Hall & Honors: Patriots Rodney Harrison, Jonathan Jones Up For NFL Awards

The New England Patriots will be represented in Thursday night's NFL Honors, with Rodney Harrison up for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Jonathan Jones nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year.

As has been the case for the last five years, the New England Patriots will not be in the Super Bowl. But a couple of former players tonight will be at the Super Bowl ... with hopes of it leading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Ex Patriots Rodney Harrison, Fred Taylor and Steve McMichael are among the finalists for the Hall of Fame's 2024 class, which will be unveiled Thursday night at the NFL Honors show from Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas.

New England Patriots great Rodney Harrison is among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 / cred: USA Today Sports Images

Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones is the team's nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the league's most prestigious off-field honor.

It's a far cry from the Patriots' decades-long dynasty, during which they won six Super Bowls and dominated post-season awards. This year New England went 4-13 and failed to place a player in the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2000.

The event begins with a red carpet show on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the revealing of the league's 2023 major awards on CBS at 9 p.m. The show will be hosted by actor Keegan-Michael Key. Award presenters include current and former NFL players such as Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Tony Gonzalez, Damar Hamlin, Justin Jefferson, Cam Jordan, Ray Lewis, Micah Parsons and Deion Sanders. Other presenters include flag football star Diana Flores, and celebrities Alix Earle, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae and Miles Teller.

Harrison, Taylor and McMichael are among 15 finalists for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. Fellow Patriot Vince Wilfork was a semifinalist. While McMichael (six games in 1980) and Taylor (13 games 2009-10) merely made cameos in Foxboro, Harrison possesses a Patriots-powered resume. 

Throughout his career, he was one of the most fearsome strong safeties in the NFL. After spending the first nine of his 15 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Harrison joined the Patriots in 2003. He was a key component in a Pats defense that won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 2003 and 2004 (XXXVIII, XXXIX). Perhaps his most memorable moment as a Patriot was his game-sealing interception in Super Bowl XXXIX that ended the last drive of the Philadelphia Eagles. Harrison’s leadership abilities were evident in his being selected as a team captain in each of his six seasons with the Pats.

Harrison was a two-time Pro-Bowler and a two-time First team All-Pro. He holds the distinction of being the first player in NFL history to score touchdowns on an interception return, fumble return and kickoff return in the same season (which he accomplished in 1997 as a member of the Chargers.) As a Patriot, Harrison shined his brightest in the postseason. In the 2004-2005 NFL Playoffs, he had four interceptions in three games. His seven playoff interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) are a Patriots team record.

On October 21, 2007, Harrison became the initial member of the 30/30 Club of players with both 30 interceptions and 30 sacks (a distinction held only by him and NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis). He finished his career in 2009 with 1,205 tackles, 34 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles. Harrison has the most sacks (30.5) of any defensive back in NFL history.

Upon his retirement, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick called Harrison “one of the best players” he has ever coached. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2019.

Patriots Legend Named Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalist

Taylor is better known for his 11-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the running back finished in Foxboro, scoring four touchdowns over his final two seasons. The Patriots drafted McMichael in the third in 1980, but he played 13 years with Chicago and was a member of the famed "'85 Bears" defense that smothered the Patriots in Super Bowl XX in 1986.

Earlier this year, Jones was honored by the Patriots with the Ron Burton Community Service Award for his contributions to communities throughout the nation. He made history in January by becoming the first male ambassador for iPlay Like A Girl, an organization supporting women and girls in STEM and sports. Jones’ also furthered his contributions to the fight against hunger. by working with the Auburn Sustenance Project, in which he hosted a February community fundraiser while packing meals for those in need. As such, the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation became an agency for the Food Bank of East Alabama.

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