John Hannah (American Football) - NFL Career

NFL Career

Hannah joined the Patriots in 1973 as the 4th overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft. He played his entire professional career in New England. While considered somewhat short by NFL standards, Hannah made up for this with great speed and quickness as well as powerful legs. Hannah excelled as a pass protector, run blocker and as the pulling guard on sweeps. Hannah's commitment level to football was very high and he expected the same from each of his teammates, sometimes becoming quite angry if he did not feel that they were complying. Hannah started the first thirteen games of his rookie season of 1973 until a freak leg injury forced him to miss the final game of the year. Along with tackle Leon Gray, the two formed what was generally considered the best guard/tackle tandem in the NFL during the mid to late 1970s. Gray and Hannah also combined with tight end Russ Francis to form one of the strongest left-side trios in the league. Hannah anchored the 1978 offensive line that set a still-standing NFL record with 3,165 rushing yards. Hannah missed only five games out of a possible 191 because of injuries during his career. He also missed the first three games of the 1977 season due to he and Gray both holding out because of contract disputes. The Patriots finished with a winning record seven times and had only three losing seasons during Hannah's thirteen-year career. In 1985, Hannah helped guide the team to its first AFC title and Super Bowl appearance. Hannah retired from the NFL after playing in Super Bowl XX.

Hannah was named All-Pro 10 times (1976–1985) and All-AFC 11 times (1974, 1976–1985). He was also selected to play in 9 Pro Bowls. He was voted the Seagram's Seven Crowns of Sports Offensive Lineman of the Year Award in both 1978 and 1980 and was the winner of the NFLPA - Coca-Cola Offensive Lineman of the Year Award (selected by a vote of NFL players) for four straight years (1978–81). He is also one of the few players to have been named to the NFL All-Decade Team twice, as Hannah was selected to both the 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Teams (joining an elite group of players who have achieved this including Walter Payton). Hannah was also selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, being the #1 guard in the team.

In 1991, he became the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and Andre Tippett are the only members of the Hall of Fame to have spent their entire career with the Patriots. In 1999, he was ranked number 20 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the highest-ranking Patriot, the highest-ranking guard, and the second-ranked offensive lineman behind Anthony Muñoz.