Hear From The Greats
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“(Bill) Parcells always used to say listen. One guy you’re going to have to worry about is that dam Jimmie Giles. I put Jimmie Giles in the same mold as Kellen Winslow (comparison with Winslow) – both were a Beast. He’s going to show up and give all he’s got. He is a great family man. I am proud to call Jimmie a friend of mine.”
– Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
“Jimmie Giles was a great football player in my mind. I had the responsibility of covering Jimmie most of the time because we wanted to blitz and put some heat on them. I always prayed that our line got there quickly because I had to run with him. Jimmie was going straight down the middle. He ran great routes whether it was a post route or whether he was setting you up on the banana route. He was tough to handle. Jimmie really made me work at my craft. He was certainly a mismatch for most linebackers and most safeties. We had to cover him many times with two and three people to make sure he was the one guy on the pass route that we had to take away. That doesn’t happen very often where the tight end is the main go-to-guy. To me, he was exceptional. He was a receiver playing tight end. That is about as well as I can state it. He was a very good blocker. There is no reason he should not be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is very deserving.”
– Mike Singletary
Mike Singletary
“I can’t remember any TE dominating us that way.”
– Don Shula
Don Shula
“There are seven TE’s in the PFHOF. Jimmie deserves to be in there as much as any of us. He was a great, great player. Not only was he very effective in the passing game but he was big and strong enough to be able to handle defensive ends and outside linebackers at the point of attack.”
– Ozzie Newsome
Ozzie Newsome
“I do recall that before playing the Buccaneers and Eagles our coaches especially Bill Parcells when he was a defensive coordinator and then Head Coach and Bill Belichick when he became defensive coordinator cautioned our outside linebackers and safeties of the athletic abilities of Giles who had wide receiver type speed and outstanding pass catching skills. Jimmie Giles was an outstanding player that I have always admired partly because he played at Alcorn State University, a HBCU much like myself, who played at South Carolina State University. His play during his career was not a surprise, coming from those schools excellence was and is expected.”
– Harry Carson
Harry Carson
“Jimmie Giles should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
– Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
“When I saw him, I knew right away that he was a special player. His career speaks for itself.”
– Lee Roy Selmon
Lee Roy Selmon
“We felt Jimmie and (Kellen) Winslow were the two best at their position in the ‘80’s. On offense (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), you had to stop Jimmie Giles. He was a great blocker and a great receiver. He was everything you would ever want in a TE. He truly was a leader. This was an offense that, when he (Jimmie) became involved, was formidable. He was big enough to dominate linebackers, but fast enough to run away from safeties. Kellen Winslow and Jimmie Giles were the two dominant TEs in the 80’s. Jimmie was 50/50. He was a great blocker and a receiver. I understand the media representatives pick him, but the players, to a man, all agree he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Buddy Ryan wouldn’t just come out and say “We got to stop this guy.” I remember he used to say, “We got to stop Barry Sanders,” “We got to stop Billy Sims,” “We got to stop Jimmie Giles.”
– Dan Hampton
Dan Hampton
“When you talk about Hall of Famers, you talk about people that the opposing team when they come to that field on Sunday, who is it that they are trying to take away? Jimmie was that guy. If you’re a good TE, we always have to put two people on you. And with him, it was always trying to put two people on him to slow him up.”
– Richard Dent
Richard Dent
“In my mind he was a pure TE and as good as anyone you would want. He did not play in a real big media market so the majority of the people didn’t recognize how good he was. As a strong safety, I had to look at TE’s all the time. He was as good as it gets. Some athletes stand out. He was big, fast, and resilient and could catch. He was the complete package.
Jimmie Giles was all those things it takes to become a Pro Football Hall of Famer. A lot of people who played in the NFL know about Jimmie Giles.
When I make comments about a TE, I know about it because I studied and covered TE’s.”
– Ken Houston
Ken Houston
“After watching his highlights and seeing the things he was able to do on a football field and what he meant to the offense not only catching the football but blocking, he has Hall of Fame credentials. I would be willing to do anything I could to make sure he is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I had a chance to play against him. He was “The Gronk” of the 1980’s. He was a tremendous athlete and all-around great player.”
