Julius Peppers shares fond Bears memories in Hall of Fame speech

Peppers closed his speech with a powerful and inspirational message about what being a Hall of Famer means to him.

“It’s not about how many touchdowns you score or how many Super Bowl rings you have, even though those things are nice,” he said. “It really comes down to who you are at your core and what’s in your heart. Are you resilient? Do you stand tall in the face of adversity when things get tough, or do you quit? Do you acknowledge other people’s contributions to your success, or do you make it all about you?

“Being a Hall of Famer is one of my crowning achievements. But it extends far beyond pro football. It extends to my family, and it extends to my daily life. Everyone can’t play in the NFL, and everyone can’t have a bust here in Canton. But everyone can be a Hall of Famer in your own life. You can be a Hall of Fame dad or a Hall of Fame student, teacher, spouse, co-worker, friend, whatever it is. Whatever it is you do, do it with respect, integrity, passion, resilience, dedication and gratitude. That alone will make you a Hall of Fame person and you too can have a legacy that lives on forever.”