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Dallas-based Haggar takes pride in making Pro Football Hall of Fame’s iconic gold jackets

Because of the pandemic, Jimmy Johnson and Cliff Harris received their blazers in the mail.

Editor’s note: The following story is included in Legends of the Hall, a premium magazine for our home delivery members. To subscribe to The Dallas Morning News, click here.

Even the makers of the coveted Haggar gold jacket had to make some adjustments during the pandemic.

Dallas-based Haggar Clothing, which has been making the Pro Football Hall of Fame gold jackets since the beginning in 1978, mailed the new jackets to the Class of 2020 because the enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio, was canceled last August.

A special box was designed for shipping the jackets. Recipients, including former Cowboys greats Jimmy Johnson and Cliff Harris, sent back videos of their reactions when they got their first look. One of the biggest grins was from Johnson.

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The 2020 class was measured the day after the Super Bowl, as is customary, just a few weeks before everything started getting canceled because of the pandemic.

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That 2020 class will join the Class of 2021 for a dual-year ceremony this August. The new group of eight includes former Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson, the 20th undrafted player to be enshrined.

Back to the jackets: Instead of getting measured, the new Hall of Famers sent Haggar a jacket from their own closets. Haggar used those coats to make precise patterns.

Haggar has strict rules about how the jackets are handled. Sure, it would be tempting to try on one of the finished jackets, one of the bigger sizes, say a 50L, but that’s not allowed.

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“The first time they try on the gold jacket is their custom one,” said Tony Anzovino, Haggar’s chief sourcing and merchandising officer.

Even during normal times when fittings are done in person, the Hall of Fame recipients try on black stand-in jackets, said Mindy Davis, director of consumer marketing at Haggar.

The gold color changed once, in 2012, when it was tweaked because high-definition TV didn’t pick it up well, Davis said. The recipients wear the jackets at events and on camera every chance they get.

Haggar won’t say how much it costs to make a gold jacket with its custom buttons, lining and an embroidered patch with the Pro Football Hall of Fame logo on the pocket. Inside the jacket is a label with the Hall of Famer’s name and induction number. With the 2021 class, the count rises to 354.

“They’re custom-made on demand, and we never put a price tag on the jacket,” Anzovino said. “We know the actual cost, but the value is much higher.”

Haggar, which was founded in Dallas in 1926, doesn’t get much credit during the actual ceremonies.

Dallas native Tim Brown, Class of 2015 who played most of his career with the Raiders, talked about how he was so excited to see the Haggar name on the lining of his jacket. Turns out the Haggar family was instrumental in Brown attending college at Notre Dame, where he went on to win the Heisman Trophy.

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The jacket and the Hall of Fame are a big deal around Haggar. They like to think about who will be next to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Davis said. Players have to be out of the game for five years to qualify.

Bets are on two Cowboys, according to Anzovino and Davis: Jason Witten, who is now the coach at Liberty Christian in Argyle, and quarterback Tony Romo.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame gold jackets are made by the Haggar Clothing Co., which was founded in Dallas in 1926. Haggar began making them in 1978.

The HOF gold jacket

The Pro Football Hall of Fame gold jackets are made by the Haggar Clothing Co., which was...
The Pro Football Hall of Fame gold jackets are made by the Haggar Clothing Co., which was founded in Dallas in 1926.

FEATURES: The jacket’s interior features custom lining and a specially printed woven label that includes the enshrinee’s name, class year and induction number.

THE CREST: The jacket features the iconic Hall of Fame crest.

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GOLD STANDARD: The now-iconic jackets were created in gold to signify those who receive the jacket are the “Gold Standard” within football.

THE MATERIAL: The jacket is made of hopsack wool and features custom Pro Football Hall of Fame buttons.

THE BOX: Because of the pandemic, Pro Football Hall of Famers in the Class of 2020 were sent their gold jackets in a specially designed box.

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