– Mel Blount
Mel Blount
“I reviewed his stats. He deserves to be in the PFHOF. Jimmie Giles might have been the first hybrid TE that you could flex outside to be a WR. He was a tough matchup. He was a big man with great speed down the field. He did not drop the ball when he played against me. He caught everything within his sight. Jimmie was just as good as the five (Dave Casper, Ozzie Newsome, Charlie Sanders, Jackie Smith and Kellen Winslow) PFHOF TE’s I played against and maybe even better in some respects because of all those guys he was a better blocker along with being a great WR catching the ball. Tackling him was a chore. He kind of reminded me of Earl Campbell coming through the line, as a 240-pound player with speed and agility, he was difficult to tackle. Not only was Jimmie a great athlete, he is a great person. I think that separates him.
You can be a great athlete and not have great character. Jimmie has both which separates him from other athletes.”
– Donnie Shell
Donnie Shell
“There’s no doubt that Jimmie was one of the top TE’s of our era. He was super talented. He was a solid blocker, sure hands, faster than a lot of wide receivers, and a team player. Comparing his stats to other TE’s confirms that he deserves to be a member of the PFHOF. I support Jimmie Giles entry into the PFHOF.”
– Mike Haynes
Mike Haynes
“I did some research on Jimmie and thought his stats were comparable to Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome, Dave Casper and a few others, but all HOF’ers.”
– Kenny Easley
Kenny Easley
“Although our paths did not cross more than once on the football field, Jimmie had a great career and was well within the list of top tight ends that played during our time. I know that he would be a great addition to the Hall and I would be happy to support his name being on the list in the senior category.”
– Roger Wehrli
Roger Wehrli
“He excelled as a football player. He went to Tampa and set all kinds of records. He did everything you could have at that position. He gave a lot of strong safeties and strong side linebackers all the trouble they wanted to on Sundays. He was an all-around great ballplayer and good person. He should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His statistics and what he did for the game are enough for him to be a member. He could catch, block and play special teams. His blocking ability was great. He did everything that needed to be done.”
– Robert Brazile
Robert Brazile
“Jimmie Giles was a complete TE. He was big and tough. He could catch the ball and was one of the great blockers. If he got his hands on you, you couldn’t get away from him. I put Jimmie at about the number two or three TE over my 15 years that I played in the NFL. Winslow is number one. He had more publicity than Jimmie. It wasn’t because he (Winslow) was so much better but he had more exposure. I didn’t play against Tony Gonzalez but he was pretty good, too. I put Jimmie in the same class with those two. He was a great TE and a great blocker, too. When he finished the game he was one of the top TE’s. They’ve been overlooking him long enough. He should have been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame years ago. Sometimes the players from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities are overlooked. I think he is very deserving to get in the PFHOF.”
– Rickey Jackson
Rickey Jackson
“I totally endorse Jimmie Giles for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made some big plays with Doug Williams. He was an awesome player. He is in the same category as my teammate, Kellen Winslow without a doubt.”
– Fred Dean
Fred Dean
“If we are talking about numbers, Jimmie Giles is right there. Second all- time behind Dave Casper with 8.5 TD’s per reception. Looking at all the other TE’s of that era, that is what I look like as far as the comparisons with what they did. Jimmie Giles should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
– Elvin Bethea
Elvin Bethea
“Jimmie Giles body of work deserves strong consideration. I fully support him being a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
– Curley Culp
Curley Culp
“Tight ends have always been vital in controlling the line of scrimmage on the edge. Great TE’s, like Jimmie Giles, had the ability to seal, block and control the edge so the outside run game could be effective. Not only could he knock people off the ball as a devastating blocker with his size and strength but he controlled the edge so the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and all the teams he played for were able to run off-tackle and outside. Tight ends in that era had to have outstanding blocking ability and Jimmie Giles certainly displayed that attribute. Most TE’s of that era did not have the athleticism and versatility of Jimmie Giles. He was effective in the passing game with his knack for stretching the defense and created havoc in the center of the field. He was a physically big man for a TE with the uniqueness of having nimble feet. That athletic talent allowed him to get deep in a hurry to press the defense. He had good top end speed and quickness making it difficult especially for linebackers to cover him on the intermediate and deep routes. You could not double-cover the wide receivers with a cornerback and safety due to Jimmie Giles’s presence. He presented an entirely different problem with his speed as he was the changing trend of TE’s in the NFL. When you see his actions and accomplishments on the field, you saw he was a highly competitive athlete who made big plays in the NFL. He rightly deserves to be recognized in that very special place, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When you see his contributions as a receiver, as a blocker, ability to make big plays, total all-around play and impressive statistical data, one understands why he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
– Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
“It’s a shame Jimmie Giles has fallen into the hole of having to wait to be inducted into the NFL HOF. Jimmie’s hey days was my high school years. Watching as much football as I could, he was a favorite. A Big man that could run in the open field like a running back! It’s time!! With the TE position changing in the NFL, if the HOF does not reach back and grab guys like Jimmie, they could easily be looked over forever. This is an easy one!! Jimmie has the numbers and the longevity and most important the respect of his peers!
