Days before the end of 2024, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the 15 Finalists who have advanced for possible Hall of Fame induction in 2025.

The class will be announced on February 6 as part of the NFL honors show

*Means they were a Finalist last year

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

The Finalists are:

Quarterbacks (1):

**Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  

It is no shock to see Manning here as the lone Quarterback, but his candidacy has some flaws.  Manning was never considered among the best three at QB in any year, and his overall record is .500.  Despite this, he is gaining the most attention of any candidate.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs (1):

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns and is the only Running Back to make the finals, and he is now a two-time Finalist.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers (3)

**Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt is now a six-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and is a Finalist for the first time.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns, and like Holt, he is a Finalist for the sixth time.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends (1)

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in 2024.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Lineman (3):

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints and is now a two-time Finalist.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Like Manning, he is a Finalist in his first year on the ballot.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen (1)

**Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  A five-time Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years, Allen had been a Finalist in all five of his years of eligibility.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Linebackers: (2)

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Kuechly is also a first-time Finalist in year one.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Like Kuechly, he is a Finalist in his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs: (2)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Special Teams: (1)

**Adam Vinatieri PK: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599).  He is also a Finalist in his first year on the ballot. Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Failing to advance:  

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.   Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Steve Wisniewski (G):  RAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  Robert Mathis (DE, Also LB):  IND 2003-16.  Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.

We at Notinhalloffame.com love that November is the peak of “Hall of Fame Season,” where debates run wild and cut-downs amp up. 

Less than 48 hours after the Baseball Hall of Fame unveiled its official 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2025.

Two months ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 167 Preliminary Modern candidates for the Class of 2025, and this year, a special committee was tasked with reducing this group to 50 for the first vote.  These are the 25 Semi-Finalists.

*Means they were a Finalist last year

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

Let’s examine this group by position.

Quarterbacks (1):

**Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  

It is no shock to see Manning here as the lone Quarterback, but his candidacy has some flaws.  Manning was never considered among the best three at QB in any year, and his overall record is .500.  If Eli makes the Finals, look for his name to be the hottest debated.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs (2):

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

It was a mild shock not to see Marshawn Lynch make it as a semi-finalist. Tiki Barber and Eddie George also fell off, which was surprising, as they were semi-finalists last year, and it is rare that someone falls off that tier. 

Wide Receivers (5)

Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends (1)

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in the previous year.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Lineman (5):

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen (3)

**Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  In his first four years of eligibility, Allen was a Finalist, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Mathis (DE, Also LB):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while individually earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #140 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Linebackers: (3)

James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs: (4)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #150 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Special Teams: (1)

**Adam Vinatieri PK: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The following players failed to advance from 50 to 25.

QB.  Steve McNair:  HOU 1995-97, TEN 1997-2005 & BAL 2006-07.  In 1999, Steve McNair quarterbacked the Tennessee Titans to their first Super Bowl appearance, and in 2003, he was the AP MVP.  A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,590 Yards and 37 TDs.  Ranked #125 on Notinhalloffame.com.

RB.  Shaun Alexander:  SEA 2000-08 & WAS 2008.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls (2003-05), and in the last one, he won the Rushing Title (1,880) and was named the consensus MVP.  Alexander twice led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

RB.  Tiki Barber:  NYG 1997-06.  Barber played the entirety of his career with the Giants, where he went to the Pro Bowl in his final three seasons.  He led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage twice, and in the second of those years (2005), he was a First Team All-Pro and fourth in AP MVP voting.  Barber rushed for 10,449 Yards and had 5,183 Receiving Yards with 67 TDs from Scrimmage.  Ranked #153 on Notinhalloffame.com.

RB.  Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**RB.  Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

WR.  Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01), and in 1999, he led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on Notinhalloffame.com.

TE.  Ben Coates:  NWE 1991-99 & BAL 2000.  Coates was a Pro Bowler for five straight years from 1994 to 1998 and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would accumulate 5,555 Yards with 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

OL.  Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

OL.  Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #119 on Notinhalloffame.com.

OL.  Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

OL.  Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #78 on Notinhalloffame.com.

OL.  Jeff Saturday (C):  IND 1999-2011 & GNB 2012.  Jeff Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**OL.  Joe Staley (T):  SFO 2007-19   Staley started all 181 Games as a Left Tackle with San Francisco, where he went to the Pro Bowls.    Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

OL.  Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also twice named a First Team All-Pro.

DL.  John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*DL.  Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

DL.  Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #135 on Notinhalloffame.com.

DL.  Neil Smith (DE):  KAN 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  Smith would go to six Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro in 1993 when he was the league leader in Sacks (15).  He would also win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and had 104.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #32 on Notinhalloffame.com.

DL.  Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LB.  Cornelius Bennett:  1987-00, BUF, ATL, IND.  Bennett would go to five Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 1988.  The two-time UPI Defensive Player of the Year helped Buffalo win four AFC Championships, and he had 71.5 Sacks and 1,190 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*LB.  London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later on in his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #55 on Notinhalloffame.com.

DB.  Kam Chancellor (S):  SEA 2010-17.  Chancellor won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks while going to do four Pro Bowls over his career.  He compiled 12 Interceptions with 607 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

DB.  Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002 he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com.

PK.  Gary Anderson PK:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #206 on Notinhalloffame.com.

PR/KR.  Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #151 on Notinhalloffame.com.

This group will be cut down to 15 Finalists later this year.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who made it to this stage.

Damn, we love this time of year!

A month ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 167 Preliminary Modern candidates for the Class of 2025. This year, a special committee was tasked with reducing this group to 50, and next month, they will be reduced to 25 Semi-Finalists.

*Means they were a Finalist last year

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

Let’s examine this group by position.

Quarterbacks (2):

**Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair:  HOU 1995-97, TEN 1997-2005 & BAL 2006-07.  In 1999, Steve McNair quarterbacked the Tennessee Titans to their first Super Bowl appearance, and in 2003, he was the AP MVP.  A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,590 Yards and 37 TDs.  Ranked #125 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The eight Quarterbacks eliminated were:

Marc Bulger: STL 2002-09. 

Randall Cunningham:  PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Delhomme:  NOR 1999-2002, CAR 2003-09, CLE 2010 & HOU 2011. 

Doug Flutie: CHI 1986, NWE 1987-89 & 2005, BUF 1998-2000 & SDG 2001-04. 

Rich Gannon:  MIN 1987-92, WAS  1993, KAN 1995-98 & OAK 1999-2002.  Ranked #290 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Garcia:  SFO 1999-2003, CLE 2004, DET 2005, PHI 2006 & TAM 2007-08.  

Donovan McNabb:  PHI 1999-2001, WAS 2002 & MIN 2003.  Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Romo:  DAL 2004-16.  Ranked #326 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairmans Quarterback Notes:

Yep, we all knew Eli would be here, and his two Super Bowl rings clash with his .500 record, and we bluntly ask: was there ever a time when it could honestly be said that Manning was the best three any time at his position?  Shouldn’t that matter?  It feels like Eli is on a collision course for a Finalist spot (and maybe even an immediate induction), which feels wrong. 

