NFL alum DeAngelo Hall was pleased and honored to return to Hampton Roads (VA) to be inducted last week into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
The Falcons 2004 first-round draft pick also had been a first team All-America selection the previous season at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Hall did not want to appear to be a prima donna prior to the induction ceremony but he did ask one favor of the Hall of Fame organizers.
“My mom insisted that we not stay at the designated hotel but rather the kids and I needed to stay at her house,” Hall says with a laugh. “I’m just blessed to have her as my mother. When I think about it, this Hall of Fame honor is not really my award. It’s really hers….it’s a result of her hard work. It was her determination to make sure we were all focused on what we needed to do to be successful. It’s the same lesson I’m trying to teach my kids as well.”
Hall played 14 seasons (2004-17) in the league with the Falcons, Raiders, and Commanders. He was a three-time Pro Bowl defensive back who still shares the league record for most interceptions (4) in one game.
After his playing days, Hall worked several seasons as an analyst for NFL Network.
“I enjoyed it at first,” Hall recalls, “but after four seasons I wasn’t enjoying it as much. That’s when I knew I needed to chase my passion. That was always football and always coaching.”
After making his intentions known, he was offered several college coaching positions. He, instead, decided to join head coach Frank Reich’s new Carolina Panthers staff as assistant defensive backfield coach earlier this year.
“I have a dream of leadership,” the 39-year-old Hall explains. “I appreciate the opportunity here and eventually want to be a head coach. I look forward to this start with Coach Reich and the Panthers staff.”
We at NFL Alumni congratulate DeAngelo Hall (and his mother Joan) for his Virginia Sports Hall of Fame induction. We hope he works hard in Carolina and ultimately achieves his goal of being a head coach on some level in the near future.
