PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — At the Eagles' first public practice at Lincoln Financial Field during this summer's training camp, new head coach Nick Sirianni, his staff, Chairman Jeffrey Lurie and some players were seen wearing Kelly green t-shirts with the old Eagles logo. They were celebrating all-time great Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael.
The event was long overdue — and further delayed by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. It finally came together on Saturday night in Canton, Ohio. Carmichael, who caught a franchise-leading 8,978 yards and 79 receiving touchdowns as No. 17 of the Eagles, was enshrined in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Click here to watch his speech.)
The humble, 6' 8" Jacksonville, Florida, native, and Southern University alumnus was very thankful in his speech toward many people he came across during his life and ascent into the NFL after being a seventh-round pick of the Eagles in 1971.
From the Eagles, the 71-year-old Carmichael began by thanking Dick Vermeil, who coached the team to an appearance in Super Bowl XV. The 84-year-old eventually won the Lombardi Trophy years later with the St. Louis Rams, but hasn't been elected to Canton. Carmichael — who had to wait a long time as well — vouched for his former coach.
"Coach, I hope you're in that next class of inductees," Carmichael said as television cut to a smiling Vermeil, who is known for getting emotional. "Thank you, Coach. You've been awesome. You deserve it and you got a lot of guys here that you coached that we all are pulling for you right now."
Carmichael then thanked his teammates from the NFL — pointing out former Eagles wide receivers Harold Jackson and Mike Quick, as well as former quarterback Ron Jaworski. He thanked current chairman Jeffrey Lurie and the organization for their support.
A little more than a decade after his playing career, the Eagles welcomed Carmichael back to the franchise to work in the front office as their director of player and community relations for several years.
Next up was a tribute to his family — starting with his wife.
"For over 42 years we've been together," Carmichael said of his wife, Beatrice. "She loves her family. She's given me all the support over the years. One of the things she was doing every time we'd come back from a game — she would critique my play."
That drew a laugh from the crowd in Canton.
He thanked other members of his family, the selection committee, and longtime ESPN correspondent Sal Paolantonio.
Then Carmichael turned to "the Eagles Nation."
"Thank you for welcoming a 22-year-old kid from Jacksonville, Florida, and really accepting me as being one of your own," Carmichael said. "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."