(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony for the Class of 2020 was postponed until this August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so Troy Polamalu had extra time to prepare for his Hall of Fame speech, but he recently told Andrew Stockey of WTAE that he hasn't written his speech yet.
"I don't think you can define your whole career in a speech," Polamalu said. "And I think that if you haven't conveyed that message throughout your entire career, then you're wasting your time in your eight-minute speech. You really are."
Polamalu, who has always been so humble and modest, said he's really not looking forward to his speech as he is hearing all the others, but is proud to represent his former teammates in the Hall of Fame in August.
There's an eight-minute limit for Hall of Fame speeches this year, so will Polamalu's speech even reach eight minutes? I can see it being similar to former Steelers defensive back Jack Butler's in 2012, which went three minutes and 42 seconds. Even if allowed, it certainly wouldn't last for 36 minutes like former Ravens free safety Ed Reed's in 2019, which was one of the longest in Hall of Fame history. Polamalu just doesn't operate that way. When it was announced in February of 2020 that Polamalu made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he said he felt unworthy of the honor.
It's surreal. It really feels surreal," Polamalu said. "I'm very thankful for all of my teammates, it's truly a tribute to them. I feel honored and unworthy of it, to be honest."
I'm sure Polamalu will touch on his faith and family, along with his great teammates and coaches that he had with the Steelers and at USC and Douglas High School in Oregon in his speech. There won't be any self-praise. Instead, it will be all about the people who have helped him get to Canton.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame officially announced last month that Polamalu's longtime defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will be his presenter. Polamalu hinted the day before on social media that LeBeau would present him into the Hall of Fame.
Along with Polamalu, Bill Cowher and Donnie Shell will be enshrined as members of the Class of 2020 on Aug. 7. In addition, Alan Faneca will be enshrined as a member of the Class of 2021 on Aug. 8. Bill Nunn was enshrined in April as a member of the Class of 2021 and will be recognized during the ceremony, as well.