The Pro Football Hall of Fame is standing by its policy not to give gold jackets and rings to the families of players inducted posthumously.
Amid criticism from one of the daughters of Ken Stabler, the former quarterback who was inducted posthumously this year, many have called on the Hall to change that rule and grant the Hall’s signature gold jackets to family members. But the hall of Fame released a statement today saying that it has no plans to change its policy.
“While the iconic bronzed busts are created to memorialize every member of the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame Ring and Gold Jacket are items presented to living Hall of Fame members to be worn exclusively by them as evidence and pride of their having been elected to sport’s most elite fraternity,” the statement said. “At no time in its 53-year history has the Hall of Fame presented either of these personal adornments posthumously or retroactively to a family member of a deceased Hall of Famer.”
Stabler’s daughter Kendra Stabler Moyes takes issue with the Hall of Fame’s policy, but her half-sisters Alexa Stabler-Adams and Marissa Stabler say they don’t want their father’s legacy to become ensnared in a dispute with the Hall of Fame.