The QB omission that worries me here is the influential Randall Cunningham, a multi-time Bert Bell Award winner whose time on the modern ballot is wasting away. An honorable mention here goes to Donovan McNabb, who, regardless of the venue or conversation, is criminally disrespected.

Running Backs (6):

Shaun Alexander:  SEA 2000-08 & WAS 2008.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls (2003-05), and in the last one, he won the Rushing Title (1,880) and was named the consensus MVP.  Alexander twice led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Tiki Barber:  NYG 1997-06.  Barber played the entirety of his career with the Giants, where he went to the Pro Bowl in his final three seasons.  He led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage twice, and in the second of those years (2005), he was a First Team All-Pro and fourth in AP MVP voting.  Barber rushed for 10,449 Yards and had 5,183 Receiving Yards with 67 TDs from Scrimmage.  Ranked #153 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 25 Running Backs eliminated were:

Terry Allen:  MIN 1991-92 & 94, WAS 1995-98, NWE 1999, NOR 2000 & BAL 2001. 

Jamal Anderson:  ATL 1994-01.

Larry Centers FB:  PHO 1990-93, ARI 1994-98, WAS 1999-2000, BUF 2001-02, & NWE 2003.  

Jamaal Charles:  KAN 2008-16, DEN 2017 & JAX 2018. 

Stephen Davis:  WAS 1996-06, CAR 2003-05 & STL 2006. 

Corey Dillon:  CIN 1997-2003 & NWE 2004-06.  Ranked #240 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Warrick Dunn:   Ranked #301 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Garner:  PHI 1994-98, SFO 1999-2000, OAK 2001-03 & TAM 2004. 

Priest Holmes:  BAL 1997-2000 & KAN 2001-05 & 07.  Ranked #131 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steven Jackson:  STL, 2004-12, ATL 2013-14, NWE 2015.  Ranked #196 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Johnson:  TEN 2008-13, NYJ 2014 & ARI 2015-17.  

Thomas Jones:  ARI 2000-03, TAM 2003, CHI 2004-06, NYJ 2007-09 & KAN 2010-11. 

John Kuhn (FB):  PIT 2006, GNB 2007-15, NOR 2017. 

Vonta Leach (FB): GNB 2004-06, 2004-13, HOU 2006-2010 & BAL 2011-13. 

Dorsey Levens:  GNB 1994-2001, PHI 2002 & 2003 & NYG 2004. 

Jamal Lewis:   Ranked #238 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Metcalf (Also WR/PR/KR):  CLE 1989-94, ATL 1995-96, SDG 1997, ARI 1998, CAR 1999, WAS 2001 & GNB 2002.  

Glyn Milburn (Also WR & KR):  DEN 1993-95, DET 1996-97, CHI 1998-2001 & SDG 2001. 

Lorenzo Neal (FB):  NOR 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TAM 1998, TEN 1999-2000, CIN 2001-02, SDG 2003-07 & BAL 08.  

Clinton Portis: DEN 2002-03 & WAS 2004-10.  

Tony Richardson (FB):  KAN 1995-2005, MIN 2006-07, NYJ 2008-10. 

Robert Smith: MIN 1993-2000.

Darren Sproles:  SDG 2005-10, NOR 2011-13 & PHO 2014-19. 

Chris Warren:  SEA 1990-97, DAL 1998-2000, PHI 2000. 

Ricky Williams: NOR 1999-2001, MIA 2002, 2005 & 2007-10, BAL 2011. 

The Chairman’s Running Back Notes:

I love seeing Alexander here, but here is a question: Am I the only one who had Taylor sixth in this group? Taylor is like Eli, as I openly ask when he was seriously considered among the top three RBs in football.  Does first ballot Back Marshawn leapfrog him?

Wide Receivers (21): (Down From 23 Last Year)

Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01), and in 1999, he led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 15 Wide Receivers eliminated are:

Donald Driver:  GNB 1999-12.  

Antonio Freeman:  GNB 1995-2001 & 2003 & PHI 2002.  

Irving Fryar: NWE 1984-92, MIA 1993-95, PHI 1996-97 & WAS 1999-2000.   Ranked #143 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Horn: KAN 1996-99, NOR 2000-06 & ATL 2007.  

Chad Johnson:  CIN 2001-10, & NWE 2011.  Ranked #145 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brandon Marshall:  DEN 2006-09, MIA 2010-11, CHI 2012-14, NYJ 2015-16, NYG 2017 & SEA 2018.  Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Derrick Mason:  TEN 1997-2004, BAL 2005-10, NYJ 2011 & HOU 2011.  Ranked #231 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Herman Moore:  DET 1991-2001 & NYG 2002.  Ranked #333 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Muhsin Muhammad:  CAR 1996-2004 & 2008-09 & CHI 2005-07.  

Jordy Nelson:  GNB: 2008-18. 

Andre Rison:  IND 1989, ATL 1990-94, CLE 1995, JAX 1996, GNB 1996, KAN 1997-99 & OAK 2000.  Ranked #202 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith:  DEN 1995-2006.  Ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wes Welker:  SDG 2004, MIA 2004-06, NWE 2007-12, DEN 2013-14 & STL 2015.  Ranked #170 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roddy White:  ATL 2005-15. 

The Chairman’s Wide Receiver Notes:

I have no issues with the six who advanced, and the only mild disappointment is Fryar’s omission, as his time is running out.

Tight Ends (6): (Up 3 from Last Year)

Ben Coates:  NWE 1991-99 & BAL 2000.  Coates was a Pro Bowler for five straight years from 1994 to 1998 and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would accumulate 5,555 Yards with 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in the previous year.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

The four Tight Ends eliminated were:

Vernon Davis: SFO 2006-15, DEN 2015 & WAS 2016-19. 

Jeremy Shockey:  NYG 2002-07, NOR 2009-10 & CAR 2011. 

Delanie Walker: SFO 2006-12 & TEN 2013-19.  

Wesley Walls:  1989-03, SFO, NOR, CAR, GNB.   Ranked #322 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Tight End notes:

None.  These two belong, and Gates will enter this year.  Bank on it.

Offensive Lineman (12):

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #119 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #78 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Saturday (C):  IND 1999-2011 & GNB 2012.  Jeff Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Joe Staley (T):  SFO 2007-19   Staley started all 181 Games as a Left Tackle with San Francisco, where he went to the Pro Bowls.    Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also twice named a First Team All-Pro.

Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 14 Offensive Linemen eliminated were:

Bruce Armstrong (T/G):  1987-00, NWE.  Ranked #209 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk (C):  MIN 1998-2007 & BAL 2009-12.  Ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Travis Frederick (C): DAL 2012-17 & 2019. 

Jordan Gross (T):  CAR 2003-13  

Ryan Kalil (C):  CAR 2007-18 & NYJ 2019. 

Lincoln Kennedy (T-G):  ATL 1993-95 & OAK 1096-2003. 

T.J. Lang (G):  GNB 2009-16 & DET 2017-18. 

