CANTON, Ohio — In the basement of his Massillon home, Richie Williams pours over decades of souvenirs from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and mementos from his favorite football teams.
From helmets to framed photos, tickets from games to player autographs, he has a lifetime of memories stored here.
"Here's the Jerry Rice card I got when I was a freshman in high school," he said, holding up the signed card. Lining a shelf on the other side of the room are beer steins from the different Hall of Fame events through the years.
A lifelong football fan, Richie played throughout his youth, citing the preparation, team camaraderie, and energy involved as aspects of the game he loved growing up. His father, Rick, also played as a kid, the game becoming an opportunity for the two men to bond and spend time together.
"Just the whole pageantry and just everything with football, it's great to see," Richie said. "And having the Hall of Fame start here in Canton, I mean, that's — who can say the NFL started in your backyard? That's something I take pride in and I love it, I cherish it. It's something I'll hold near and dear to my heart."
In 1969, Rick attended his first Hall of Fame Game, and with the exception of the 1975 game, he hasn't missed a single one since.
When Richie turned 4 years old, Rick decided to bring him along. Richie's grandfather was the Canton chief of police at the time, and Rick thought it would be fun to visit him on the job as he worked the big weekend.
"I thought that was the coolest thing, just seeing these big football players playing and they're right in our backyard," Richie said. "It's always been just nice to see guys, professional football teams, come to Ohio, come to Canton."
From there, a tradition was born. This year marks Rick and Richie's 34th year attending the game together. While the weekend is an opportunity for the father and son to meet their favorite players and celebrate the game, it's also an important way for the two to connect and spend quality time together.
"I don't want to have any regrets not doing something with my dad. That's what I try to prioritize," Richie said. "It's just something him and I have always done for 34 years."
"It's football and spending time with my son," Rick added. "Like I said before, you can't get that time back."
Rick and Richie say their family and friends know the weekend is precious to them, circled on their calendars with a countdown beginning months ahead of time. As Richie has started a family of his own, he's also passed the love of the game down to the next generation.
"I kind of got my little girl into it. She loves football," Richie said of his young daughter. "Every time football's on, she's like, 'Daddy, is football on? Daddy is football on?' I'm like, 'Yes, sweetie, come on down,' and I throw the football with her."
Even as Richie builds his own team, it's clear the special bond shared between father and son will always be a touchdown.
"It is hard to describe," Rick said. "I'll be quite honest with you: It's something that we just do, and it's something I know he'll cherish long after I'm gone."