CANTON, Ohio — Steve Atwater walked in with his presenter Dennis Smith.
Peyton Manning walked in with his game face.
John Lynch walked in awestruck by it all.
"Pretty special weekend," Lynch told 9NEWS as he was preparing to slide through the metal detectors set up just outside the Canton Community Center, where the for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Gold Jacket ceremony would be held Friday night. "Everything it’s cracked up to be and more. Heading to the Gold Jacket, putting on the Gold Jacket for the first time. I tell ya if its anything like everything else has been.
"The (Ray) Nitschke Luncheon today, only the Hall of Famers, had me in tears. What a special weekend and pretty special fraternity we’re entering."
Atwater, Manning and Lynch, who all were prominent players for the Denver Broncos, are among the large class of 2020 and 2021 Hall of Famers.
"It’s been neat," Manning said as he walked through a hallway at the convention center. "The luncheon was great. Fun seeing players you played with, played against, looked up to. That’s been the best part of it, I’ve seen a lots of people and it’s been special."
The Gold Jacket is the first half of formal induction.
"Betting it’s going to be awesome," Atwater said.
"No. 350," Lynch said. "That floored me when I heard that number."
The bronze bust will come later -- Saturday for Atwater, who was elected last year, and Sunday for Manning and Lynch, who are part of the class of 2021.
RELATED: After long wait, and wait some more, Steve Atwater finally about to get inducted into Hall of Fame
Broncos podcast: Klis' Mike Drop
Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis.
HOW TO LISTEN
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports
> Top stories are curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Denver Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the KUSA 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for KUSA "9news" to find the free app to add it to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.