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Marvin Harrison: Hall of Fame election 'definitely an honor'

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Marvin Harrison had to wait until his third year of eligibility, but the former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver will finally be getting a bust in Canton.

Harrison, one of the most productive receivers of his generation, was among five modern day selections for the 2016 Hall of Fame class announced Saturday.

"It's definitely an honor. It's definitely a privilege. It doesn't just happen," Harrison said Saturday, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59. "You don't take it for granted. You don't just wake up one day and say, 'I'm a Hall of Famer.'

"You don't start off your career and say you're going to go to the Hall of Fame. You take it step by step and all of the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for me to where I was able to show my talent."

The eight-time Pro Bowler spent his entire 13-year career playing for the Colts, and holds many of the franchise's receiving records, including most career catches (1102), yards (14580), and touchdowns (128).

Harrison showed his appreciation to the only franchise he ever knew by making Colts owner Jim Irsay his first phone call after hearing of his induction.

"I told Jim he was my first phone call," Harrison said. "He was like, 'You're kidding me.' I said, 'Jim, I'm telling you first because of everything you've done for me, my family, and the city of Indianapolis.'

"I told him everything he did for me meant a lot to me. To be a part of the horseshoe and to be going into the Hall of Fame under the Indianapolis Colts just means a ton to me. That's what I wanted to share with him."

Harrison spent the majority of his career catching passes from Peyton Manning, a partnership that quickly became the most prolific QB-WR combination in NFL history, with the highlight arguably being Harrison setting the all-time single season reception record with 143 catches in 2002, a mark that has yet to bested.

"My ultimate goal, which I told Jimmy in 1996, was I wanted to help bring a championship to Indianapolis," Harrison said. "I did that (in 2006) and I was with the same team for 13 years. I did everything I had to do for the team.

"At the end of the road, I was awarded with being a member of the Hall of Fame. But it didn't happen overnight. I'm just happy more for everyone else than I am for myself."

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