On Monday afternoon, it was revealed Rodney Harrison will be the 2019 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee, which came as a surprise to some, including Harrison himself.
The former Patriots safety was surprised to learn he beat out Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel in a fan vote.
"It was a pretty special moment, just being there with Mike [Vrabel] and being there with Richard [Seymour]. They're really good friends of mine, two guys that really taught me a lot. They were consummate professionals, guys I have a lot of respect for on and off the field. It was kind of shocking to me," he said on a conference call. "I said, 'OK, the fans get an opportunity to vote now, but you know what, those guys are longer tenured guys. Maybe they vote them in.' I was thinking more so Richard and I was just saying, you know what, it doesn't even matter at this point. We won championships together but I'm very happy that the fans, they saw through everything, and they voted me. I'm still kind of shocked because I didn't expect it. Wow."
Harrison added: "It's very humbling. It's to the point where I'm still sitting here as I'm talking to you kind of shaking because I didn't think it was going to happen this year. It kind of took me by surprise. I was just really getting ready to be excited for Mike and for Richard, for one of those guys. Yeah, it's very humbling to have played with so many great football players, to be blessed to play with those guys, great people, great men, husbands, guys that I still communicate with, guys that have spoken into my life and helped really shape who I am as a person.
"It's very humbling, but I'm also very grateful. I'm very grateful for Mr. [Robert] Kraft, for everything that he's done, the support that he's shown me, Coach Belichick, just the whole Patriot family. It's been an experience. It's almost like I just can't explain it. It's been so surreal and I'm just very grateful for all of the people that have helped me throughout my journey."
Harrison played the final six seasons of his 15-year NFL career with the Patriots after spending his first nine seasons with the Chargers. He played a major role in back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his first two seasons with New England in 2003 and 2004. He had seven interceptions in nine postseason games with the Patriots, including two in Super Bowl XXXIX over the Eagles.
The ceremony will take place some time this summer.
