Three New Rose Bowl Hall of Famers Will Be Inducted During Monday’s Game

Three new members into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame will be toasted during the Rose Parade and inducted into the  Class of 2023 during Monday’s College Football Playoffs Semi Final at The Rose Bowl Game: ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit, former Washington offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy, and legendary Columbia quarterback Cliff Montgomery.

The inductees will be honored at the 135th Rose Parade presented by Honda and during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential on January 1, 2024. This year’s game will be the fourth time the Rose Bowl Game has hosted a Playoff Semifinal, featuring a matchup between two of the top four teams in the country.

Established in 1989, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame pays tribute to individuals who have contributed to the history and excitement of the Rose Bowl Game, embodying the highest level of passion, strength, tradition, and honor associated with The Granddaddy of Them All®.

Herbstreit, synonymous with the Rose Bowl Game, is set to call his 16th edition of The Granddaddy of Them All on New Year’s Day, surpassing Keith Jackson with the most broadcasts in the history of the game. Herbstreit, who joined ESPN as an analyst for College GameDay in 1996 and has been ESPN/ABC’s lead analyst since 2006, played football at Ohio State and was a senior captain in 1992, when he was named team MVP.

Kennedy, a former offensive tackle, started in three Rose Bowl Games, including wins over Iowa in 1991 and Michigan in 1992, the latter of which earned Washington the national championship. Kennedy, a unanimous All-American in 1992, was drafted ninth overall in the 1993 NFL Draft and played in the NFL for 11 seasons, earning three Pro Bowl selections. He was inducted into the University of Washington Husky Hall of Fame in 2004 and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2015.

Montgomery led Columbia to one of the biggest upsets in Rose Bowl Game history as the Lions upset Stanford, 7-0, in the 1934 edition of The Granddaddy of Them All. Montgomery, an All-American in 1933, played one season of professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and served in the military during World War II as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and officiated college football for more than 25 years.

With the addition of this year’s class, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame now includes 143 inductees over its 34-year history. Inductees are honored with a permanent plaque at The Court of Champions at the Rose Bowl Stadium and are recognized on the field during the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential.