Tag: NFL

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No, he isn’t eligible yet. Yes, he is expected to make it in his first ballot in 2025. But of any potential Hall of Famer, he is the one who should be in. He has the volume numbers (second all-time in receptions and receiving yards). He has accolades — 11 Pro Bowl, an All-Pro season, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He had five 100-catch seasons, including three after the age of 30. He had a record-setting postseason run and, were it not for Santonio Holmes’ improbable catch, Fitzgerald’s 64-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII would have been one of the most iconic moments, giving the traditionally moribund Cardinals a Super Bowl Championship. There might not be another player more respected in the NFL in his generation. If there were ever a player to just immediately enshrine, It is Larry Legend. – Jess Root, Cards Wire

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“Mr. Falcon” himself has inexplicably been snubbed time and time again despite a Hall of Fame-worthy career as the franchise’s foundational draft pick in 1966. Nobis, a relentless inside linebacker, never received the credit he deserved due to playing on a bad Falcons expansion team. The former Texas star made five Pro Bowls and was selected to one All-Pro team over his 11 seasons in Atlanta. Nobis passed away in 2017, and it’s long past time to honor what he did for both the league and franchise. – Matt Urben, Falcons Wire

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Boldin’s 13,779 career receiving yards rank 14th all-time, more than Hall of Famers Andre Reed, Steve Largent, Art Monk, and Charlie Joiner. His 1,076 catches are ninth in NFL history. Boldin was also the fastest player to reach 400 receptions (67 games), 500 receptions (80 games) and 600 receptions (98 games). The former FSU QB turned WR set the NFL rookie record with 101 catches and was the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003. – Glenn Erby, Ravens Wire

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Tasker has to be the choice here for the Bills. He spent years on the list of eligibility but failed to crack the final ballot. In 2022, it was his final year of eligibility to make it as a modern-era selection and since then the special teams ace has been consistently named to lists such as this. The problem with Tasker making it is that he would be a trailblazer. Specialists, such as kickers, rarely make the final cut and we’ve only seen punters earn their way in recently. A gunner like Tasker might have a long way to go before he makes it, but he still has a chance via the Seniors Committee. But if and when Tasker does, he’s the final piece of the Bills’ dynasty of the early 90s to earn his gold jacket alongside Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith & Co. – Nick Wojton, Bills Wire

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Eight of the NFL’s nine all-time leading receivers currently have a bust in Canton. The two who don’t are Smith Sr. and Larry Fitzgerald—who, if you read any of Jess’ entry above, is a shoo-in. So, yeah, being eighth in career receiving yards (14,731) and one of only 14 players with 1,000 catches should serve as a strong foundation on his résumé. Smitty’s 16-year career—which is decorated with three All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl nods, a Comeback Player of the Year award and a triple crown—also had its clutch playoff moments. From X-Clown, to the 216-yard outing in Chicago and his 39-yard touchdown in one of the greatest Super Bowls ever, 89 was as big as they came. – Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire

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Hester is widely considered the greatest return specialist in NFL history, which should make him a lock for the Hall of Fame. After all, he is the best to ever play at his position, and he’s impacted the game in a way that few have. Hester is a three-time first-team All Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. He has more punt return touchdowns than anyone in NFL history with 14, his 20 total non-offensive touchdowns are also the most in league history, and he has the highest average yards per punt return among those with at least 300 returns in NFL history. It wasn’t just the fact that Hester was a dynamic playmaker and a threat to score whenever he had the ball in his hands. It was the fact that he had a direct impact on how opposing teams approached defending him. Teams would go out of their way to not kick the ball directly his way. Simply put, he forever changed the game. Let’s be honest, Hester should’ve been a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’s been a finalist in each of the past three years of his eligibility, and it certainly feels like there’s special teams bias at play here. But when you’re the greatest to ever play your position — special teams or not — that should be an automatic bid into Canton. – Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire

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The Bengals as a franchise finally broke free of the one-player problem in the hall last year with Ken Riley joining Anthony Muñoz. That took entirely too long and it’s the same story for the likes of Ken Anderson and Lemar Parrish, among others. But for now, we’ll go with offensive tackle Willie Anderson, who was one of the best right tackles of his generation at a time when the difference in importance between the left and right side started to dramatically shrink. The 10th overall pick from 1996 played from 1996-2007 in Cincinnati, eventually entering the team’s Ring of Honor and on his career, earning three first-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowls. He’s been a finalist for the hall two years in a row and is a semifinalist again this year for the fourth consecutive time, where he should be the third player from the franchise enshrined. – Chris Roling, Bengals Wire

