Baker, seen by many fans with “the knock’’ videos as he
informed some of the league’s best former players and coaches they were
officially Hall of Famers, and the Hall of Fame made the official announcement
Saturday. Baker will continue to make appearances to hand out the Hall of Fame
rings to members of the Hall’s Centennial Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021,
but will surrender control over the day-to-day operations of the Hall of Fame.
In Denver this weekend as part of the ceremony for former
Broncos safety Steve Atwater – in the Hall’s Class of ’20, Baker was asked
about his travel schedule for the ceremonies at an appearance Friday night and
said simply “I think it’s time I try to go see my grandchildren.’’
In a statement Baker said: “As I approach the end of nearly
eight years of service to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I have come to the
conclusion that it is time for someone else to have the ‘best job in the world’
so I can still do a few more exciting things in my professional life while also
returning home to our four children, 10 grandchildren and soon-to-be great
grandson in Orange County, California, whom I’ve missed so much during my
tenure at ‘The Most Inspiring Place on Earth’.’’
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, in a statement, that “few
people combine vision, passion and dedication as completely as David Baker …
His mission to honor and support the heroes of the game will be one of his most
lasting and important legacies. We are grateful for David’s many contributions
and extend our utmost thanks and best wishes to Colleen and him.’’
Baker had received a five-year contract extension as the
Hall’s president and CEO in late 2018.
Jim Porter, the Hall of Fame’s chief marketing and
communications officer since April 2020, has been named the president of the
Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame’s board of trustees will also evaluate the Hall’s
management structure in the pursuit of a new executive director.
In addition to attempting to raise the profile of the annual
announcement of each Hall of Fame class, Baker oversaw the Hall’s expansion
that began with the construction of Tom Benson Stadium as well as the start of
construction on the Hall of Fame Village, a long-term project that would
feature a hotel, an athletic complex for youth sports and a conference center.
However, after the stadium was completed, construction was
halted in 2018 as companies involved in the project sought to be paid for work
that had already been completed. The project was later restarted without Baker
leading the development group.
“David Baker lifted the Pro Football Hall of Fame to new
heights. He helped make the words Canton and excellence synonymous,’’ said
Dennis Nash, chairman of the Hall of Fame’s board of trustees. “Jim Porter as
president, along with the next executive director of the Hall, step into an
organization with a unique place in the game of football and a strong national
reputation.’’
Before he was hired by the Hall of Fame in 2014, Baker, an
attorney, had played professional basketball in Switzerland and had been mayor
of Irvine, California. He spent 12 years as the commissioner of the Arena
Football League.