Dungy, Favre react to Hall of Fame selection

The 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame was announced Saturday, and the group was predictably in a jovial yet contemplative mood.

Brett Favre, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Ken Stabler, Dick Stanfel, and Eddie DeBartolo Jr., comprise the 2016 class.

Upon receiving the game's highest honor, various members of the group reflected upon their grand accomplishments.

"It's an incredible feeling. It really is," Favre said via Eric Prisbell and Lorenzo Reyes of USA TODAY. "I'm well aware of my career and what I've done and I've accepted it for what it is, but Roger Staubach comes on stage and I get goosebumps.

"I'm extremely thankful I'm part of the group, but I honestly feel like I'm not part of the group. And I mean that with the utmost respect."

Favre is considered to be the headliner of the class, and the selection committee reportedly spent six seconds debating his case before agreeing upon his place in the Hall. The former Green Bay Packers superstar was elected in his first year on the ballot.

Dungy reflected upon his tenures as head coach of the Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, noting that he was one of the few African-American coaches upon taking the job in Tampa.

"It's very, very emotional for me," Dungy said. "I came into the league in 1997 and I think there were seven or eight African-American head coaches in the league so there weren't very many role models to look up to. But I'm just honored to be able to represent all the people that helped me along the way."

Dungy coached Harrison during his stint coaching in Indianapolis, and was thrilled that they're both part of the same Hall of Fame class.

"It is so well-deserved," Dungy said of Harrison. "(Harrison is) the most artistic receiver I've been around."

Greene was one of the most prolific linebackers of his era, recording 160 sacks over the course of his career with four teams. The five-time Pro Bowler spoke about how he was proud to play against a host of Hall of Fame quarterbacks.

"It was crazy because one week you’re looking at Joe Montana and the next week you’re looking at John Elway. And the next week it was Dan Marino. And the next week it was Warren Moon and Troy Aikman, Brett Favre," Greene said to Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer. "My job was to hunt them and they paid me to do it."

The 2016 class will be inducted in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 6.