Nick Mangold (C):  NYJ 2008-16.  Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-07.  Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Schlereth (G/C):  WAS 1989-94 & DEN 1995-2000.  

Josh Sitton (G): GNB 2008-15, CHI 2016-17 & MIA 2018. 

Chris Snee (G):  NYG 2004-13.  

Dave Szott (G):  KAN 2990-3000, WAS 2001 & NYJ 2002-03. 

Brian Waters (G):  KAN 2000-10, NWE 2011 & DAL 2013.  Ranked #193 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Offensive Line Notes:

It is nice to see the Browns here (Lomas and Ruben) and Webb and Wisniewski, who have limited time left and need to become a Finalist soon.  As for the Centers, while I have no issues with Kreutz and Saturday, Nalen and Mangold feel like better choices. 

Defensive Linemen: (8)

John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  In his first four years of eligibility, Allen was a Finalist, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #135 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith (DE):  KAN 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  Smith would go to six Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro in 1993 when he was the league leader in Sacks (15).  He would also win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and had 104.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #32 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while individually earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #140 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 9 eliminated Defensive Lineman were:

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT):  OAK 1996, NOR 1997-2001, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.   Ranked #212 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Casey Hampton (DT/NT):  PIT 2001-12.   Ranked #314 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chester McGlockton (DT):  RAI 1992-94, OAK 1995-97, KAN 1998-2000, DEN 2001-02 & NYJ 2003. 

Clyde Simmons: (DE/DT):  PHI 1986-92, ARI 1994-93, JAX 1996-97, CIN 1998 & CHI 1999-2000.   Ranked #330 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Thomas (DT/NT):  MIN 1987-94, DET 1995-96 & NWE 1997-2000.  Ranked #266 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Justin Tuck (DE):  NYG 2005-13 & OAK 2014-15.  

Ted Washington (NT/DT):  SFO 1991-93, BUF 1995-2000, CHI 2001-02, NWE 2003, OAK 2004-05 & CLE. 2006-07.  Ranked #246 in Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamal Williams (DT/NT):  SDG 1998-2009 & DEN 2010. 

Pat Williams (DT):  BUF 1997-2004 & MIN 2005-10. 

The Chairman’s Defensive Lineman Notes:

Two names:  They got it right with Neil Smith and Kevin Williams, two Linemen who should have been Finalists years ago, both of whom have never been Semi-Finalists.  Hopefully, they both advance.

Linebackers: (5) (Down from 25 last year)

Cornelius Bennett:  1987-00, BUF, ATL, IND.  Bennett would go to five Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 1988.  The two-time UPI Defensive Player of the Year helped Buffalo win four AFC Championships, and he had 71.5 Sacks and 1,190 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later on in his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #55 on Notinhalloffame.com.

James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 15 Linebackers eliminated were:

Jessie Armstead:  NYG 1992-2001 & WAS 2002-03.  Ranked #263 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brendon Ayanbadejo:  MIA 2003-04, CHI 2005-07 &, BAL 2008-12. 

NaVorro Bowman:  SFO 2010-17 & OAK 2017.   Ranked #262 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lance Briggs:  CHI 2003-14.   Ranked #123 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Keith Brooking:  ATL 1998-2012, DAL 2009-11 &, DEN.  Ranked #285 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi:  NWE 1996-2008.  

Donnie Edwards:  KAN 1996-2001 & 2007-08 & SDG 2002-06. 

James Farrior:  NYJ 1997-2001 & PIT 2002-11.  Ranked #271 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie McGinest (Also DE):  NWE 1994-2005 & CLE 2006-08.  

Ken Norton Jr.:  DAL 1988-93 & SFO 1994-2000.  

Julian Peterson:  SFO 2000-05, SEA 2006-08 & DET 2009-10.  Ranked #313 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Romanowski: SFO 1988-93, PHI 1994-95, DEN 1996-2001 & OAK 2002-03. 

Takeo Spikes:  CIN 1998-2003, BUF 2002-06, PHI 2007, SFO 2008-10 & SDG 2011-12.  

Jessie Tuggle:  ATL 1987-2000.  Ranked #126 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Vrabel:  PIT 1997-2000, NWE 2001-08 & KAN 2009-10. 

Lee Woodall:  SFO 1994-99, CAR 2000 & DEN 2001. 

The Chairman’s Linebackers Notes:

I am thrilled that Bennett is here, as he is also among my most wanted defensive players to at least get into the Finalist room to have a deep discussion.  Kuechly is no surprise, and I expect him to enter immediately.   If there were any other former players, I would have liked to see advance would be Jessie Tuggle and Lance Briggs.

Defensive Backs: (6)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kam Chancellor (S):  SEA 2010-17.  Chancellor won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks while going to do four Pro Bowls over his career.  He compiled 12 Interceptions with 607 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #150 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002 he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 12 Defensive Backs eliminated were:

Eric Berry (DB): KAN 2010-18.   Ranked #162 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Antoine Bethea (S): IND 2006-13, SFO 2013-16 & ARI 2017-19. 

Dre Bly (DB):  STL 1999-2002, DET 2003-06, DEN 2007-08 & SFO 2009. 

Nick Collins (S):  GNB 2005-11.  

Antonio Cromartie (CB):  2006-16, SDG, NYJ, ARI, IND.  

DeAngelo Hall (CB):  ATL 2004-07, OAK 2008 & WAS 2008-17

Eugene Robinson (DB):  Ranked #241 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Samari Rolle (CB):  TEN 1998-2004 & BAL 2005-08. 

Allen Rossum (CB):  PHI 1998-99, GNB 2000-01, ATL 2002-06, PIT 2007, SFO 2008-09 & DAL 2009.  

Bob Sanders (S):  IND 2004-10 & SDG 2011.  

Aqib Talib (CB): TB 2008-12, NEW 2012-13, DEN 2014-17 & LAR 2018-19.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Tillman (CB):  CHI 2004-14 & CAR 2015.   Ranked #220 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Defensive Backs Notes:

I was surprised to see Chancellor here, as I would have Eric Berry or Charles Tillman in this spot.  Thomas has had his past issues, and despite being (in my opinion) the best DB on the list, they could hold him back in favor of Allen.

Special Teams: (3)

Gary Anderson PK:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #206 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #151 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Adam Vinatieri PK: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 18 Special Teams players eliminated were:

David Akers PK:  WAS 1998, PHI 1999-2010, SFO 2011-12 & DET 2013.  Ranked #280 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darren Bennett P:  SDG 1995-2003 & MIN 2004-05. 

Jason Elam PK:  DEN 1993-2007 & ATL 2008-09.  

Jeff Feagles P:  NWE 1988-89, PHI 1989-93, ARI 1994-97, SEA 1998-2002 & NYG 2004-09.  

Jason Hanson PK:  DET 1992-12.

Sean Landeta P:  NYG 1985-93, RAM 1993-94, STL 1995-9 & 2003-046, TAM 1997, GNB 1998 & PHI 2000-01 & 05.  

