Members
Inductee
GIBSON, AARON
GIBSON, AARON
Born on September 27, 1977
Indianapolis, Indiana
Inducted On
June 20, 2024
Location Inducted
Indianapolis, Indiana
Region Number
7
Decatur Central High School
Player
Decatur Central High School
1995
Gibson attended Decatur Central, where he lettered in football and track. He was a two-way player. As a senior, he was first-team All-State selection and was named as a Top 33 pick by the Bloomington Herald-Times. As a defensive tackle, he had 8 fumble recoveries and 11 passes defensed.
University of Wisconsin
1999
Gibson accepted a football scholarship from the University of Wisconsin. As a junior in 1997, he became the starter at right tackle. He spent two seasons blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, who set the NCAA career rushing record (6,397 yards). As a senior, Gibson was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having been named to the first teams of the Football Writers Association, American Football Coaches Association, and the Football news and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was also a unanimous first team All-Big Ten Conference selection. He was the first player in school history to be named a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy awards.
Aaron has one child, McKenzie Gibson
Gibson was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 27th overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. He was expected to be the starting right tackles as a rookie, but suffered a left shoulder injury in an April post-draft minicamp and was placed on injured reserve.
The following season, he started the first 10 games at right tackle, until suffering a right shoulder injury and placed on injured reserve. In 2003, he started 5 of the first 6 games of the season, before being waived on October 30th.
Aaron would go on to play in the NFL for the Lions, Cowboys, and Bears from 199-2005. He was a starter in over 30 career games. He also holds the distinction of being he "biggest player" in the NFL at 6'6" and 410 pounds.
