Harold Carmichael

1980 NFC – Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 7

Carmichael started the game at wide receiver. He had one reception for seven yards.

Super Bowl XV – Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10

Carmichael started at wide receiver. He had five receptions for 83 yards.

* NFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.

 (Division Finish in Parentheses)

Qualified for Postseason in Bold

Full Name: Lee Harold Carmichael

Birthdate: September 22, 1949

Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida

High School: William M. Raines (Jacksonville, FL)

Pro Career: 14 seasons, 182 games

Drafted: 7th round (161st player overall) in 1971 by Philadelphia

HAROLD CARMICHAEL:  Woo, baby.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thanks, Jimbo.  Jim and I have been working together for over 50 years now, and I am so honored that he's my presenter today.  Even with his sister, Marie Solano Mascia she's a big supporter of my family for over 25 years.  Marie, you've been a blessing to my family, and thank you very much.  God bless you. 

I'd like to say congratulations to the class, my class, my Centennial Class of 2020. 

(Cheers and applause.)

And it's great to be inducted with the ‑‑ well, they'll be here tomorrow inducted to the Class of 2021. 

I am so, so happy to be here.  I was with the older guys, the older heads yesterday, you guys really ‑‑ I mean, what you said yesterday was awesome.  I am so honored, so honored to be a part of this brotherhood, this fraternity with love.  Thank you very much.  Oh God, thank you. 

(Applause.)

What a journey.  I wasn't on this journey by myself.  God put a lot of people on that highway with me.  Some of the people that's on that journey with me, some of the guys that I grew up with, the Baby Robins softball team.  This is where my competitive drive started. 

Guys like Ant, Drunk, Little Wint, Bubba, Scott, Dave and Kenny, these guys would really push me every day in the neighborhood.  And a few of those guys are right here with me today.  And, hey, thank you very much, guys, for being here.  I've been knowing these guys for over 65 years.  65 years.  And I tell you what, it's been a blessing. 

(Applause.)

There was a time when I couldn't be in Jacksonville, Florida, around my mom and sister.  There were folks that really helped them out.  Arthur, Earnest, my cousin Francine, Shontres, Joanne and Justine, thank you very much. The Magnolia Garden family, thank you very much for being here. 

My William M. Raines coaches, they're the ones that pushed me.  Coach Earl Kitchens.  He always would say "Never say die" and Ichi ban means number one.  And that's what we tried to be.  My coach, Buster Hair, he pushed me every day to be the best football, basketball and baseball player that I could be. 

Thanks Coach Bob Smith and Al Tabor at Southern University for giving me the opportunity to show my skill.  I was a walk‑on at Southern University.  The only person that knew me on that campus at that time was the head coach.  And at the end of my freshman year, I was voted Freshman of the Year.  I was very, very blessed. 

Now, one of the guys that really got me ready for the NFL is Mel Blount.  He's around here somewhere.  There he is, right there.

(Cheers.)

He pushed me every day in practice.  Another person, somebody that's very dear to me, is Coach Dick Vermeil.  Coach, I hope you're in that next class of inductees, the next class that's going to come in.  Thank you, Coach.  You've been awesome. 

(Cheers and applause.)

You deserve it.  And you got a lot of guys here that you coached – that we're all pulling for you right now.  I remember Coach Vermeil saying, "Do your job better than anybody else.  Surround yourself with good people."  And I think I've done that all through my career in the National Football League. 

Thank you for my guys that I played with for 14 years in the NFL.  They helped me not only on the football field, but also in the community.  People like Harold Jackson, Ron Jaworski and Mike Quick. 

A special thanks to Jeffrey Lurie and the Philadelphia Eagles organization for all your support.  After playing there for 13 years, leaving about 12 years, and you gave me an opportunity to come back for 17 more years to be around the Philadelphia Eagles football team. 

To my beautiful wife, Bea. 

(Cheers and applause.)

For over 42 years we've been together.  She loves her family.  She's given me all the support over the years.  One of the things she done every time we come back from a game, she would critique my play:  "You did this, you did that."  I go, "Okay, I'm going to hear that enough from Coach Vermeil tomorrow." 

And my granddaughters, Isabella and Zoey, love you.  Love you girls.  And to Joe and John Selvaggio and all the Kenny family, my son, Lee, his beautiful wife, Jennifer, thank you very much.  You don't know how much this means to me today. 

Thanks to Hall of Fame committee for selecting me.  I'd also like thank Sal Paolantonio for beating the drum for me, for me to be here today.  Thank you, Sal. 

And last but not least, the Eagles Nation.  Thank you. 

(Cheers.)

Thank you for welcoming a 22‑year‑old kid from Jacksonville, Florida, and really accepting me as being one of your own.  Thank you for the support, thank you for your relentless passion, your energy, your pride.  To me, you're the best fans in the world. 

To the ones that are here in Canton, the ones back in Philadelphia, and the ones around the world, thank you for sharing this moment with me.  We all share this together.  Go Birds, go Hamilton Elite Soccer Team, I love you.  Stay safe.  God bless you.  Thank you.

(Cheers and applause.)