Shane Lechler P:   Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Kasay PK:  SEA, 1991-94, CAR 1995-2010 & NOR 2011.  

Pat McAfee P:  IND 2009-16.  

Josh Cribbs PR/KRWR:  CLE 2005-12, NYJ 2013 & IND 2014.  

Brian Moorman P: BUF 2001-13 & DAL 2012. 

Matt Stover PK:  CLE 1991-95, BAL 1996-2008 & IND 2009. 

Matt Turk P:  WAS 1995-99, MIA 2000-01 & 2003-03, NYJ 2002, STL 2006, HOU 2007-11, JAX 2011.  

Mike Vanderjadt PK:  IND 1998-2005 & DAL 2006. 

The Chairman’s Special Teams Notes:

Only one thing:  Will Vinatieri make it in year one? 

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who made it to this stage.

For us at Notinhalloffame.com, this is our march toward our Christmas. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the Modern-Era Preliminary Nominees for the Class of 2025, a total of 167 former players, 16 of whom are first-time eligible.

To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least five years ago:

This group will pared down to 25 names this fall by the 50-person Hall of Fame committee.

*Means they were a preliminary candidate last year.

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

Quarterbacks (10): (same number from last year)

*Marc Bulger: STL 2002-09.  Bulger went to two Pro Bowls and threw for 22,814 Yards and 122 Touchdowns in a career spent entirely with the St. Louis Rams.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Randall Cunningham:  PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001.  Cunningham is a three-time Bert Bell Award winner and a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He also threw for nearly 30,000 Yards, had 207 Touchdown Passes, and rushed for 4,928 Yards and 35 Touchdowns.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jake Delhomme:  NOR 1999-2002, CAR 2003-09, CLE 2010 & HOU 2011.  Delhomme led the Panthers to an NFC Championship in 2003 and to the Pro Bowl in 2005.  He passed for 20,975 Yards and 126 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Doug Flutie: CHI 1986, NWE 1987-89 & 2005, BUF 1998-2000 & SDG 2001-04.  Flutie played many years in the CFL and went to the Pro Bowl in his return year to the NFL (1998); he went to the Pro Bowl and was the Comeback Player of the Year.  He threw for 14,715 Yards and 86 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rich Gannon:  MIN 1987-92, WAS  1993, KAN 1995-98 & OAK 1999-2002.  Gannon became a bona fide NFL star in his mid-30s when he joined his fourth team, Oakland.  Gannon was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection and two-time Bert Bell winner who won the 2002 AP MVP.  The two-time First Team All-Pro threw for 28,743 Yards and 180 Touchdowns and was 2002’s passing leader and the QB of the AFC Champions.  Ranked #290 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jeff Garcia:  SFO 1999-2003, CLE 2004, DET 2005, PHI 2006 & TAM 2007-08.  Garcia went to four Pro Bowls and would throw for 25,537 Passing Yards and 161 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Donovan McNabb:  1999-01, PHI, WAS, MIN.  McNabb took the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance and was a six-time Pro Bowler.  He threw for 37,276 Yards with 234 Touchdowns and ran for another 3,459 Yards and 29 TDs.  Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Steve McNair:  HOU 1995-97, TEN 1997-2005 & BAL 2006-07.  In 1999, Steve McNair quarterbacked the Tennessee Titans to their first Super Bowl appearance, and in 2003, he was the AP MVP.  A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,590 Yards and 37 TDs.  Ranked #125 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Tony Romo:  DAL 2004-16.  Romo went to four Pro Bowls and amassed 34,183 Passing Yards and 248 Touchdown Passes.  He was also the second runner-up for the AP MVP in 2014.  Ranked #326 on Notinhalloffame.com.

(Quarterbacks added: **Eli Manning.  Quarterbacks removed: Michael Vick.)

Running Backs (31): (Down from 33 last year)

*Shaun Alexander:  SEA 2000-08 & WAS 2008.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls (2003-05), and in the last one, he won the Rushing Title (1,880) and was named the consensus MVP.  Alexander twice led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Terry Allen:  MIN 1991-92 & 94, WAS 1995-98, NWE 1999, NOR 2000 & BAL 2001.  Allen went to one Pro Bowl and compiled 10,215 Yards from Scrimmage and 79 Touchdowns.  He also once led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns with 21. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamal Anderson:  ATL 1994-01.  In 1998, Anderson was a First-Team All-Pro, a Pro Bowl Selection, and third in MVP voting. Over his eight seasons, he had 41 touchdowns and 6,981 Yards from Scrimmage.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Tiki Barber:  NYG 1997-06.  Barber played the entirety of his career with the Giants, where he went to the Pro Bowl in his final three seasons.  He led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage twice, and in the second of those years (2005), he was a First Team All-Pro and fourth in AP MVP voting.  Barber rushed for 10,449 Yards and had 5,183 Receiving Yards with 67 TDs from Scrimmage.  Ranked #153 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Larry Centers FB:  PHO 1990-93, ARI 1994-98, WAS 1999-2000, BUF 2001-02, & NWE 2003.  Centers was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection and totaled 8,985 Yards from Scrimmage.  He was also a First Team All-Pro once, and in his final season, he won a Super Bowl with the Patriots.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jamaal Charles:  KAN 2008-16, DEN 2017 & JAX 2018.  Charles went to four Pro Bowls, was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and, in a career spent mainly in Kansas City, netted 10,156 Yards from Scrimmage with 64 Touchdowns. He also led the NFL in TDs in 2013 and was third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Stephen Davis:  WAS 1996-06, CAR 2003-05 & STL 2006.  Davis went to three Pro Bowls and compiled 9,548 Yards and 69 Touchdowns from Scrimmage.  He led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and Touchdowns in 1999.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Corey Dillon:  CIN 1997-2003 & NWE 2004-06.  Dillon won the Super Bowl with the 2004 Patriots and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He accumulated 13,154 Yards from Scrimmage with 89 Touchdowns.  Ranked #240 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Warrick Dunn:  TAM 1997-2001 & 2008 & ATL 2002-07.  Dunn was the 1997 Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 10,957 Yards and 49 Touchdowns.  He had another 15 TDs and 4,339 Yards from the air.  Ranked #301 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Charlie Garner:  PHI 1994-98, SFO 1999-2000, OAK 2001-03 & TAM 2004.  Garner was a one-time Pro Bowl honoree and had 10,808 Yards from Scrimmage with 51 Touchdowns. 

*Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Priest Holmes:  BAL 1997-2000 & KAN 2001-05 & 07.  Winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, Holmes had tremendous individual success with the Chiefs, where he was a three-time First Team All-Pro and the 2001 Rushing Champion and 2002 Offensive Player of the Year.  He led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and Yards from Scrimmage in 2002 & 20023.  He would tabulate 11,134 Yards from Scrimmage and 94 TDs.  Ranked #131 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Steven Jackson:  STL, 2004-12, ATL 2013-14, NWE 2015.  A three-time Pro-Bowler, Jackson accrued 15,121 Yards from Scrimmage and 78 Touchdowns.  He is the Rams’ all-time leading rusher and was the top finisher in YFS in 2006.  Ranked #196 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Chris Johnson:  TEN 2008-13, NYJ 2014 & ARI 2015-17.  Johnson won the AP 2009 Offensive Player of the Year Award in a campaign where he set the single-season record for Yards from Scrimmage (2,509) and subsequently won the NFL Rushing Title (2,006).  A three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro, Johnson compiled 64 Touchdowns and 11,906 YFS.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Thomas Jones:  ARI 2000-03, TAM 2003, CHI 2004-06, NYJ 2007-09 & KAN 2010-11.  Jones is a member of the 10,000 Yard Rushing Club (10,591) and has 68 TDs on the ground.  He has also been to one Pro Bowl when he was a Jet.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*John Kuhn (FB):  PIT 2006, GNB 2007-15, NOR 2017.  A pure Fullback in the modern game, Kuhn was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro who won a Super Bowl with the Packers.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Vonta Leach (FB): GNB 2004-06, 2004-13, HOU 2006-2010 & BAL 2011-13.  Leach won a Super Bowl with the Ravens and was a three-time Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro at Fullback (2010-12).  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Dorsey Levens:  GNB 1994-2001, PHI 2002 & 2003 & NYG 2004.  Levens won a Super Bowl and went to a Pro Bowl as a Packer.  He would also accumulate 7,288 Yards from Scrimmage with 53 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jamal Lewis:  BAL 2000 & 2002-06, CLE 2007-09.  In 2003, Lewis entered rarified air as he entered the 2,000 Yard club, rushing for 2,006 on the ground, and won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.  He would rush for 10,607 Yards and 58 Touchdowns.  Ranked #238 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Eric Metcalf (Also WR/PR/KR):  CLE 1989-94, ATL 1995-96, SDG 1997, ARI 1998, CAR 1999, WAS 2001 & GNB 2002.  Incredibly versatile, Metcalf was also used as a Wide Receiver and Returner, and the three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro totaled 17,230 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Glyn Milburn (Also WR & KR):  DEN 1993-95, DET 1996-97, CHI 1998-2001 & SDG 2001.  Milburn went to two Pro Bowls as a Kick Returner and had 14,911 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Lorenzo Neal (FB):  NOR 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TAM 1998, TEN 1999-2000, CIN 2001-02, SDG 2003-07 & BAL 08.  Playing as a Fullback, Neal would go to four Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clinton Portis: DEN 2002-03 & WAS 2004-10.   Portis was the 2002 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection with 80 Touchdowns and 11,941 Yards from Scrimmage.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Tony Richardson (FB):  KAN 1995-2005, MIN 2006-07, NYJ 2008-10.  Richardson was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection and a Second Team All-Pro twice.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Robert Smith: MIN 1993-2000.  Smith went to two Pro Bowls, retired in his prime, and had 6,818 Rushing Yards with 33 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Darren Sproles:  SDG 2005-10, NOR 2011-13 & PHO 2014-19.  Sproles was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection as an Eagle who amassed 19,696 All-Purpose Yards and 69 TDs in Total.  Ranked #291 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Chris Warren:  SEA 1990-97, DAL 1998-2000, PHI 2000.  Warren went to three straight Pro Bowls (1993-95) and rushed for 7,696 Yards and 52 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

*Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Ricky Williams: NOR 1999-2001, MIA 2002, 2005 & 2007-10, BAL 2011.  Williams won the 2002 Rushing Title, went to the Pro Bowl, and was named a First Team All-Pro that year.  He compiled 10,009 Rushing Yards with 66 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs added: **Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis & **Darren Sproles.  Running Backs removed: Mike Alstott (FB), Michael Bates (KR), Ahman Green, Daryl Johnston (FB) (moved to Senior Pool) and Brian Westbrook)

Wide Receivers (21): (Down From 23 Last Year)

*Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Donald Driver:  GNB 1999-12.  Driver was a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers, where he would also go to three Pro Bowls.  He would accumulate 10,137 Receiving Yards and 61 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Antonio Freeman:  GNB 1995-2001 & 2003 & PHI 2002.  Freeman won a Super Bowl with Green Bay and was the leading receiver in 1998 with 1,424 Yards.  He amassed 7,251 Receiving Yards with 61 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Irving Fryar: NWE 1984-92, MIA 1993-95, PHI 1996-97 & WAS 1999-2000.  Fryar was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection and a former First Overall Pick.  He accumulated 12,785 Receiving Yards with 84 Touchdowns.  Ranked #143 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Joe Horn: KAN 1996-99, NOR 2000-06 & ATL 2007.  Horn was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Saints and had 8,744 Receiving Yards with 58 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Chad Johnson:  CIN 2001-10, & NWE 2011.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls as a Bengal and accumulated 11,059 Receiving Yards, punching 67 of them into the end zone.  “Ocho Cinco” was also a First Team All-Pro twice and was the league leader in Receiving Yards once.  Ranked #145 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brandon Marshall:  DEN 2006-09, MIA 2010-11, CHI 2012-14, NYJ 2015-16, NYG 2017 & SEA 2018.  Marshall was a six-time Pro Bowler, and one was a First Team All-Pro.  He amassed 12,351 Yards with 83 Touchdowns and had 1,000-yard seasons for four teams.  Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Derrick Mason:  TEN 1997-2004, BAL 2005-10, NYJ 2011 & HOU 2011.  Mason recorded 12,061 Receiving Yards and was twice chosen for the Pro Bowl.  Ranked #231 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Herman Moore:  DET 1991-2001 & NYG 2002.  Moore went to four consecutive Pro Bowls (1994-97) and earned three straight First Team All-Pros (1995-97).  He twice led the NFL in Receptions (1995 & 1997) and had 9,174 Yards with 62 TDs.  Ranked #333 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Muhsin Muhammad:  CAR 1996-2004 & 2008-09 & CHI 2005-07.  Muhammad led all NFL Wide Receivers in Yards in 2004, the season he was chosen as a First-Team All-pro. He tallied 11,438 Receiving Yards and 62 TDs.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jordy Nelson:  GNB: 2008-18.  Nelson had 72 Touchdowns, 8,587 Yards and a Super Bowl Ring with Green Bay.  He also went to one Pro Bowl.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Andre Rison:  IND 1989, ATL 1990-94, CLE 1995, JAX 1996, GNB 1996, KAN 1997-99 & OAK 2000.  Rison went to the Pro Bowls five times, four with Atlanta, where he led the NFL Touchdown Receptions in 1993.  He had 84 Touchdowns with 10,205 career Receiving Yards.  Ranked #202 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01), and in 1999, he led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Rod Smith:  DEN 1995-2006.  Smith would win two Super Bowls with the Broncos and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He recorded 11,389 Yards with 68 TDs.  Ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Wes Welker:  SDG 2004, MIA 2004-06, NWE 2007-12, DEN 2013-14 & STL 2015.  Welker led the NFL thrice in Receptions, and the five-time Pro Bowl Selection had 9,924 career Receiving Yards and 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #170 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roddy White:  ATL 2005-15.  White played the entirety of his career with the Falcons where he went to four consecutive Pro Bowls (2008-11) and was chosen for one First Team All-Pro in 2010 when he led the league in Receptions (115).  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers Added: Demaryius Thomas & Roddy White, Wide Receivers Removed: Troy Brown (Also KR), Dante Hall, Devin Hester (Also Kr/PR) (Inducted) & Andre Johnson (Inducted).

