Andre Tippett stands for photographers yesterday after being announced as the newest Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

AP / Matt York

PHOENIX — After coming tantalizingly close last year, former New England Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett yesterday was voted a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2008 induction class.

“This is by far the proudest moment of my professional football career,” said Tippett. “I will be joining the greats of the game and I am deeply honored. This recognition does not only belong to me, but also to my family, the Patriots organization, my teammates and especially the fans.”

Joining him in the Class of 2008 are receiver Art Monk, cornerback Darrell Green, tackle Gary Zimmerman, defensive end Fred Dean and cornerback Emmitt Thomas, a senior nominee.

Last year, Tippett made it to the top 10 but fell short of being voted in. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee is a 44-member board; when the group convened yesterday in Phoenix, they had 17 finalists to choose from. That group was narrowed to 10, and then to 5.

Players had to receive 80 percent of the vote, or 35 “yes” votes, for enshrinement.

Former Boston Globe writer Ron Borges presented Tippett’s resume to the voting committee.

A strong-side linebacker who recorded a franchise record 100 sacks over his 12-year career, Tippett was a two-time All-Pro selection and five-time Pro Bowler. He also was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1980s.

Tippett had a team-record 18½ sacks in 1984 and followed that up with 16½ in 1985, when the Patriots won the AFC championship and advanced to their first Super Bowl.

The Patriots made the former second-round draft pick out of Iowa a New England Hall of Famer in 1999; he has held a front-office position with the team since he retired and is currently the director of community affairs.

Staying at New England’s hotel this week, the Westin Kierland Resort, in Scottsdale, Tippett watched the announcement live on NFL Network with family and friends. A giant cheer went up, and Tippett was embraced by those around him.

Wiping back tears, Tippett said it was “the coolest time in my life.”

“People say if the stars and the moon and everything lined up together, anything is possible,” he said. “Well, the team is undefeated, playing for their fourth world championship, and I was in the finals again, and everything is where it should be. Not saying that’s the main reason why it happened, but everything was lined up.”

In the past, Tippett compared the wait to find out if he had been voted into the Hall to draft day 1982, when he waited by the phone to get the news that he had been drafted.

The 48-year-old New Jersey native said last year that he would have liked he and his friend, former Red Sox great Jim Rice, to be chosen for their respective Halls in the same year; however, Rice fell just short of induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last month.

Tippett becomes the second player to play his entire career with New England enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is in Canton, Ohio; guard John Hannah is the other. Corner Mike Haynes and linebacker Nick Buoniconti, who each spent 7 years of their 13-year careers with the Pats, are also in the Hall.

The induction ceremony, where Tippett will receive his bronze bust and gold jacket, will be held Aug. 2.

smanza@projo.com