He started for the Seahawks as a right guard.
He moved to center at the start of his 1996 season and remained
there for the rest of his career.
Mawae played for the Seahawks from 1994-97, then went to
the Jets from 1998-2005. He fi nished with the Titans from 2006-
- His career spanned 241 games, all but three as a starter.
“For me, the thing (that stands out from my career) was, the
longevity,” Mawae said. “Of the 241 games that I played, (it
included) a streak of 177 consecutive games without missing a
game. That’s something I’m really proud of.
“The average NFL career is 3.5 years; I went (about) fi ve
Hall of Fame lineman
Kevin Mawae played 16 years in the NFL, a
career that landed him in the Pro Football HOF
byRossForman
Football HOF
Kevin Mawae (No. 68) is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of
2019.