Tight Ends (6): (Up 3 from Last Year)

*Ben Coates:  NWE 1991-99 & BAL 2000.  Coates was a Pro Bowler for five straight years from 1994 to 1998 and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would accumulate 5,555 Yards with 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Vernon Davis: SFO 2006-15, DEN 2015 & WAS 2016-19.  Davis won a Super Bowl in his brief time in Denver and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection in San Francisco.  He compiled 63 Touchdowns and 7,562 Yards over his career. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in the previous year.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

Jeremy Shockey:  NYG 2002-07, NOR 2009-10 & CAR 2011.  Shockey won Super Bowls with New York and New Orleans, and the four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro amassed 37 Touchdowns and 6,143 Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Delanie Walker: SFO 2006-12 & TEN 2013-19.   Walker accumulated 36 Touchdowns and 5,888 Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selectee in Tennessee.  Unranked on Notinhallofame.com.

*Wesley Walls:  1989-03, SFO, NOR, CAR, GNB.  Walls was named to the Pro Bowl five times with the Carolina Panthers.  He would have 5,291 Yards with 54 TDs in his career.  Ranked #322 on Notinhalloffame.com.

(Tight Ends added: **Vernon Davis, Jeremy Shockey & **Delanie Walker., Tight Ends Removed: None)

Offensive Lineman (26): (Up 1 from 25 Last Year)

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bruce Armstrong (T/G):  1987-00, NWE.  Armstrong went to six Pro Bowls in a career spent entirely with the Patriots.  Ranked #209 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Matt Birk (C):  MIN 1998-2007 & BAL 2009-12.  Birk is a Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens and would prior have six Pro Bowls as a Minnesota Viking.  Ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #119 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Travis Frederick (C): DAL 2012-17 & 2019.  Frederick competed only six seasons but was a Pro Bowl Selection for five.  Unranked on Notinhaloffame.com.

Jordan Gross (T):  CAR 2003-13   Gross was a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro Selection at Tackler with the Panthers.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Ryan Kalil (C):  CAR 2007-18 & NYJ 2019.  Kalil went to five Pro Bowls and was twice chosen as a First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #312 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lincoln Kennedy (T-G):  ATL 1993-95 & OAK 1096-2003.  Kennedy went to three consecutive Pro Bowls (2000-02) and was a First Team All-Pro once.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*T.J.Lang (G):  GNB 2009-16 & DET 2017-18.  Lang won a Super Bowl with Green Bay and was twice a Pro Bowler. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Nick Mangold (C):  NYJ 2008-16. Mangold played his entire career with the Jets, where he went to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #78 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-07.  Nalen won two Super Bowls with the Broncos, was chosen for five Pro Bowls, and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jeff Saturday (C):  IND 1999-2011 & GNB 2012.  Jeff Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and he was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Mark Schlereth (G/C):  WAS 1989-94 & DEN 1995-2000.  Schlereth won three Super Bowls (one with Washington and two with Denver) and went to two Pro Bowls.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Josh Sitton (G): GNB 2008-15, CHI 2016-17 & MIA 2018.  Sitton went to four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Green Bay.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Chris Snee (G):  NYG 2004-13.  Snee was a two-time Super Bowl Champion who played all 141 Games, starting at Right Guard.  He was also a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Joe Staley (T):  SFO 2007-19   Staley started all 181 Games as a Left Tackle with San Francisco, where he went to the Pro Bowls.    Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Szott (G):  KAN 2990-3000, WAS 2001 & NYJ 2002-03.  Szott was a First Team All-Pro in 1997.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brian Waters (G):  KAN 2000-10, NWE 2011 & DAL 2013.  Waters would go to six Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #193 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also twice named a First Team All-Pro.

*Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Linemen Added: **Travis Frederick, Jordan Gross, **Ryan Kalil, Lincoln Kennedy, **Joe Staley, and **Marshal Yanda. Offensive Linemen Removed: Kevin Glover, Nate Newton, Mark Stepnoski, and Max Unger.

Defensive Linemen: (18) (Down 2 from 20 Last Year)

*John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  In his first four years of eligibility, Allen was a Finalist, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*La’Roi Glover (DT/NT):  OAK 1996, NOR 1997-2001, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.  Glover went to six straight Pro Bowls (2000-05), and in 2000, he would lead the NFL in Sacks (17.5), was second Defensive Player of the Year voting, and was a First Team All-Pro that year. He would have 83.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #212 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Casey Hampton (DT/NT):  PIT 2001-12.  Hampton played his entire career with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls and being chosen for five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #314 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chester McGlockton (DT):  RAI 1992-94, OAK 1995-97, KAN 1998-2000, DEN 2001-02 & NYJ 2003.  McGlockton went to four straight Pro Bowls as a Raider and was once a First Team All-Pro.  He amassed 51 Sacks.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #135 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clyde Simmons: (DE/DT):  PHI 1986-92, ARI 1994-93, JAX 1996-97, CIN 1998 & CHI 1999-2000.  Simmons led the NFL in Sacks in 1992 (19) and was third in DPOY voting that year.  A two-time First Team All-Pro, Simmons recorded 121.5 Sacks and 966 Tackles.  Ranked #330 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Neil Smith (DE):  KAN 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  Smith would go to six Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro in 1993 when he was the league leader in Sacks (15).  He would also win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and had 104.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #32 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Henry Thomas (DT/NT):  MIN 1987-94, DET 1995-96 & NWE 1997-2000.  Thomas was in the Pro Bowl twice and had 93.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #266 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Justin Tuck (DE):  NYG 2005-13 & OAK 2014-15.  Tuck was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl Champion as a Giant.  He had 66.5 Sacks and 102 Tackles for Loss.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Ted Washington (NT/DT):  SFO 1991-93, BUF 1995-2000, CHI 2001-02, NWE 2003, OAK 2004-05 & CLE. 2006-07.  Washington won a Super Bowl early in his career with San Francisco and later was named to four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #246 in Notinhalloffame.com.

*Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while individually earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #140 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jamal Williams (DT/NT):  SDG 1998-2009 & DEN 2010.  Williams had three Pro Bowls, with two First Team All-Pros.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

*Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Pat Williams (DT):  BUF 1997-2004 & MIN 2005-10.  This Williams played with the above Williams to form the “Williams Wall” in Minnesota.  Williams was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection when he was a Viking.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Lineman added: Chester McGlockton & Clyde Simmons.  Defensive Lineman removed: Dwight Freeney (inducted), Leslie O’Neal (aged out), Julius Peppers (inducted). Justin Smith & Dana Stubblefield.

