(NOTE: Not an official transcript; this reflects the text as submitted pre-event.)

To the Hall of Fame Class of 2026…I could not have asked for a better class of men, players, and contributors to the great game of football. It is an absolute honor to join this elite fraternity with you, and WE are now bonded for life! To all the HOFers, you've inspired generations, you've passed it forward, and WE will do the same.

It is impossible to properly articulate or encapsulate all the feelings, emotions, and appreciation that comes along with a 20 year NFL career in the time we have, but I will do my best to entertain and enlighten you with the stories, the places and people who shaped my mindset, directed my trajectory, and defined my career. We may laugh, we may cry…but most of all I hope we leave with a greater love, respect and reverence for the virtues of this game.

I have always relished the opportunity to play sports and to be a part of the team! I came from a very athletic and competitive family. In fact, this story best sums up how important sports was to our family growing up. My Uncle Marty Akins was an All American Quarterback for the University of Texas, running the wishbone offense with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Earl Campbell. When Marty was in elementary school, he was called into the principals office with my grandfather Ray Akins, who was a legendary high school football coach in the state of Texas. The principal went on to say that she had some concerns about what young Marty was being taught at home. Apparently in class that day, Marty had been asked to stand up and name the four seasons. Instead of saying Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring….Marty said football, basketball, baseball, and track.

I'd like to thank all the members of my family for hard-wiring this competitive desire and spirit into my system at a very early age. To my father Chip, thank you that the answer to me whenever I would ask to play catch, pitch to me, shoot hoops with me, or drop me off at the field…was always YES! My mother Mina Ruth Akins, was THE MOST competitive person I've ever known. She passed away 17 years ago yesterday. So much of her lives inside of me and I know how proud she would be, even MORE SO of her grandchildren. My brother Reid, whether we were catching crawfish in Shoal Creek, riding our bikes to the baseball card shop, or putting dents in our parents garage pitching to each other…you were the best brother I could ever ask for. And to my sister Audrey, I'm so proud of your accomplishments and the woman you've become.

I don't take for granted that I got to play the most coveted position in all of sports! From as far back as I can remember…I wanted to play Quarterback. I never saw the position as one of pressure…but rather one of great responsibility. Bill Parcells described it as 'the steady hand that steers the ship." Marty Schottenheimer would say "there is no position on the field whose performance has greater impact on those around him." Bill Walsh often emphasized that great Quarterback play is about making the correct
decisions repeatedly.

The quarterback is the distributor of hope and confidence. A master of probability. The ultimate problem solver. I've always seen the game of football and the quarterback position as a true art form…like a song or a dance.

The key to the art form was controlling the rhythm of the game. Everything had a rhythm…from the articulation of the play in the huddle, to the pre snap cues and communication, to the cadence and snap of the ball. To your feet dropping back, the timing and flow of your hitch or gather, to the .3 seconds between your front foot hitting the ground that set off a combustion of energy from the ground force all the way from your toes to your fingertips as it translates power to the pronation and spin of the ball as it releases into the atmosphere...that feeling is what I lived for!

I wish I could say it was stress free. Quite the contrary. The amount of head space this occupied in a given week was all consuming. How can I visualize every eventuality, every possible scenario. What if the defense does this...what if they do that...what if they decide to take this player away…what if they bring that exotic pressure in that critical situation.

But I loved the chess match. It was a complex puzzle to solve. Each drive represented a section of that puzzle. If you failed with one, you could log away the information and come back to it later with a different perspective or a different confidence. And to solve it was euphoric. Because through the process you saw something take place. You saw a masterpiece come together. With every teammate and position playing an integral role in the final outcome.

And that feeling began in high school! To this day, one of the proudest accomplishments of my career was winning a Texas 5A State Championship for Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Youth sports and especially high school football should always be about character and leadership development, teamwork and positive affiliation. May we never forget that! Thank you to Ron Schroeder and all of our coaches, who built a program that we all strived to be a part of, one that prioritized discipline, accountability, and comeraderie.

Thank you to Carment Kiara, the mentor and motivator for our entire team as we suffered through the summer conditioning at Heartbreak Hill in East Austin off Perdenales St. And to the class of 1997 who led with incredible passion and purpose, becoming the measuring stick for every team that followed.

