Orlando Pace Pro Football Hall of Fame speech: ‘Success is possible, if you have the courage to truly believe.’

Tackle Orlando Pace lived up to the expectations set after being selected by the St. Louis Rams with the first overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. Pace went on to have a stellar career, leading to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday.

Pace’s eldest son, Justin, presented him for induction. Pace opened by thanking him, as well as the selection committee, and he offered his congratulations to the other inductees.

Pace said he was inspired by a trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the age of 13, and this became his first goal. 27 years later, that goal was achieved.

“I am honored and humbled to stand here today, for along with my induction, this occasion marks a fulfillment of each and every goal I’ve established for myself since the age of 13,” Pace said.

His other goal was to be the very best he could be, in football and in life.

“My name in the Hall of Fame will stand as a lasting reminder, a message that no matter how humble a man’s beginnings, success is possible if you have the courage to truly believe.”

Pace thanked his family for all of the ways they sacrificed for him and shaped his life on and off the gridiron. He called his mother, who worked two jobs to support him and his sister, the most important person in his journey.

“Your selfless dedication to do whatever it took to raise my sister and I is a true blessing, and I’m thankful for your love and your countless hours of blessings,” Pace said to his mother. “My life’s work has always been and will continue to be to make you proud.”

Pace thanked his sister, Katrina, for her love and always “keeping it real with me no matter what.” He also thanked his grandfather, who served as a surrogate father for Pace and his sister.

“Dad, you don’t know what that meant to me,” Pace said. “That meant the world to me. Thank you so much for being in my life.”

His grandmother has passed away, but Pace thanked her for the profound impact she had on the man he would become.

“She was the best person I knew,” Pace said. “My family would agree, she only saw the best in everyone, which set an example for me.”

Pace said that caring for his family and meeting their needs is part of what drove him to greatness.

“What drove me most was to help my family overcome the hardships they had to endure. That was always a fundamental force in my drive to achieve excellence and be at my best.” He thanked his mother and grandparents for values and strong work ethic that he lives by today.

A Sandusky, Ohio, native, Pace spent his college years at Ohio State University, calling those years “some of the best years of my life.” He encouraged his teammates in attendance to stand and be recognized. Pace thanked coach Jon Cooper for giving him a chance to start as a freshman, and for supporting his decision to enter the draft as a junior. He also singled out the influence of Korey Stringer, who died from complications of heat stroke suffered during practice with the Minnesota Vikings in 2001.

“As a freshman, I wanted to play the game the way Korey played the game,” Pace said. “I was so fortunate to have him in my life.”

Pace thanked his Greatest Show on Turf teammates, saying that he’d like to see Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt standing on this stage soon.

“Your hard work, professionalism and dedication was unmatched,” Pace said.

Of the 1999 team, Pace said it was a special team and experience.

“There were no egos, and we genuinely enjoyed being around each other. When faced with adversity, we were relentless, and because of our selfless attitudes, we accomplished great things together.”

Pace also said that Rams coach Dick Vermeil was the “heart and soul” of the team.

“Coach, thank you for investing in players, investing in men,” Pace said. “That’s what guys on that team really enjoyed -- investing in the person and not so much the player.”

To the St. Louis fans, who have just seen the team move to Los Angeles, Pace had special words of gratitude.

“I’m so proud to say we brought that city a championship,” Pace said. “Thank you for the support you gave us during that run. No one could ever take that away from you.”

Pace has accomplished so much professionally, but he said no accomplishment has been as great as his children.

“I’m so proud to see where you kids are today, but I’m really excited to see where you’re going to be in the future,” Pace said to his three sons and his daughter.

He thanked his wife, Carla, for her support and love throughout his NFL career.

“Thank you for your sacrifice that allowed me to live my dream for 13 years in the NFL, and I know I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for the love and support that you provided to us,” Pace said. “Even though I’m on this stage by myself, I share with you all of it.”

Pace closed by emphasizing that standing on this stage in Canton is a lifelong dream fulfilled.

“For me, my dream started when I was seven years old, playing in Sunny Side Park in Sandusky, Ohio,” Pace said. “That’s when I first began to be aware that because of my size and natural athletic ability, perhaps God had destined me for something special, something great. Now, here I am in Canton.”

Pace was a fundamentally important member of the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf offense that ranked as the NFL’s top offense in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Pace’s Rams led the league in total offense in 1999 with 6,412 yards, finishing the season with a 13-3 record and a NFC West title. The 1999 Rams went on to face off against the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, winning 23-16.

In 2000, the Rams set an NFL record for total offense, racking up over 7,000 yards and 540 points. Pace and his offensive line teammates helped pave the way for Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk to be named MVP after rushing for 1,359 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Pace’s team made it back to the Super Bowl following the 2001 season, which the Rams finished with a 14-2 record. St. Louis rolled over the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs before suffering a narrow, heartbreaking loss on a game-winning field goal to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor a player can receive, and Pace adds this recognition to an impressive resume which includes seven consecutive Pro Bowl bids. Pace was also a five-time All-Pro and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s.