Harrison, who played nine years for the Chargers, is the first safety in franchise history to be inducted into the exclusive club

Eric Smith

Rodney Harrison is joining the Chargers Hall of Fame a milestone that cements his place in franchise history.

He becomes the 36th player (and 44th overall member) to receive the honor. More significantly, he will be the first safety ever inducted into the exclusive club.

"What it comes down to is respect," Harrison said. "They don't vote you into this caliber of a place unless they respect you and unless they respect your hard work.

"It's not about name or about money, you can't buy your way into this," Harrison continued. "People have to respect your game and your work ethic and your reputation. And I appreciate it. I really do."

He later added: "Not that I was waiting on this, but it was just a really pleasant surprise knowing that I gave everything to that organization and that I was heavily involved in the community. I loved that place. I loved my experiences there and my time there. It was terrific."

The Chargers will honor Harrison at halftime of their Week 8 home game against the Vikings on Thursday Night Football. He will also be recognized with a plaque on the Chargers Walk of Fame outside of The Bolt.

Harrison was recently surprised with the news from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh on FaceTime.

"I'm looking at Coach Harbaugh because he had said he wanted to have a conversation with me about leadership," Harrison said. "So, there was a certain level of deception that was there.

"But when he told me I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me!" Harrison added. "I was just stunned. They got me really good."

He continued: "I love what the Chargers are doing. I love the leadership with Harbaugh being there. Before he even got hired, I was pushing it and saying this was the guy that you have to go hire. They hired the right guy and when you do that, you get the right people in the building and good things happen."

Harrison, a 1994 fifth-round draft pick out of Western Illinois, helped the Bolts reach Super Bowl XXIX as a rookie.

He played nine seasons for the Chargers, appearing in 123 career games with 97 starts. He was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Bolts and earned a First-Team All-Pro honor, too.

"I have to thank the Spanos family and [former Chargers General Manager] Bobby Beathard, rest his soul, for believing in me and giving me an opportunity," Harrison said.

Teammates voted him as the Chargers Defensive Player of the Year four times in his career and he was also named to the franchise's 40th and 50th-Anniversary All-Time teams.

"Rodney personified an era of Chargers football defined by physicality, emotion, relentless effort, toughness and grit," said President of Football Operations John Spanos. "For nearly a decade, he gave everything he had to the Chargers, establishing a standard of accountability and setting the bar for competitive greatness.

"He made an immediate impact his rookie year, helping lead us to an unforgettable AFC Championship victory in Pittsburgh and appearance in Super Bowl XXIX," Spanos continued. "The fire that burned inside Rodney was the stuff of legend and, as is the case with all the great ones, it never once faded over the course of his career.

"And as much as he gave of himself on the field, Rodney found a way to give even more to our community, especially in his work with local youth," Spanos added. "Inducting Rodney into the Chargers Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a player who gave this franchise everything he had and more."

All in all, Harrison tallied 760 total tackles with the Bolts to go along with 26 interceptions, which is third all-time and the most by a safety in team history.

Harrison also added 21.5 sacks (the best mark by a Chargers defensive back), plus eight forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 22 tackles for loss and 46 passes defensed.

Harrison now joins a legendary group that features some of the biggest names in team history.

The 52-year-old recently said it's surreal to join a club that features former teammates such as Seau and LaDainian Tomlinson.

"When I came in, Junior was the standard I always tried to reach. Junior was my mentor, he was my hero. I tried to emulate Junior Seau," Harrison said.

"And when LT came in, I thought LT was the most humble first-round draft choice that I've ever met," Harrison continued. "The kid worked his [butt] off and he was just so soft spoken but just a great, great player and a tremendous person.

"To join my guys, man, I couldn't be happier," Harrison added.