Best moments from 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony

The Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed four members to its ranks, with Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe joining the sport's elite in Canton on Saturday.

Here are our takeaways from the HOF's 62nd enshrinement ceremony.

Sterling Sharpe finally gets his due

Sharpe's brilliant playing career was cut short when he retired at just 29 because of a neck injury. But as evidenced by him finally earning his rightful place in the Hall of Fame, the first-round pick in the 1988 NFL Draft accomplished more than most others could dream of in only seven seasons.

The Green Bay Packers standout led the NFL in receptions three times (1989, 1992-93) and touchdown receptions twice (1992, 1994). His 18 touchdowns during his final season are tied for the third-most in NFL single-season history, only trailing Randy Moss (23) and Jerry Rice (22).

Sharpe was also a three-time first-team All-Pro, giving him more than fellow HOF wide receivers Cris Carter, Andre Johnson and Fred Biletnikoff (among others), and a five-time Pro Bowler, the same number as 2007 inductee Michael Irvin.

Antonio Gates paves new Hall of Fame path

Before Saturday, players only had one path to getting into the Hall. Not anymore.

Gates paved another path, becoming the first player in NFL history to receive a gold jacket without playing college football.

The former San Diego Chargers eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro played basketball while at Kent State, and he was able to take his skillset on the hardwood — in three collegiate seasons, he averaged 16.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game — and turn it into a dominant football career at tight end.

"The physical traits that helped him dominate on the basketball court, it carried over and translated, you know, in a major way to the football field," his assistant coach at Kent State, Oronde Taliaferro, said in a pre-taped video.