(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Troy Polamalu revealed on social media tonight that he recently tested positive for COVID-19. With his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony being just a little over a week away, Polamalu is hoping he'll be cleared to travel to Canton.
"Thank God I feel great and family are well," Polamalu tweeted. "I’m working with the HOF to ensure we abide by all protocols to make it to Canton in time for all the festivities…"
Polamalu is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a member of the 2020 Centennial Class. He'll be enshrined on Aug. 7 along with his former head coach Bill Cowher and Donnie Shell. His former teammate Alan Faneca will be inducted on Aug. 8 as a member of the Class of 2021. Bill Nunn was enshrined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in April during a ceremony for the posthumous candidates, as a member of the Class of 2021. Nunn will be recognized during the Aug. 8 ceremony also.
“We are disappointed for Troy right now and pray for his quick recovery with no complications,” David Baker, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said in a statement. “We’ll work with him to make sure he’s honored as an enshrinee the way he should be – and that’s mindful of others in the Centennial Class, fans and everyone else in attendance. He had an incredible football career and will have an equally incredible career as a Hall of Famer.”
It was originally reported that Polamalu would be the first to speak and then Shell would go in the sixth slot. The Hall of Fame now has Shell speaking seventh and Polamalu going at No. 10. Bill Cowher remains in the final spot at No. 12 to wrap up the Class of 2020 induction ceremony.
On Aug. 8, Faneca's speech will come in at the No. 6 slot, out of a total of seven who will be delivering speeches. A video tribute to Nunn will be shown, as he was enshrined posthumously in a special ceremony in April.
All enshrinees will have an eight-minute time limit for their speeches.