**“CONGRATULATIONS: Oklahoma Sooners Legend Lee Roy Selmon Posthumously Named to TIME 100 Most Influential in Sports—A Lasting Tribute to a Giant On and Off the Field”**

Lee Roy Selmon’s name has long echoed through the halls of Oklahoma football history, etched into the bedrock of the sport with the same power and poise he displayed on the field. And now, in a moment that unites legacy, impact, and cultural resonance, TIME 100 has posthumously named Selmon as one of the 100 most influential people in sports—a distinction that transcends statistics and titles, and honors the very soul of what he stood for. This milestone not only celebrates Selmon’s immense contributions to the game but also cements his position among the pantheon of those who used sports as a platform to shape hearts, minds, and communities.

Selmon was not just a dominant athlete; he was a generational force who embodied integrity, humility, and excellence. As the cornerstone of Oklahoma’s fearsome defenses in the 1970s, Selmon led the Sooners to back-to-back national championships and earned the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award along the way. But to speak solely of his accolades is to overlook the depth of his influence. He was a leader among men, revered not only by teammates and coaches but also by the larger collegiate community that saw in him the highest ideals of college athletics. He carried himself with quiet confidence and unwavering grace, becoming a symbol of class and dignity long before these qualities were commodified in the media.

TIME’s decision to include Lee Roy Selmon in its prestigious list decades after his death is not merely a nod to his playing days—it is a recognition of the legacy he built after the cleats were hung up and the stadiums fell silent. As the first-ever draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976, Selmon brought instant credibility to a fledgling franchise. Despite the team’s struggles, Selmon stood tall, earning six consecutive Pro Bowl selections and becoming the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. He was later inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, accolades that seemed inevitable given his sheer dominance on the field.

Yet what sets Selmon apart—what justifies his place among TIME’s top 100 influential figures in sports—is how he wielded influence off the field. After retiring from football, Selmon embraced the city of Tampa as more than just a home—it became his mission field. He was instrumental in shaping the University of South Florida’s athletics department, eventually serving as its athletic director. Under his leadership, USF launched a football program that would later reach national prominence, a feat that owes much to Selmon’s vision and steady hand. He used his platform to advocate for education, community development, and opportunity, particularly for underserved populations. In an era before social media and player activism became common, Selmon was already leveraging his fame to create tangible change, often away from the spotlight and without fanfare.

Oklahoma fans, alumni, and citizens have always known what the rest of the world is only now catching up to: that Lee Roy Selmon’s greatness could never be confined to yardage or trophies. He was the kind of figure who made everyone around him better—not through force or bravado, but through consistency, kindness, and conviction. Selmon’s upbringing in a family of nine children in Eufaula, Oklahoma, instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility and faith. It is no accident that all of his brothers earned college degrees and many went on to great things in football and beyond. The Selmon household was built on principle, perseverance, and prayer—values that Lee Roy carried with him to Norman, Tampa, and every endeavor in between.

TIME 100’s selection of Selmon also serves as a reminder of how rare it is for athletes to embody influence in its truest sense. Influence, after all, is not merely about popularity or commercial success. It is about impact—measurable, lasting, and meaningful. Selmon’s impact can be seen in the young lives he mentored, in the communities he enriched, and in the institutions he helped to build. It can be heard in the reverent tone with which Oklahoma fans speak his name, and in the continued reverberations of his efforts in Tampa’s sports and academic circles. And now, it can be read on the pages of one of the world’s most respected magazines.

The honor is bittersweet, of course. Selmon passed away in 2011 from a stroke, at the age of 56. His death sent shockwaves through the football world and beyond, with tributes pouring in from former teammates, students, coaches, and civic leaders. Many spoke not just of his athletic prowess but of his warmth, patience, and genuine care for others. That loss still feels fresh to those who knew him, and this recognition from TIME is as much a balm for that wound as it is a celebration of his indelible mark on the world.

Selmon’s life story also offers a powerful counter-narrative in today’s often polarizing world of sports. In an age where athletes are scrutinized for every tweet and decision, where branding often overshadows substance, Selmon’s journey reminds us of a different model. Here was a man who excelled without ego, who led without shouting, who gave without seeking applause. His legacy serves as a guiding light for today’s athletes—especially young Black men navigating the complexities of fame, race, and expectation in American sports.

The state of Oklahoma has always cherished its heroes, and few have worn that crown with more humility than Lee Roy Selmon. His jersey has long been retired. His name has been enshrined in halls of fame. His memory lives in statues, scholarships, and stadiums. But this honor by TIME 100 feels like a final, fitting brushstroke on the canvas of a life lived for others. It captures the scope of his influence not only as a football player but as a builder of men and a believer in something greater.

In many ways, Selmon’s story is the story of the American dream—the idea that with grit, talent, faith, and compassion, one can rise from rural beginnings to national prominence without ever forgetting who they are. That Selmon did this while remaining grounded in character is what makes his inclusion on the TIME 100 list feel not just right but necessary. It serves as a reminder that the power of sports lies not just in entertainment but in elevation—in the capacity to lift people, shape communities, and leave behind a legacy that echoes beyond the final whistle.

For Oklahoma Sooners fans, the announcement was met with tears, cheers, and a deep sense of validation. Selmon has always been theirs, but now the world sees him too—not just as a great athlete, but as one of the most influential people to ever grace the arena of sports. The honor feels like a shared triumph, one that belongs to every fan who watched him play, every teammate who felt his leadership, and every young athlete inspired by his story.

There will always be debates in sports—about who was the greatest, who changed the game, who deserves the spotlight. But with this recognition, Lee Roy Selmon’s place in the pantheon of sport’s most influential figures is no longer up for debate. It is secured, immortalized not just in the memory of fans but in the annals of history.

And in a world that too often celebrates style over substance, it’s heartening to see a man like Lee Roy Selmon honored—not for how loudly he demanded attention, but for how quietly he commanded respect. For the Oklahoma Sooners family, and for all who believe in the enduring power of character, this moment is a triumph worth savoring.