– Tim Brown
Tim Brown
“Jimmie Giles was a real athlete! He could run, make the tough catch and block! He was a wide receiver in at tight end’s body! He was clutch!”
– Steve Largent
Steve Largent
“Jimmie Giles was the consummate NFL TE. He displayed the skills of a WR with an ability to stretch the field vertically. Physically, his athleticism, size and speed made him very difficult to cover one-on-one with a LB or DB. He was an excellent blocker at the point of attack and sealing the edge was his specialty. Jimmie ranks as one of the all-time great TE’s and is regarded as someone that changed the expectations of the position. If yards per catch and touchdowns per reception were two measurements of performance fully valued, he is near the top for a TE in both of those critical categories. I fully support Jimmie Giles in his quest to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
– Andre Reed
Andre Reed
“There is no doubt about it. He was great and a dominant TE. I watched him play many times. I believe he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I do not think there are too many TE’s playing in the league today that could do it all. Jimmie Giles could do it all – catch, run and block.”
– Harold Carmichael
Harold Carmichael
“His career yards per catch (14.5) and TD’s per reception (8.5) are impressive. A big part of playing in the NFL is getting across the goal-line. I watched him play and he was a superstar, terrific football player, great athlete and a good person that has done things for the community. Jimmie Giles did things that other great TE’s have done and some things even better than them. He is a very capable and fantastic TE. Jimmie Giles should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
– Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Stephenson
“Sometimes when we reflect as former players, as to whom we respected for their ability to play the game at a High Level; we occasionally forget how Great some of them were. Jimmie Giles is one of those players that come to mind. He had all the tools necessary to play the Tight-End position at a Pro-Bowl level. He was a Great Receiver, Blocker at the point of attack and He scored Touchdowns at a high level. ALL of these attributes says that He deserves to not only be considered for the Hall; but elected to the Hall-of-Fame. As a member and 1989 inductee; I fully support Jimmie Giles for induction into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.”
– Art Shell
Art Shell
“Looking at the highlights of Jimmie Giles, It seems like he was ahead of his time. He was like a hybrid tight end/receiver with the size and speed to give defenses fits. His stats speak for themselves. He is up there with all the greats. Also, the endorsements and respect he has from former coaches and players that played against him, that’s validation for me.”
– Dermontti Dawson
Dermontti Dawson
“Jimmie Giles was as good as any TE in the league during his era. Watching him at the stadium on game day in Tampa, he was a rare combination of speed and strength back then. I stood up to watch him from the sidelines. He was an excellent receiver. You were in awe of the great players. Jimmie Giles was a great player. He is in a league of his own.”
– Joe DeLamielleure
Joe DeLamielleure
“I support Jimmie Giles for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jimmie possessed the unique combination of size, speed and strength to make him a stand-alone tight end in the NFL. His versatility allowed him to dominate at the line of scrimmage and downfield. Jimmie’s numbers are impressive and are historically relevant especially his receiving yards per catch. Jimmie Giles was a force as a tight end and someone whom opponents paid particular attention to when preparing to play. My hope is that Jimmie Giles gets his rightful place in Canton Ohio.”
– Morten Anderson