Junior Seau is a first-time nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015, and he certainly has New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s vote.
Seau finished his 20-year career under Belichick with the Patriots from 2006 to 2009. The head coach briefly spoke about the linebacker’s legendary career and tragic death Wednesday during a news conference with the media.
“Tremendous. I loved Junior and his family,” Belichick said Wednesday in San Diego. “I was out here for the funeral. It was very emotional. Nobody loved the game more than Junior did, and nobody would be more deserving to be in the Hall of Fame than Junior Seau. All-time leader in tackling, but more than stats, his love for the game, his passion for the game and the high level that he played at at a very difficult position. Him, Clay Matthews (Jr.), those guys, to play it as long as they did at that position as well as he did is phenomenal. He’s so deserving, so I hope it happens.”
Seau recorded 1,522 tackles during his long career with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Patriots. He had 56.5 sacks, 18 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 18 fumble recoveries.
The Patriots play the Chargers, whom Seau played with for 13 years, on Sunday night at Qualcomm Stadium.
Thumbnail photo via Charles Krupa/Associated Press
