NEW YORK — Chris Spielman's wife, Stefanie, was never impressed by all the honors her husband received for being a star linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.

The only one that ever got her excited was when she found out in the spring that her husband had been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

"There was such a genuine smile on her face and pure joy that she'd gotten out of this, because she understood what my passion for college football is. It's amazing," Spielman said Tuesday.

Stefanie Spielman died Nov. 19 at age 42 after a long battle with breast cancer, a few weeks before Chris was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"I have no doubt she's smiling down on us today, and I take great solace and joy in that," Spielman said during a news conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.

Spielman was one of a group of 16 players and two coaches to be inducted at the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame's awards banquet Tuesday night.

Among the others were Heisman Trophy winners Gino Torretta of Miami and Tim Brown of Notre Dame and coaches Dick MacPherson and John Robinson.

Major Harris of West Virginia and Curt Warner of Penn State also were inducted.