Kevin Mawae displays nerves of steel on The Jim Rome Show

Former New York Jets center Kevin Mawae recently went on The Jim Rome Show to talk about the wait leading up to his Hall of Fame announcement.

Waiting was something that former New York Jets center Kevin Mawae had become accustomed to.

After all, the eight-time Pro Bowler had spent five years biding his time on the Hall of Fame ballot and waited three years as a finalist. When it came down to waiting a few more hours to finally hear the knock on his door he had anticipated for so long, he was already well-prepared.

Mawae joined sports radio talk show host Jim Rome a few days ago to discuss the process leading up to the fateful announcement. You can watch the full clip below.

In the interview, Mawae insisted he was “at peace” with the entire process and didn’t sweat it knowing that the results were “out of his control.” The former All-Pro center had ice in his veins in the hours leading up to the announcement as he admits that it really hadn’t sunk in.

While Mawae spoke to Rome with calmness and conviction, a video captured on the day of the announcement paints a different picture of his emotions that night. Click here to watch the short clip.

Mawae is shown answering the door after hearing the highly-anticipated knock from Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker. The newest inductee then proceeded to break down in tears while hugging Baker in an emotional moment all caught on video.

Mawae was initially drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft, however, he failed to reach his full potential with the team. It wasn’t until he was signed by the Jets prior to the 1998 season that Mawae’s career truly took off.

He ended up being named a First-Team All-Pro selection seven times, five of them with the Jets, and Second-Team All-Pro in his first year with Gang Green in 1998. Mawae spent eight years in total with the Jets ultimately securing a spot in the New York Jets Ring of Honor in 2017.

Now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Mawae’s legacy will be enshrined forever and his contributions to the New York Jets organization will be remembered evermore.