Linebackers: (20) (Down from 25 last year)

*Jessie Armstead:  NYG 1992-2001 & WAS 2002-03.  Armstead went to five straight Pro Bowls (1997-2001), the first of which he was a First Team All-Pro and third-place finisher for the Defensive Player of the Year.  He amassed 971 Tackles and 40.0 Sacks.  Ranked #263 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brendon Ayanbadejo:  MIA 2003-04, CHI 2005-07 &, BAL 2008-12.  Ayanbadejo went to three straight Pro Bowls (2006-08) and won a Super Bowl with Baltimore.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Cornelius Bennett:  1987-00, BUF, ATL, IND.  Bennett would go to five Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 1988.  The two-time UPI Defensive Player of the Year helped Buffalo win four AFC Championships, and he had 71.5 Sacks and 1,190 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*NaVorro Bowman:  SFO 2010-17 & OAK 2017.  Bowman was a four-time First Team All-Pro with 798 career Tackles and was the leading tackler of the 2015 campaign.  Ranked #262 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Lance Briggs:  CHI 2003-14.  Briggs went to seven straight Pro Bowls (2005-11) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first year of that streak.  He had 1,181 career Combined Tackles, 16 Interceptions and 15.0 Sacks.  Ranked #123 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Keith Brooking:  ATL 1998-2012, DAL 2009-11 &, DEN.  Brooking was a Pro Bowler for five straight years while playing for Atlanta (2001-05).  He had 1,440 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #285 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Tedy Bruschi:  NWE 1996-2008.  Bruschi won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was a Pro Bowler in 2004.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Donnie Edwards:  KAN 1996-2001 & 2007-08 & SDG 2002-06.  Edwards went to one Pro Bowl and led the league in Tackles in 2004.  He had 1,501 career Tackles and 28 Interceptions and 23.5 Sacks. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*James Farrior:  NYJ 1997-2001 & PIT 2002-11.  Farrior had 1,440 Tackles and 35.5 Sacks over his long career, and he was also a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Steelers.  The two-time Pro Bowl Selection was the runner-up for the 2004 AP DPOY.  Ranked #271 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later on in his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #55 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Willie McGinest (Also DE):  NWE 1994-2005 & CLE 2006-08.  Twice named to the Pro Bowl, McGinest won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.  He accumulated 86.0 Sacks over his career.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ken Norton Jr.:  DAL 1988-93 & SFO 1994-2000.   Norton Jr won three Super Bowls (two with Dallas and one with San Francisco) and went to three Pro Bowls.  He also had a First Team All-Pro and a third-place finisher for the DPOY (1995) and recorded 1,272 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Julian Peterson:  SFO 2000-05, SEA 2006-08 & DET 2009-10.  Peterson went to five Pro Bowls, secured a First Team All-Pro, and had 51.5 Sacks and 809 Tackles,  Ranked #313 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Romanowski: SFO 1988-93, PHI 1994-95, DEN 1996-2001 & OAK 2002-03.  Romanowski was considered one of the dirtiest players in league history, a four-time Super Bowl winner (two with San Francisco and two with Denver).  He was twice chosen for the Pro Bowl and netted 1,118 career Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Takeo Spikes:  CIN 1998-2003, BUF 2002-06, PHI 2007, SFO 2008-10 & SDG 2011-12.  Spikes was chosen for two Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 2004.  He was also one Interceptor shy of the 20-20 club and accumulated 1,431 combined career tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.’

**Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jessie Tuggle:  ATL 1987-2000.  A Falcon for his entire career, Tuggle led the NFL in Tackles four times, retiring with 1,805.  He also went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #126 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Mike Vrabel:  PIT 1997-2000, NWE 2001-08 & KAN 2009-10.  Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, and in one season (2007), he was a First Team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler, and was fifth in DPOY voting.  He had 57 Sacks and 762 Tackles over his career.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Lee Woodall:  SFO 1994-99, CAR 2000 & DEN 2001.  Woodall won a Super Bowl with the 49ers and was also a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

(Linebackers added: **Luke Kuechly, Bill Romanowski & **Terrell Suggs.  Linebackers removed: Karlos Dansby. Larry Izzo, Hardy Nickerson, Bryce Paup, Joey Porter, Al Wilson & Patrick Willis (Inducted).

Defensive Backs: (18) (Up 1 from 19 Last Year)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Berry (DB): KAN 2010-18.  Berry was a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro Safety with 14 Interceptions and 445 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Antoine Bethea (S): IND 2006-13, SFO 2013-16 & ARI 2017-19.  Bethea was a three-time Pro Bowl at Safety with 25 Interceptions and 1,333 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Dre Bly (DB):  STL 1999-2002, DET 2003-06, DEN 2007-08 & SFO 2009.  Bly won a Super Bowl with the Rams and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.  He had 43 career Interceptions and 528 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Kam Chancellor (S):  SEA 2010-17.  Chancellor won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks while going to do four Pro Bowls over his career.  He compiled 12 Interceptions with 607 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Nick Collins (S):  GNB 2005-11.  Collins won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and was a Pro Bowler three times. He led the NFL in Interception Return Yards in 2008 and had 21 career Interceptions.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Antonio Cromartie (CB):  2006-16, SDG, NYJ, ARI, IND.  Cromartie went to four Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2007; the same season, he led the NFL in Interceptions with ten and was fourth in DPOY voting.  He had 31 picks over his career.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

DeAngelo Hall (CB):  ATL 2004-07, OAK 2008 & WAS 2008-17.  Hall was a three-time Pro Bowler, recording 43 career Interceptions and 814 Combined Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #150 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eugene Robinson (DB):  SEA 1985-95, GNB 1996-97, ATL 1998-99 & CAR 2000.  Robinson had 57 Interceptions, 1,413 Tackles, and a Super Bowl Ring with Green Bay.  He also went to three Pro Bowls.  Ranked #241 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Samari Rolle (CB):  TEN 1998-2004 & BAL 2005-08.  Rolle went to the Pro Bowl, had a First Team All-Pro in 2000, and had 31 career Interceptions.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

*Allen Rossum (CB):  PHI 1998-99, GNB 2000-01, ATL 2002-06, PIT 2007, SFO 2008-09 & DAL 2009.  Rossum is listed as a Cornerback but was more of a Returner.  He was a Pro Bowler in 2004 and had 15,046 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Bob Sanders (S):  IND 2004-10 & SDG 2011.  Sanders only played 50 Games but was the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and owns a Super Bowl Ring with the Colts.  He is also a two-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Aqib Talib (CB): TB 2008-12, NEW 2012-13, DEN 2014-17 & LAR 2018-19.  Talib went to five consecutive Pro Bowls (2013-17) and won a Super Bowl with Denver.  He also had 35 Interceptions, returning 10 for Touchdowns.  This is his first year on the ballot.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Charles Tillman (CB):  CHI 2004-14 & CAR 2015.  Tillman is in his first year of eligibility and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would have 38 career Interceptions and 44 Forced Fumbles with 930 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #220 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002 he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs added: Eric Berry, **Antoine Bethea, DeAngelo Hall, **Aqib Talib & **Earl Thomas.  Defensive Backs removed: Merton Hanks (aged out), Carnell Lake, Tim McDonald (aged out) & Antoine Winfield.