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The Browns saw their first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in quite some time this past summer as OT Joe Thomas became a first-ballot standout. And most of that is for good reason as the Browns have not had many Hall of Fame-worthy players over the past two decades. DE Myles Garrett has a great shot to see himself inducted five years after he retires, but the man to address here is whose franchise sack record Garrett broke a year ago. LB Clay Matthews Jr. has been a nominee and semi-finalist on multiple occasions but has never gotten across the finish line. With nearly 1,600 career tackles, 82.5 sacks, and 16 interceptions to his name, Matthews Jr. deserves to see his bust in Canton, OH. – Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire

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All Woodson has done in his career is absolutely revolutionize the safety position. No big deal, according to the Hall of Fame voters. Woodson checks all of the boxes necessary for inclusion. He was a top defender on a team that won championships, playing at a high level for a long time on top-tier defenses. With five Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro nods the accolades are already there. He’s in the same category of safety as John Lynch, Steve Atwater and LeRoy Butler, all who have been enshrined over the last decade. – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire

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Gradishar is a senior finalist for the 2024 class so it’s possible that he could be elected in January, but it never should have taken this long. A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Gradishar ranks No. 1 in franchise history with 2,049 career tackles. He led Denver’s famous “Orange Crush” defense to Super Bowl XII in 1977. One year later, Gradishar won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award. One of the best defenders of his era, Gradishar should have made a trip to Canton years ago. – Jon Heath, Broncos Wire

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Moore is a case of an incredible career peak that didn’t last quite long enough for a lot of voters. From 1995-1997 he was the NFL’s most prolific receiver and an All-Pro all three years. Extend it out to 1994-1998 and Moore’s touchdowns and receiving yards compare favorably to any five-year run of any wideout already in Canton. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire

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Sharpe played only seven NFL seasons after suffering a neck injury in 1994, but the 1988 first-round pick was one of the game’s truly dominant offensive players during the late 80s and early 90s. A contemporary of Jerry Rice, Sharpe led the NFL in receptions three times and receiving touchdowns twice, and he led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns during the 1992 season (he is one of only four players to win the receiving triple crown in the Super Bowl era). Sharpe was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro. Between 1988 and 1994, Sharpe was second to only Rice in both receptions (595) and receiving touchdowns (65). Between 1992-94, when Rice was at the height of his powers, Sharpe had more catches and more touchdowns. During his lone postseason appearance, Sharpe caught 11 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns in just two games. He didn’t play long but Sharpe is one of the most dominant players not currently in the Hall. – Zach Kruse, Packers Wire

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Getting an expansion team off the ground is challenging, but there was none better for it at receiver than Andre Johnson. The 2003 first-round receiver caught 1,012 passes for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns through 169 career games in Houston. Spanning a 12-year career with the fledgling AFC South club, when things were down in Houston, Johnson was still up. In an era of Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and whoever was lucky to play with Peyton Manning, Johnson led the NFL in receptions twice (2006, 2008) and also twice in yards (2008-09). The former Miami Hurricane also picked up six Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro nods in the same era of dominant receivers. Only once did Johnson benefit from stellar QB play at least awards wise. Matt Schaub was NFL passing champion in 2009. Consider Schaub overlapped with Johnson from 2007-13, but wasn’t totally the reason for Johnson’s brushes with greatness. Gatekeeping Johnson may be tolerable for Texans fans because very soon an undeniable franchise legend will be knocking on the HOF’s door. – Mark Lane, Texans Wire

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Wayne has been a finalist in each of his first four years on the ballot, so it’s safe to assume he’s going to get in at some point. His resume speaks for itself as his 1,070 career receptions and 14,345 receiving yards are both 10th all-time among wide receivers in NFL history. Eight of the receivers ahead of Wayne on the receiving yards list have been inducted. The other is Steve Smith Jr., who retired in 2016. His career receptions are more than 13 wide receivers already in the Hall of Fame. He also holds the Colts’ franchise record for career games played (211). His 1,070 career receptions, 14,345 career yards and 82 career receiving touchdowns are all the second-most in franchise history behind Marvin Harrison. – Kevin Hickey, Colts Wire

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There are only 16 running backs ahead of Taylor on the all-time rushing list. Two of them (Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson) will be in the Hall of Fame soon and the other 14 are already there. Peterson and Barry Sanders are the only players in NFL history with more than 2,500 career carries who averaged more yards per attempt than Taylor. He’s a Hall of Fame semifinalist for the fifth straight year, yet somehow he still hasn’t advanced to the finalist stage once. – Adam Stites, Jaguars Wire