But one of the most life changing events occurred my junior year of high school. After suffering a major knee injury which put my athletic career in jeopardy, my identity was challenged. Up until that point, sports had defined me and I wasn't sure who I was without it. Sitting in church on my 17th birthday, Christ came into my heart and changed me forever. I felt protected, connected, and directed towards the path that God had for me. He would equip me for the journey, which led me to places I never could have expected. Thank you to Pastors Shawn Mitchell, Miles McPherson, Rob Wilton and Troy Martin for your Christian mentorship in my life.

Purdue University. I still don't know how you got this Texas kid up to West Lafayette, IN, but it was certainly one of the best decisions I ever made. I chose Purdue because of its academic reputation and the opportunity to play in the Big Ten Conference. Little did I know I would leave school 4 years later with one of the most respected degrees in the country, a Big Ten Championship, the love of my life, and an opportunity to live out my childhood dream of being a professional athlete. It is an absolute honor to join Purdue greats Bob Griese, Len Dawson, Rod Woodson, and legendary coach Hank Stram as Boilermakers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Thank you to Tim "Pup" Lapano…WR coach at Purdue and the one who claims to have stood on the table to recruit this 6 foot 170 lb kid out of Central Texas. To coaches Jim Chaney and Greg Olsen...thank you for pushing me. For preparing me. For testing me and always holding me accountable. To our late HC Joe Tiller…thank you for creating an environment where we always had to prove it. You always had that look in your eye like you knew something that we didn't. You knew how hard to push us. And that was well past our perceived limits. We trusted your plan, as you set a new standard that developed grit, toughness, and a massive chip on our shoulders. We carried that everywhere we went!

Two of my best friends in the world were part of that class at Purdue…Ben Smith and Jason Loerzel. Thank you for your friendship, your loyalty, your unwavering support and being there for me during some of my toughest moments. As great as it was to be your teammates and lifelong friends…what's even better is watching our children grow up together.

San Diego Chargers. So many emotions travel through you during the NFL Draft process. With one pick, your life and circumstances can change forever. You just hope you end up in the right place, at the right time, with the right team, with the right coach, in the right system.

Thank you to the Spanos Family, General Manager John Butler, and Coach Norv Turner who had everything to do with drafting me to the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd Rd of the 2001 NFL Draft. This was EXACTLY where I was supposed to be! And what made it even sweeter….I was joining the guy they drafted in the 1st Round…Hall of Famer and one of the greatest RBs in history, Ladainian Tomlinson. LT and I grew up 2 hours from each other and played on the South Texas All Star Team together in 1997. We found our way back together 4 years later as Heisman Trophy Finalists. At the Heisman presentation, we both made the statement…wouldn't it be something if we ended up on the same team.

LT…I always felt a strong kinship with you. We had so much in common. Drafted the same year, married the same year, we both won the Walter Payton Man of the Year the same year…we grew up quickly TOGETHER in this league.

I credit so many things in my career to the 5 years I spent with the Chargers. From the first moment I walked into the facility, there was NO QUESTION who the leaders were….Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison. You always hope that your best players are your hardest workers and your best leaders, and that standard was clear with June Bug and Hot Rod.

Another one of the great influences early in my career was Doug Flutie…Doug, you were ahead of your time. I saw you throwing back shoulder throws, no look passes and manipulating arm angles long before it became a revolutionary thing. I modeled so much of my game after you and Im not sure there was anyone more competitive. Thank you for being so supportive of me throughout my career.

Lorenzo Neal…one of the greatest fullbacks to ever play the game. They don't make 'em like you anymore, Lo. LoNeal used to call me PB. As a young player it was always PB…PB. One day, LoNeal said.."Do you know why I call you PB? It's means Pro Bowler. Thats who you are, but you gotta believe it." Lo…you just dont know how much that meant to me at the time. I love ya PB.

Marty Schottenheimer…one of the greatest coaches and motivators to ever coach this game and who belongs here in Canton. Marty was my biggest fan. He would tell me all the time, even as he benched me 3 times and made me fight for my job every year with two greats Doug Flutie and Philip Rivers. The first 2 times I got benched…I deserved it…the 3rd time….I still don't think I deserved it, Coach. But nonetheless…it lit more than a fire. It forced me to access a place in my mind and heart that I had not yet been. The adversity was not expected, but very necessary. I would never have reached the heights I did without it. I knew I needed to play better, but more importantly, I knew HE BELIEVED I would play better.

