Editor’s note: Gary Zimmerman and Randall McDaniel were teammates on the [Minnesota Vikings for five seasons, from 1988 to 1992, anchoring the left side of the offensive line. Zimmerman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008; McDaniel will now join him when he is enshrined on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.]
Randall,
Welcome to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Why you’re so deserving to be a part of this team is obvious to me. I know we’ve had this talk already, but now it’s my chance to personally welcome you again.
I want you to try to enjoy the festivities of Hall of Fame weekend. That’s really the most important thing. You’ve made it, and you deserve to be there.
Chat with Randall McDaniel
Hall of Fame guard Randall McDaniel chatted live with fans on Wednesday. Get his take on what this honor means to him, find out his fondest memories of his career and more. Chat ...
When I was inducted, I was all stressed out, and didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I could have. I think it’s probably a common thing among the players. As you’re going through the process, you’re a little bit in limbo and you’ll probably be nervous. Just relax and enjoy your time. Take everything in. When it’s all over, you won’t even remember what happened.
This is your time to relax and take it all in. You’re a Hall of Famer.
I’ve been in the Hall of Fame for less than a year, so it’s difficult for me to encapsulate everything it means and represents. You’re being recognized by the writers as being one of the best who ever played the game. You now have that honor, as well as the extra responsibility on you too now that you represent everyone in the Hall.
I know this won’t be an issue for you because you’re a class guy.
There are many memories from our playing days together. One of the things I remember is how in the pregame in the locker room, you would come in with bags of Halloween candy and sit there and eat candy before the game. It just kind of shocked me that you would eat that much candy and then go out and play like you did. All those bags of candy, and I think Reeses’ was your favorite. Just sitting there with five or six bags of candy at your locker about an hour before the game.
I guess it worked. Maybe we all should have been doing that.
Congrats on this special honor, Randall. We’ll be seeing you in Canton.