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Hali isn’t a likely candidate to make the Hall of Fame due to the limited time Kansas City spent in the playoffs over the course of his career with the Chiefs. He doesn’t have a ring to show for any of his time in Kansas City, and might not have the same types of iconic plays as, say, Michael Strahan, Richard Seymour, or Chris Long, but in terms of raw ability, Hali was absolutely on par with the most elite pass rushers in his prime. He played for Chiefs teams quarterbacked by the likes of Tyler Thigpen, Matt Cassel, Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard… the list goes on, and if Hali was ever in a position to compete seriously for a Super Bowl title, he would have been one of the key pieces to the puzzle in Kansas City. With six Pro Bowls, two All Pro selections, and almost 90 sacks to show for his NFL career, it is likely that Hali will never get the respect (or at least adulation) that he deserves for what his story, productivity, and role as a staple of the Chiefs’ defense meant to Kansas City’s fans at the bleakest time in the franchise’s history. – John Dillon, Chiefs Wire

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Hayes is known for using “Stick-Em” to help grab interceptions, but most people forget that he was one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Hayes led the NFL in interceptions (13) and return yards (273) during the 1980 season when he was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with 39 interceptions and 134 starts. He made the NFL’s All-Decade Team in the 1980s and was a two-time Super Bowl champion. The fact that he’s not already in the Hall of Fame is pretty shocking. – Marcus Mosher, Raiders Wire

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This is the first year that Gates is up for his crack at the Hall of Fame and I can’t think of any reason why one of the best tight ends shouldn’t be inducted in. One of the greatest Chargers of all time and most polished resumes by anyone who has played the position, Gates finished with 236 games played (190 starts) and a franchise-leading 955 receptions for 11,841 receiving yards and 116 touchdowns, most from a tight end in league history. He ranks seventh all-time in TDs. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro teams. More than all, Gates revolutionized the position. – Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire

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Holt is in his 10th year as a semifinalist. Not his 10th year of eligibility. His 10th year as a semifinalist. It’s time for him to get into the Hall of Fame. He led the NFL in receiving yards twice, was a seven-time Pro Bowler, was a first-team All-Pro once and ranks 17th all-time in career receiving yards. He’s one of the most underrated receivers in league history, going over 1,000 yards receiving in eight consecutive years and only missing three games in 11 seasons. His induction into the Hall of Fame is long overdue. – Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire

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Younger fans may not know the name, but Kuechenberg was an anchor of the Dolphins offensive line for the entirety of his 14-year career from 1970-83. During his time in aqua and orange, he made six Pro Bowls, helped the team win two Super Bowls and earned one All-Pro team. At this point, Keuchenberg’s time has passed for the Modern-Era class, so his only hope to get in is on the senior ballot. The Miami legend was a finalist from 2002-09 and was a senior finalist in 2023. While Kuechenberg passed away in 2019, there’s still a chance for him to be enshrined in Canton posthumously. – Mike Masala, Dolphins Wire

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Myself, like many other Vikings fans and analysts, are convinced that Jim Marshall would have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame decades ago if he didn’t return a fumble the other way for a safety. Take that out and it’s nearly impossible to not call him a Hall of Famer. Marshall owns the NFL record for most consecutive starts (270) and most games played (282) by a defensive player. He also amassed 130.5 estimated sacks (sacks weren’t an official stat until after he retired in 1982) which would rank him tied for 22nd all-time. He was a machine for the Purple People Eaters throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s and deserves to be enshrined despite his linemates Carl Eller and Alan Page also being in the Hall of Fame. – Tyler Forness, Vikings Wire

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Tom Brady isn’t Hall of Fame eligible until 2028, but do we really need to wait to enshrine the greatest player that ever played the game? Not only was he the ultimate competitor on the field, but he was the NFL’s greatest winner with seven Super Bowl victories and five Super Bowl MVPs. If anyone needs reminding of the weight he carries on a team, just look at the current state of the New England Patriots. They are sitting at 2-9 right now, and Bill Belichick, the legendary coach that drafted Brady, is on the verge of getting fired. – Jordy McElroy, Patriots Wire

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Evans has reached the semifinalist stage in each of his first two years of eligibility, and for good reason: he was one of the most dominant offensive linemen of his generation. Evans was recognized as a Pro Bowler six times and earned four spots on the All-Pro first team. He was also listed on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s. He should be there waiting in the Hall of Fame when his quarterback Drew Brees is up for induction in a few years. For all the big plays Brees created on the field, he wouldn’t have done it without Evans keeping him clean. – John Sigler, Saints Wire

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Tom Coughlin inched closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year but was ultimately passed over. However, it seems inevitable he eventually gets in given that he built the Jacksonville Jaguars from the bottom up, making them the most successful expansion franchise in NFL history. He took them to the playoffs in four of their first five seasons, including two AFC Championship Game appearances before moving on to the Giants. In New York, Coughlin won two Super Bowl titles – both coming in victories over the New England Patriots dynasty, including a Super Bowl XLII upset of the then-undefeated Pats that many argue is the greatest Cinderella story in league history. In total, Coughlin won three rings in New York, including a 1990 championship when he served as the team’s wide receivers coach under Bill Parcells. His 182 victories are the 12th-most all-time. – Dan Benton, Giants Wire