Thank you to Cam Cameron and Brian Schottenheimer…OC and QB Coach for the Chargers. I"ll never forget a film session in 2003. I was coming off a tough game, and as we watched the tape together, they asked me the question.."Hey, why didnt you throw to this receiver…He's wide open." To which my response was…"I couldn't see him." The tape paused, there was a moment of silence, they glared at me and said "It's your JOB to see."

You reach a point in your career where you stop making excuses…it's usually a moment or an event where you flip a switch or make a very conscious decision, and it becomes part of your being. They were right, and never again would those words or thoughts come out of my mouth. I would need to find a way to play the game a different way, even if it was in a way that had not been done before. It would shape me for what came next…New Orleans!

When we bought our home in the heart of Uptown New Orleans, Brittany and I could not have been more excited and scared to embark on this new journey and chapter in our lives. As we were moving in, containers of housewarming gifts began to show up at the front door. As I opened the lid to the first container expecting to see brownies or perhaps chocolate chip cookies, it was rather the smell of butter, onions and Cajun seasoning in a dark roux that made up crawfish etoufee. The next day it was jambalaya, and the next Gumbo. We're not talking a small container…a Vat of the best home cooked Louisiana flavors you can imagine. Welcome to New Orleans!

But nothing compares to what we experienced every Monday night during my entire career in New Orleans. For 15 years straight…and this is no exaggeration…our neighbors Steve and Kathy Price would make our family red beans and rice and cornbread. Whether it was their house, our house or with great friends like Trombone Shorty…it was what we all looked forward to together. It was the perfect representation of what New Orleans is all about.

It doesn't take you long to realize what makes New Orleans so special. New Orleans has been through a lot…to the point where in some cases the feeling was we may have lost everything. It may never come back the same.

Storms teach us that our greatest treasures aren't the things we own…they're the people we love and the way we show up for one another. It reminds us to hold our loved ones a little closer, to love a little harder, to laugh a little louder, and to never take a single day for granted. Sometimes it takes losing what can be replaced to truly appreciate the things that can't.

New Orleans…you accepted me, you embraced me, you believed in me, but more importantly, you trusted me with the SOUL of the city and I would have DIED to protect that calling.

The greatest teams in the history of sports are the ones who accept the responsibility of being a true representation of their city/country/community. I speak for all my Saints teammates when I say THAT'S what we were inspired to be everyday FOR YOU. If you love New Orleans, it will love you back…there is no truer statement.

The Who Dat Nation…there are a few events in your life where you remember exactly where you were when it occurred. For Saints fans, it is the Steve Gleason blocked punt on Monday Night Football, reopening of the Dome September 25, 2006 and when the Saints won Super Bowl 44. It was your spirit that allowed us to Be Special, Smell Greatness, and Finish Strong.

To Tom & Gayle Benson. I will always appreciate Mr Tom Benson's grandfatherly advice when he would call me into his office and slide the Wall Street Journal or New York Times in front of me with exercpts highlighted for me to read. He wanted to make sure I didnt lose sight of the important things happening int he world and our community, even as we prepared to beat our next opponent.

And I will always appreciate Ms Gayle Benson's grace, calm demeanor, and thoughtfulness as she would routinely deliver hand written notes to her players expressing gratitude for their community work and congratulations for their personal accomplishments.

Joe Lombardi, my QB coach for more than a decade…I respect you so much as a man, the values you hold dear, and for always being a calming presence and a voice of reason.

Pete Carmichael, I was with Pete for 19 of my 20 years. Four with the Chargers and 15 with the Saints, mostly as our Offensive Coordinator. Im not sure anyone dedicated themselves to the job more than you, Pete. Im not sure anyone put more time or thought into preparing our teams and me. I'm so grateful for the years we spent together and the incredible moments we shared.

To Sean Payton…I miss our dot meetings the night before every game..talking through every play, every situation, every matchup in the greatest of detail. I would literally ask Sean, "Hey, when will you call this play?" He would squint his eyes and purse his lips and say.."Second quarter…across midfield..probably 47 yard line..2nd and 10…left hash…left/middle…they'll never expect it! PRECISE! INSTINCTIVE!

