KANSAS CIY, Mo. – The fourth time around proved a charm for former Chiefs guard Will Shields.
Shields, one of the most decorated players in Chiefs history, earned enough votes to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as announced Saturday night.
Dec 31, 2006; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs guard (68) Will Shields in action. Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
“Will’s achievements and contributions to our franchise and community over 14 seasons were extraordinary,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. “Will was a true ‘iron man’ – never missing a game in 14 seasons – and his career and character place him among the greatest in Chiefs history. Will’s enshrinement further cements his place as one of the NFL’s all-time greats. He spent his entire career in a Chiefs uniform; he embraced the city and our fans and we are thrilled for Will, his wife Senia and the Shields family.”
The three-time first-team All-Pro selection had been a modern-day finalist the past three years only to fall short of the required 80 percent of votes to get in before Saturday night.
Shields spent 14 seasons with the Chiefs after being selected out of Nebraska in the third round (74th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft.
He appeared in 224 games (223 consecutive starts) with the Chiefs and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
In addition to being named first-team All-Pro three times during his standout career, Shields was a four-time second-team All-Pro selection and a 12-time Pro Bowl selection.
Shield helped pace the Chiefs during his career to rank in the top five in total offense six times and rank in the top five in rushing offense seven times. He also helped block for five individual 1,000-yard rushers.
He was dedicated to community during his playing career and remains active in Kansas City with the Will to Succeed Foundation. Shield won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2003 based on his commitment to community.
Shields was born on Fort Riley, Kan., and grew up around the Army as the son of a soldier. He played high school football in Lawton, Okla., where his father was stationed at nearby Fort Sill.
Shields becomes the 11th member of Chiefs to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Len Dawson, Lamar Hunt, Willie Lanier, Jan Stenerud, Hank Stram, Derrick Thomas, Emmitt Thomas and Curley Culp.
The Chiefs inducted Shields to the team’s Hall of Fame in 2012 and he was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Shields joins Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Junior Seau, Bill Polian, Mick Tinglehoff and Ron Wolf as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
The induction ceremony will take place in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 8.