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Mangold is widely regarded as one of the best centers of all time and is one of the greatest Jets players in franchise history. The 29th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft spent his entire 11-year career with the Jets, being named First-Team All-Pro twice and went to the Pro Bowl seven times. Mangold was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022, a group that includes four Hall of Famers (Joe Namath, Curtis Martin, Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis). Mangold didn’t even make the semifinals for the Class of 2024. Jets fans are hoping for better luck for the Class of 2025. – Billy Riccette, Jets Wire

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This honor wouldn’t be based on stats but on the overall evolution of football. Cunningham spent his first 11 seasons with the Eagles, helping pave the way for how the quarterback position is played today. A second-round pick out of UNLV in 1985, Cunningham finished his Eagles career with under 30,000 passing yards and just under 5,000 rushing yards while compiling an 82-52-1 record in 135 starts with Philadelphia. Cunningham logged 29,979 career passing yards for his career and rushed for 4,928 in 162 games. He retired as the NFL all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback. He still ranks in the top 25 in league history for passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. Cunningham was a four-time Pro Bowler in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1998. – Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire

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Ward is a semifinalist this year for the eight time this year. During his 14-year career, all of which were with the Steelers Ward was one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. Ward amassed 12,083 receiving yards and 85 touchdowns on a remarkable 1,000 receptions. Ward is one of only 14 players to ever catch 1,000 passes in their career. Ward was part of two Super Bowl championships and was a an All-Pro three times. Ward epitomizes what it meant to be a Steeler and was as known as much for his leadership as anything as he became an icon in the city and around the league. – Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire

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With all due respect to legendary 49ers RB Roger Craig who, along with head coach Bill Walsh, helped revolutionize the running back position as the first player with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season – Willis is the correct answer here. The 2007 first-round pick immediately made his mark on the league with a Defensive Rookie of the Year nod, along with Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors in his rookie year. In eight seasons Willis was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a five-time First-Team All-Pro and once a Second-Team All-Pro. He was as dominant of a player as there was on the defensive side of the football and he helped usher in the current era of super-athletic linebacker who can not only stop the run, but also hang with running backs, wide receivers and tight ends in coverage. The career length argument went out the window when former Broncos RB Terrell Davis got in on the strength of four (4) full seasons as a pro. Willis is in his fifth year of eligibility – he should have a gold jacket by now. – Kyle Madson, Niners Wire

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Seattle had some all-time great defensive talents on their rosters in the 80s. One of the most underrated was Dave Brown. In 159 career games with the Seahawks he posted 50 interceptions and scored 5 defensive touchdowns. Brown was also a respectable punt and kickoff returner in his rookie year with the 1975 Steelers, a team that went on to win the Super Bowl. Brown later made the AFC Pro Bowl team with Seattle in 1984. He also played three seasons with the Packers, altogether appearing in a remarkable 216 games in the NFL. His 62 career interceptions ranks tenth all-time. – Tim Weaver, Seahawks Wire

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A good deal of Tampa Bay’s vaunted 2002 defense is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame already, but there’s one player who isn’t. Defensive end Simeon Rice played for 11 years in the league, and despite just one first-team All-Pro nod in 2002 (and two second-team nods in 1993 and 2003, respectively), Rice has amassed a huge amount of sacks over his career with 122. He has eight seasons where he netted 10 or more, and he had 14 or more in four of those seasons. Rice was a noted pass rusher who was still a valuable member of those staunch Bucs defenses, and he deserves some consideration for the Hall of Fame. – River Wells, Bucs Wire

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Bud Adams was the founder/owner of the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans, but he was also a co-founder of the AFL, along with late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, who is in the Hall of Fame. Adams’ AFL eventually merged with the NFL and he was recognized for his vision and role in helping the league become what it is today when he was given the first Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football in 2008. Adams no doubt had his run-ins with the league over the years, but the history of the NFL cannot be told without his name. His induction is long overdue. – Mike Moraitis, Titans Wire

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Washington has a few candidates, most notably, Joe Jacoby, London Fletcher and Brian Mitchell. However, the fact Jacoby hasn’t made it yet is a travesty. An undrafted free agent in 1981, Jacoby quickly became a starter on one of the best offensive lines in history. Jacoby played 13 years, won three Super Bowls, made four Pro Bowls and three-time first-team All-Pro. He was also a member of the 1980s NFL All-Decade Team. Jacoby played in an era where he blocked some of the greatest defensive players in NFL history twice per season, including Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White. Taylor has praised Jacoby over the years. Jacoby should’ve been in the Hall of Fame years ago and now his only chance is as a senior candidate. His exclusion is proof the HOF process has major flaws. – Bryan Manning, Commanders Wire