Coach, you were brilliant…I saw myself as an extension of you on that field. I always had something to prove to you…and I always wanted to make you right. And I know you trusted me, and that allowed us both to be great!

I miss sitting next to you, Orny and Coach Vitt on the bus in Philly as the eggs hit our bus from Eagles fans going to the stadium…and just watching you grin with satisfaction. I miss the 3 hour flights home from Dallas to New Orleans after a big win. By the way folks, that's only supposed to be an hour flight, but Sean would have the pilots circle 10 times so we could soak up the celebration on the plane for a bit longer. You never missed an opportunity to enjoy the moment.

You always had a plan and vision for every player you coached….Im not sure if this is how you envisioned my journey…or how big a role you would play in it...but I love you for it.

Our general manager during my entire career in New Orleans, Mickey Loomis. Sean Payton got a lot of credit, I got a lot of credit, Mickey you didn't get enough credit. You put character, leadership and culture at the front of every decision. And the results speak for themselves.

Tom House…a friend, mentor and confidant. You came into my life at a critical time. We grew together, we learned together, and had a heck of a lot of fun doing it. Thank you for teaching me to order the chaos, prolong my prime, and make gratitude my secret weapon.

Todd Durkin…my friend, mentor and trainer. Create Impact! Be the Light! The way you do anything is the way you do everything. You didn't just say it…you lived it, you modeled it. Every off season was our laboratory to test the limits and reach new heights.

Gerald McCoy, Charles Tillman, Chase Daniel, Darren Sproles…our off-season workouts will forever be legendary.

To my friend and contract agent for my entire 20 year career...Tom Condon.
To my friend and marketing agent for over 20 years…Chris Stuart.
To my friend and CPA for the last 25 years John Palguta.
To my friend and PT for a decade Beau Lowery.
Thank you all for being the team behind the scenes that always looked out for me.

To my kids…Baylen, Bowen, Callen and Rylen. You are our greatest joy, greatest accomplishment, and greatest responsibility. At times during my career you were my training partners.  Other times you were my caretakers. You helped me study film, and even helped me brave the cold tub. But most importantly you always made me remember to have fun! I played longer than I ever imagined, in many ways because you continued to ignite my love and passion for the game as I saw it through your eyes. You are forever my greatest inspiration!

To my wife Brittany. I could be up here til the sun sets and beyond talking about how much my wife means
to me, but I will just tell you a story that encapsulates it all. In 2003, coming off one of my toughest moments with the Chargers...I was distraught, feeling that I had let my team down. We fly home from Chicago, and when I walk in the door to our home, my wife has printed pictures and quotes from my entire career and displayed them through every step of our home. She immediately turned one of the toughest moments of my career into a place of love, support and unwavering confidence. My love, you have always had the ability to remind me of who I am and what I'm capable of. So much of what we accomplished was because I knew you were by my side and you believed in this calling.

One of my favorite coaches Joe Vitt used to say, the greatest teams are the ones who care about each other the most. The time we spent together away from the facility was always the most impactful…the Offensive Line dinners every Thursday night, supporting each others charity events, the trips and holidays spent together, our bible studies inside the facility. It was about developing timing, rhythm, and communication around the game plan.

Outside the facility, it was about relationship, camaraderie, trust, connection, loyalty, and brotherhood. This is where the magic happens! Through life and the locker room, my Saints teammates became family to me and powerful influences on our children. Despite the fact that my boys would often steal the gloves out of their lockers! And by the way, I have three WRs on my hands now, so thanks a lot.

Words cannot express my love and appreciation for you. I often ask myself...how in the world did I play 20 years in the NFL? Yes, it was for the love of the game. Yes, it was a relentless attempt to master my craft. Yes, it was the grind and challenge of preparation and the thrill of gameday. But you want to know what it really was….for the LOVE of my TEAMMATES.

I would wake up every day with a burning desire to commit, sacrifice and command in a way that would give THEM everything they deserved. As time passes, those feelings don't diminish…they become STRONGER. What we built, what we achieved, what we experienced together can never be taken away. You all make up the GOLDEN THREADS of this jacket. It represents the history of this game, the great men who pioneered its existence, but most importantly, it represents YOU!

God Bless you, and Who Dat!