Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens announced on Thursday that he would not be in attendance with the rest of the Class of 2018 when it enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. It was a shocking decision that Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker called "unprecedented."
Instead, Owens plans to celebrate elsewhere rather than take part in the induction festivities or the enshrinement ceremony.
"While I am incredibly appreciative of this opportunity, I have made the decision to publicly decline my invitation to attend the induction ceremony in Canton," Owens said via a statement. "I have already shared this information with the Hall. After visiting Canton earlier this year, I came to the realization that I wish to celebrate what will be one of the most memorable days of my life, elsewhere."
One Hall of Famer who implores Owens to reconsider his decision is former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young, who is now an analyst with ESPN. He joined NFL Live on Thursday to share his reaction to Owens' decision.
"It's shocking, especially in context for what it feels like to be there, and the guys that you surround yourself with, and the meaning it has for me personally, and just for the team and the respect of all the people that got you there," Young said. "So I suspect Terrell will do this somewhere else, and we'll all hear about it, but the problem is life is really about the relationships and how you deal with them. And the relationship with the Hall of Fame, for him, has been difficult because they delayed his time getting in. I'm sure there's resentment and scar tissue about it, but I beg him to reconsider."
Young went on to mention the Nitschke Luncheon, which is one of the induction festivities that Owens will miss, and what it is like to be in the room with so many Hall of Fame players.
"There's something about that (event) that I will never forget and will always be a big part of my life," he said.
Young went on to say that Owens missing such an event could impact how the 50 or so players in that room view him for decades to come.
"The damage to the relationship could be permanent," Young continued. "You don't want that. So I guess I beg him to reconsider because the longevity of all the people that want to respect him and that he should respect as well. Forget about, 'I'm mad at the voters, I'm mad at the system.' The damage that could be done by not going could overwhelm him over a period of time."
Fellow analyst Tedy Bruschi agreed with Young, stating that Owens may go on to regret the decision. He implored Owens' friends to get in touch with the former receiver and tell him to attend.
"This is the greatest individual achievement in this sport," Bruschi said. "Hearing Steve Young talk about it, all the Hall of Famers that I've talked to about this, T.O. needs to be there and experience this. I hope he reconsiders."
NFL insider Adam Schefter was even more passionate in his response to Owens' decision, stating that when you enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you are joining a new team. The members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame become your new teammates for life.
"You do functions with these teammates," Schefter said. "You make business appearances with these teammates. You are in a room with these players as new teammates. He's joining a new team, and you are saying to the new team, 'I don't want to be a part of the team.'"
