Former San Francisco 49'ers quarterback Joe Montana signs autographs as he arrives at the 7th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremony at The California Museum in Sacramento, California March 20, 2013.
(photo credit:MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS)
Eighteen members of the American Pro Football Hall of Fame have arrived for a week-long visit to Israel. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker are leading the delegation named "TOUCHDOWN IN ISRAEL II - WE ARE ALL PATRIOTS."
The American football community in Israel will host the former NFL greats at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem, on June 18. The “Gold Jackets” will also view Israeli High School football games at a closed event in Ramat HaSharon on Thursday.
The program in Jerusalem will include addresses by Kraft, Baker and AFI (American Football in Israel) President Steve Leibowitz. Several members of the Hall of Fame will recall stories from their playing days and the visitors will take part in a breakout session, where they will have an opportunity to “meet and greet” their Israeli fans.
In Ramat Hasharon the Gold Jackets will view a series of scrimmages between local teams. Several of the former NFL greats will join the Israeli teams as Honorary Coaches. The scrimmages will include games between the Kraft Family IHFL Champion Kfar Saba Hawks v Netanya Sharks and Ramat HaSharon Thunder v Kiryat Ono Wolves.
The star-studded group of Hall of Famers includes: Joe Montana, Jim Brown, Roger Staubach, Lem Barney, Jerome Bettis, Cris Carter, Dave Casper, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Joe Greene, Willie Lanier, Andre Reed, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, John Stallworth, Andre Tippett, Aeneas Williams and Ron Yary.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio opened in 1963 with 17 original inductees. There are currently 310 Hall of Famers who have been elected. Those enshrined are chosen annually on the day before the Super Bowl by a group of 48 selectors, who are members of the media.
Robert Kraft and the Kraft Family have been the leading sponsors of football in Israel since 1999 with the opening of Kraft Family Stadium. The AFI is the official federation for all football activities in the country. The AFI includes the Kraft Family IFL (men's tackle football), the Kraft Family IHFL (youth tackle), and eight flag football leagues (including men's, women's and youth) totaling over 80 teams. Under the auspices of the AFI are currently almost 2,000 players, coaches and officials taking part in organized football activities in Israel.
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