The National Football League will pay tribute to Gene Upshaw this season by having all of its players wear a special patch in memory of the late Hall of Famer and executive director of the league's Players Association.

The patch, which will be worn by players during the entire 2008 season, contains the initials "GU" and the number 63, which was Upshaw's uniform number with the Oakland Raiders.

A replica of the patch also will be painted on the field at all 16 NFL games scheduled for Week One, including Thursday's season opener between the defending champion New York Giants and Washington Redskins.

Upshaw's wife Terri and his three sons - Eugene, Jr, Daniel and Justin - will participate in the coin toss prior to the game at Giants Stadium.

The executive director of the Players Association since 1983, Upshaw died on August 20 at the age of 63 after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer.

A first-round draft choice of the Raiders in 1967 out of Texas A&I, Upshaw started at left guard as a rookie and was the first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1987) to have played guard exclusively.

Playing in 307 career games, he played in three Super Bowls - winning two - and seven Pro Bowls.