Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens has finally been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame but he announced that he will not attend the induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Owens noted that he was grateful for the support from his family, friends, and fans, and though he's truly honored and appreciative of the opportunity, he would rather commemorate that honor somewhere else.
"After visiting Canton [Ohio] earlier this year, I came to the realization that I wish to celebrate what will be one of the most memorable days of my life, elsewhere."
"At a later date, I will announce where and when I will celebrate my induction."
Owens played in the NFL for 15 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals. He entered the league as a third-round draft pick in 1996 and developed into a star with memorable playoff appearances, including his winning 25-yard TD catch to beat Green Bay in 1999; his 177 yards in a comeback win against the Giants in 2003; and his nine catches for 122 yards in the 2004 Super Bowl against New England just seven weeks after breaking his leg. Owens ranks second to Jerry Rice with 15,934 yards receiving and is third on the all-time touchdowns receiving list with 153.
Many believe he should've been a first-ballot Hall of Famer and Owens heavily criticized the voting process when he was not elected in 2016 and 2017. During his time as a player, Owens was considered to be a divisive teammate and negative presence in the locker room. His relationship with the media has been tumultuous and since they vote players in, he's been very critical of the process as it should be on merit not personal feelings. Now that Owens has been voted in, in his third year of eligibility, he has decided to celebrate elsewhere.
"We are disappointed but will respect Terrell's decision not to participate in the enshrinement," Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker said in a statement.
"While unprecedented, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the nearly 5,000 volunteers and the entire community are committed to celebrating the excellence of the Class of 2018 that will kick off the NFL's 99th season.
"As we do not want to detract from this great honor being enjoyed by the seven other members of the class of 2018 — Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher — their family, friends, and fans, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have no further comment on the decision made by Terrell Owens."
