Former Broncos great Floyd Little says he had given up quest for Hall of Fame consideration

Little had given up on Hall of Fame consideration

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Former Broncos running back Floyd Little says he had given up hope of ever making it on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Little told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from his home in Seattle on Wednesday that after a quarter century of hoping and praying he figured that his final football dream would go unfulfilled.

The hall’s senior committee, however, chose the 67-year-old Little, who gained more than 12,000 total yards in the NFL, and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, a star defensive back before becoming a coach, as finalists for the Hall on Tuesday.

They will join 15 modern-era candidates on the complete list of finalists for the 2010 class, which will be voted on Feb. 6 at the Super Bowl in Miami. Up to two senior candidates and five modern-era hopefuls can be elected.

“I’m not there yet, but I’m closer than I’ve ever been,” Little said.

He said not a month goes by that somebody doesn’t approach him to settle a bet: which year did you make it into the Hall?

“And I have to tell them I’m not in the Hall of Fame and I’ve never even been nominated,” Little said.

For that reason, Little said that he decided a few years back not to get his hopes up anymore.

“I was running out of guys who had seen me play,” said Little, whose career in Denver spanned the years 1967-75, lean times in the former AFL franchise’s history. “The people that had seen me play were starting to fade off and retire.

“All these guys were no longer there, so who’s going to talk about Floyd Little? Nobody. I thought I’d just fallen through the cracks never to be seen or heard from again.”

When John Elway became the first Bronco enshrined and in his acceptance speech, he said there were many others who played before who deserved the honor, including Little. When Gary Zimmerman went into the Hall last summer he said the same thing.

Little said he was shocked to get the call from Hall vice president Joe Horrigan.

“I knew he wasn’t calling to tell me I was passed over again,” Little said. “It was thrilling. I haven’t slept in two days.”

Little was chosen for five Pro Bowls, rushing for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns, making 215 receptions for 2,418 yards and nine TDs. When he retired in 1975, Little ranked seventh in career rushing.

He also was one of the league’s best kick returners, leading the AFL in punt returns as a rookie in 1967.

Little earned the nickname “Franchise” in Denver because it was his signing that was credited with keeping the team from bolting to another city and helped persuade voters to approve funds for Mile High Stadium, which has been replaced by Invesco Field.

In July, Little closed down his Ford dealership in Seattle after 32 years.

“I’ve worked for 50 years. Now, it’s time to take a moment off to enjoy the family, do some traveling,” he said.

He hopes that will include a stop in Canton, Ohio, next summer.

“I’m hopeful that it will happen. I pray that it will happen,” Little said, suggesting the stars are aligned for him at last.

“It’s the 44th Super Bowl,” he said. “An African-American just became our 44th president. I wore No. 44. I just feel it’s my time.”