On the field–and now off it–Troy Vincent has built up a Hall of Fame career
Vincent, the current Executive Vice President of Football Operations, might have two chances to make the Hall of Fame
By Mark Eckel
Among the 50 finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is cornerback Troy Vincent.
That should come as no surprise. Vincent was one of the best cornerbacks in the league over his 15 years, primarily with the Miami Dolphins, who made him the seventh overall selection of the 1992 NFL draft and the Philadelphia Eagles, who signed him as a free agent in 1996.
There is more to Vincent than his five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, three All-Pro selections, his leadership on an Eagles team that dominated the NFC East in the early 2000s and his ability to not just be a top cover corner, but one of the best run support corners as well. This is what Vincent has done and continues to do off the field.
It’s why Vincent might be as much of a Hall of Famer as a contributor as a player. There really isn’t anyone in the history of the game who was as good on the field and off the field as the Trenton, New Jersey native.
On the field, he has his Pro Bowls and to go with the All-Pro selections, 47 career interceptions (28 from 1996-03, second most in that span) and of those 47, three interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Off the field during his playing career he’s the only NFL player in history to win the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the Bart Starr Award, the Byron “Whizzer’’ White Award and The Sporting News “Good Guy’’ Award.
Vincent also served as the player rep for the Eagles in the NFLPA before becoming the President of the NFLPA. It was there he got into the nuances of the labor issues the league faced on both sides as he worked with then NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw.
Shortly after his playing days ended in 2006 as a member of the Washington Redskins, Vincent joined the league office. He moved quickly up the ranks and into his current role as the NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. Some of his duties as Commissioner Roger Goodall’s right-hand man was to create the league’s Legends Community to honor former players, the Rookie Success Initiative, the Football Inclusion and Fairness Efforts, which established the coaches and front office advisory committee and the women’s career development community.
Vincent has also been instrumental in his role in increasing player safety in today’s game. He recently took over the development and training and educating today’s officials.
His name is already on the list of 50 finalists (of the original 167 candidates) for the Hall of Fame. He’s one of six defensive backs among the finalists joining Eric Allen, Cam Chancellor, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas and Darren Woodson.
There are also 25 finalists listed as “Contributors’’. Maybe Vincent should be on that list as well.
