Selection Committee
Jason Belser
After playing college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, safety Jason Belser was selected in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Belser played for the Colts from 1992-2000, and then for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001-02. Over the course of his 11-year career, Belser amassed 870 tackles, 14 interceptions, and nine sacks, while playing in all 16 games in each year of his career except one (he played 13 games in 1994).
Belser currently serves as a Senior Regional Director for the NFL Players Association.
Tom Carter
Tom Carter was selected with the 17th overall pick in the first round by the Washington Redskins in the 1993 NFL Draft, following a standout college career as a free safety at the University of Notre Dame. Carter played for the Redskins (1993-96), the Chicago Bears (97-99), and the Cincinnati Bengals (99-2001). Over the course of his nine-year National Football League career, Carter accounted for 361 tackles and 27 interceptions, while scoring one touchdown.
Following his career on the field, Carter began work for the NFL Players Association in 2006, and currently serves as a Regional Director.
Herm Edwards
After playing football for the University of California, Monterey Peninsula Junior College and San Diego State (1972-1975), Herman Edwards played nine seasons in the NFL as a cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Edwards never missed a game with the Eagles - 135 consecutive regular-season games - and his 33 career interceptions is just one short of the franchise record. He finished up his playing career in Atlanta and Los Angeles before entering the coaching ranks. After holding various assistant coaching positions, Edwards made his head coaching debut in 2001 with the New York Jets and led them to three playoff appearances in his 5 years with the team. He then led the Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs in 2006 and spent a total of three years as head coach of the team.
Edwards has since been hired by ESPN as a football analyst on a variety of the network's programming.
James Scottie
Graham
Scottie Graham attended The Ohio State University, where he lettered four years and started three as a running back.
Selected in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft, Graham was a running back for the Minnesota Vikings for five seasons
during his seven-year NFL career. In 1996, Graham received the prestigious Ed Block Award, an annual award presented to
one player from each NFL team who, in the eyes of his fellow teammates, is a source of inspiration and courage.
In the off-season, Scottie returned to The Ohio State University to pursue his Masters Degree in Black Studies.
After receiving his graduate degree, Scottie accepted a job with the NFL Players Association, where he is still employed. He currently serves as an NFLPA Regional Director, educating players on NFLPA benefits, policies and procedures.
Lawrence Larry
Kennan
Larry Kennan entered the NFL coaching ranks as a quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1982-87. During his time under head coach Tom Flores, Kennan helped lead the Raiders and QB Jim Plunkett to a Super Bowl XVIII victory over the Washington Redskins. Following his time with the Raiders, Kennan served as offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts (1988-90), Seattle Seahawks (92-94), Oakland Raiders (1996) and New England Patriots (1997). Along the way, he helped train and develop several prominent NFL quarterbacks including Jeff Hostetler and Drew Bledsoe.
Kennan is currently the Staff Director of the NFL Coaches Association - a position he has held since 1998.
Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson, best known as one of the NFL's most successful team executives with the Kansas City Chiefs (1989-2008), cut his teeth in the game as a high school coach before advancing as a coach on the college Division II and Division I-A levels from 1966-75. After serving as receivers coach at his alma mater UCLA (1972-75), Peterson followed Bruins head coach Dick Vermeil to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976 to become the team's director of player personnel. Peterson helped the Eagles earn their first Super Bowl berth in 1980. In 1982, Peterson was hired as the general manager and president of the United States Football League's Philadelphia Stars, where he led the team to a 7-1 postseason record and two league championships before joining the Chiefs in December 1988. The Chiefs had made just one playoff appearance in the 15 seasons prior to Peterson's arrival. Under his leadership, the team enjoyed 13 winning seasons, advanced to the postseason nine times and earned four AFC West divisional championships.
Peterson was named USA Football's Chairman on June 16, 2009 and now presides over USA Football's Board of Directors and offers insight toward USA Football initiatives.
