Getty Images
Drew Pearson waited 33 years for this.
The Professional Football Hall of Fame announced Saturday night that Pearson won the election in the Class of 2021. Pearson was the only senior candidate in the vote.
Pearson thought he would be eliminated in the Centennial Class, which the Hall of Fame announced on January 15, 2020. The former Cowboys receiver was visibly irritated when his name was not among the 13 names read.
Pearson is one of 145 players to receive first team honors in the entire 1960s to 2000 and one of only two of the 145 first team players in all decades who are not in the Hall of Fame. LeRoy Butler, security for the ex-Packers, is the other.
Pearson was part of the team from all the 1970s.
He picked up 489 passes for 7,822 yards and 48 touchdowns, retiring as the Cowboys’ best receiver ever. In 1977, he led the league with 870 receiving yards, the last time a player led the league in receiving yards with less than 1,000.