Pro Football Hall Of Famer Julius Peppers Shouts Out The Green Bay Packers In Induction Speech
When it comes to quarterback sacks, only three players in NFL history have [officially] recorded more than newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame pass rusher Julius Peppers. With 159.5 sacks to his name in 17 NFL seasons, only Bruce Smith (200), Reggie White (198), and Kevin Greene (160) have had more.
Peppers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday along with Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Steve McMichael, and Patrick Willis.
While Peppers played the majority of his Hall of Fame career for the Carolina Panthers, one of his other two teams got a special shoutout during his induction speech.
Julius Peppers Shouts Out the Green Bay Packers and the State of Wisconsin in Hall of Fame Induction Speech
In addition to the Panthers, Peppers played for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. During his acceptance speech, Peppers gave a special shoutout to the organization, Packers fans, and the state of Wisconsin:
“Thank you to the people of Wisconsin and Green Bay fans all over. Go Pack Go! That was three of the best years of my life,” Peppers said during his speech.
One of the newest members of the Hall of Fame, Peppers played for the Packers from 2014-2016. He spent the first 12 years of his career with the Panthers and Bears before signing a three-year contract with the Packers, making him one of the few high-profile free agent signings in franchise history.
Julius Peppers Enjoyed Productive Seasons with the Green Bay Packers
In 2014, Peppers recorded 7.0 sacks while tying a career-high with two interceptions. He took both picks back for touchdowns. The Packers made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game that season before collapsing against the Seattle Seahawks.
The next season, Peppers 10.5 sacks on his way to his ninth and final career Pro Bowl. In 2016, the Packers once again made it to the NFC Championship Game but fell to the Atlanta Falcons. That year, Peppers had 7.5 sacks, bringing his total as a Green Bay player to 24.5.
While he did not spend much time in Green Bay, Packers fans still remember Peppers fondly and he remains one of the more popular players from the mid-2010s.
Obviously, the feeling is mutual as Peppers remembers his time in Green Bay fondly as well.