Former Pitt and Aliquippa High School cornerback Darrelle Revis will need one final new patch of land built for ‘Revis Island’ to lay for eternity.
The star defensive back was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, one of nine members representing the Class of 2023 to be forever remembered in Canton, Ohio. Tackle Joe Thomas, pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, defensive lineman Joe Klecko, linebacker Chuck Howley, cornerback Ken Riley, linebacker Zach Thomas, cornerback Ronde Barber, and coach Don Coryell will join Revis in Canton. Aliquippa great Ty Law announced Revis’ selection.
Revis dominated the millennium at every level of play, winning two WPIAL Class 2A championships at Aliquippa (2000-2003) in 2000 and 2003 as well as the 2003 PIAA Class 2A state crown. He scored five total touchdowns in a 32-27 victory against Northern Lehigh in the final game of his Quips career including a punt return, blocked field goal for a touchdown, and three scores on the ground.
The local product decided to stay home and play three seasons at Pitt (2004-2006) under head coach Walt Harris. Revis was named first-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News in 2004 and second team according to Rivals.com. He earned first-team All-Big East his sophomore and junior seasons and was named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist to close his junior campaign.
Playing in 35 career games as a Panther, Revis totaled 80 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and eight interceptions – two he returned back for a touchdown. Revis continued his prolific punt returns and averaged 10.3 yards per return in 54 attempts, including two touchdowns.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi honored and congratulated Revis for becoming the latest Panther elected to the Hall.
“On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh, I want to congratulate Darrelle Revis on his incredibly deserved election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “When you say ‘shutdown corner,’ you immediately think of Darrelle. I don’t think anyone played the position better than him. He simply dominated opposing wide receivers, whether it was at Aliquippa, Pitt or in the National Football League.”
His 73-yard punt return on Nov. 17, 2006, hosting West Virginia was voted College Football Play of the Year by ESPN. The star corner shook multiple defenders in one of the most impressive plays in Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium history.
Revis was selected 14th overall by the New York Jets in the 2007 NFL Draft, the third-highest pick of any Panther in the previous 27 years. Future Hall of Famers defensive tackle Aaron Donald was selected one pick higher at 13th overall in and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald the 3rd selection in 2014.
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro, Revis played 11 seasons with the Jets (two stints), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. He totaled 29 career interceptions, three interception returns for a touchdown, four forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, 496 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and two sacks in 145 games. Revis haunted opposing wide receivers, especially from 2009-2011. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team all three years, totaled 10 interceptions, placed second in 2009 Defensive Player of the Year voting, and ran two back for a touchdown including a 100-yard return in 2011 against Miami. Revis owns the record for passes defended in a season (21), accomplished with New York in 2009. His Jets fell one game short of reaching the Super Bowl in 2010, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field 24-19.
He departed the Jets after playing only two games in 2012 due to a torn ACL, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and reaching his fifth Pro Bowl. The following season become one of Revis’ most memorable and the final time he would be named an All-Pro. Revis returned to the AFC East and joined the New England Patriots, intercepting five passes and winning Super Bowl XLIX against Seattle, 28-24. He totaled a sack and tackle-for-loss in the victory. Revis played the next two seasons with the Jets and one year in Kansas City before hanging up the cleats at age 32. Revis became the 21st member of the Jets Ring of Honor in 2022.
Now 37, Revis will become the third former Aliquippa star to be enshrined at the Hall of Fame, joining fellow corner Ty Law and tight end Mike Ditka in Canton. He is also the 10th Pitt player to earn a bronze bust joining Ditka (1999), offensive lineman Russ Grimm (2010), linebackers Joe Schmidt (1973) and Rickey Jackson (2010), defensive end Chris Doleman (2012), offensive tackle Jimbo Covert (2020), quarterback Dan Marino (2005), and running backs Tony Dorsett (1994) and Curtis Martin (2012).
Revis overtakes Covert (Freedom Area High School) as the most recent Pitt and/or WPIAL player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and the 13th WPIAL player to receive the knock on his door that becomes the last stop on their football journey.
I am a native of Aliquippa, went to high school with Mike Ditka and I’m SOOOO proud of these men inducted n their accomplishments that I had to leave this message. Go Quips💕👌🥰