Place Kickers: (8) (Up 1 from 7 Last Year)

David Akers:  WAS 1998, PHI 1999-2010, SFO 2011-12 & DET 2013.  Akers was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  He was also a two-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made.  Ranked #280 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Anderson:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #206 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jason Elam:  DEN 1993-2007 & ATL 2008-09.  Elam went to three Pro Bowls, was a three-time Second Team All-Pro, and won two Super Bowl Rings with the Broncos.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jason Hanson:  DET 1992-12, The longest-tenured Lion in franchise history, Hanson went to two Pro Bowls and is fourth All-Time in Points Scored.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*John Kasay:  SEA, 1991-94,  CAR 1995-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kasay was a 19-year veteran who went to one Pro Bowl.  Kasay kicked 461 Field Goals over his career and is ninth all-time in Points Scored.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com/

*Matt Stover:  CLE 1991-95, BAL 1996-2008 & IND 2009.  Stover won a Super Bowl with the Ravens and was twice the league leader in Field Goal Percentage.  He is sixth all-time in Field Goals Made and Points Scored.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Vanderjadt:  IND 1998-2005 & DAL 2006.  Vanderjadt was selected as a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2003.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Place Kickers added: **Adam Vinatieri.  Place Kickers removed: None.

Punters: (7) (Down 1 from 8 last year)

Darren Bennett:  SDG 1995-2003 & MIN 2004-05.  Bennett was a First Team All-Pro as a rookie and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jeff Feagles:  NWE 1988-89, PHI 1989-93, ARI 1994-97, SEA 1998-2002 & NYG 2004-09.  Feagles was a two-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl with the Giants.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Sean Landeta:  NYG 1985-93, RAM 1993-94, STL 1995-9 & 2003-046, TAM 1997, GNB 1998 & PHI 2000-01 & 05.  Landeta won two Super Bowls with the Giants and was chosen for three First Team All-Pros.  He is currently third all-time in Punting Yards.  Ranked #204 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Shane Lechler:  OAK 2000-12 & HOU 2013-17.  Lechler went to seven Pro Bowls and was an All-Decade Selection in the 2000s and 2010s.  He is also a four-time leader in Punting Yards and a five-time leader in Yards per Punt.  Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Pat McAfee:  IND 2009-16.  McAfee went to two Pro Bowls and is a one-time leader in Yards per Punt.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Moorman: BUF 2001-13 & DAL 2012.  Moorman was chosen for two Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Matt Turk:  WAS 1995-99, MIA 2000-01 & 2003-03, NYJ 2002, STL 2006, HOU 2007-11, JAX 2011.  Turk’s three Pro Bowls were consecutive from 1996 to 1998.  He was a First Team All-Pro in ’95.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Punters added: None.  Punters removed: Brad Maynard.

Special Teams (2): (No Change from last year)

Josh Cribbs (Also WR):  CLE 2005-12, NYJ 2013 & IND 2014.  Cribbs was a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro, collecting 15,453 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #151 on Notinhalloffame.com.

With all due respect to many of these candidates, several of these Preliminary Nominees have no realistic chance of being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it is a phenomenal process to test the waters overall on a player’s career.

This group will be screened down to 50 Names, which will be announced in mid-October.

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who made it to this stage.

The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, so this results in a long push to revise what we already have; specifically, now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the tenth ten of the 2024 Football List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 91 to 100:

91. Joe Fortunato
92. Nick Mangold
93. Adam Vinatieri*
94. Clay Matthews Jr.
95. Cornelius Bennett
96. Abner Haynes
97. Jim Benton
98. Albert Lewis
99. Eli Manning*
100. John Hadl 

*Denotes First Year of Eligibility

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

Drafted in 2004 with the first overall pick by the San Diego Chargers, Eli Manning did not want to play for the Bolts, and he was quickly dealt to the New York Giants, where he would play his entire career.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, he would take the Giants to two Super Bowl Championships, both against the heavily favored New England Patriots, the first of which was when the Pats were undefeated going into the big game.  Notably, he was the Super Bowl MVP in both of their title wins.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the New York Giants. 

In 1925, the New York Giants were one of five teams that joined the National Football League, and of those five, they are the only ones that are still in existence.

The Giants have been in existence for nearly a century and have won eight Championships. The first four as NFL Champions (1927, 1934, 1938 & 1956) and they were a perpetual contender in the early 1960s. In the Super Bowl Era, they won in 1986 (XXI), 1990 (XXV), 2007 (XLII), and 2011 (XLVI).

Eight Championships is impressive regardless of the league and the sport!

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2019 Season.

The complete list can be found here,but as always, we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Lawrence Taylor

2. Emlen Tunnell

3. Rosey Brown

4. Mel Hein

5. Michael Strahan

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for our more material coming soon!

Up next, will be the top 50 Los Angeles Chargers.

As always we thank you for your support.

Eli Manning is one of the most polarizing players in Giants history, but that is predominantly the thought outside of New York.  For the most part, Giants fans will always celebrate the Quarterback who was at the helm of two Super Bowls, upsetting Tom Brady and the New England Patriots each time.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award of the NBA.  This time we look at its Football counterpart, the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award originated in 1970, and is given to the player honoring a player’s volunteer and charity work.  It was originally named the Man of the Year, and it was renamed in the honor of former winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Walter Payton, after he died in 1999.

While this is generally given to star players, we will not dissect the season in question as the award is not meant to be defined by stat lines and on field accomplishments.  

So how many Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 1970                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs 1972                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs 1973                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

George Blanda, Oakland Raiders 1974                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.

Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers 1976                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Walter Payton, Chicago Bears 1977                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys 1978                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers 1979                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles 1980                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers 1980                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dwight Stephenson, Miami Dolphins 1985                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks 1988                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Warren Moon, Houston Oilers 1989                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears 1990                             

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati Bengals 1991                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

John Elway, Denver Broncos 1992                                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs 1993                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers 1994                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Darrell Green, Washington Redskins 1996                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys 1997                               

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins 1998                                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings 1999                              

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000 (co-winner)

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers 2001                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 2005                      

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers 2007            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins 2008                               

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals 2009                             

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

John Hadl, San Diego Chargers 1971                             

Eligible Since 1983.  Ranked #103 on Notinhalloffame.com

Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals 1975                        

Eligible Since 1992.  Ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com

Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins 1982                  

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Chargers 1983                    

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Marty Lyons, New York Jets 1984                                  

Eligible Since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals 1986                     

Eligible Since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Duerson, Chicago Bears 1987                                

Eligible Since 1997.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals 1995                     

Eligible Since 2003.  Ranked #82 on Notinhalloffame.com

Jim Flanigan, Chicago Bears 2000 (co-winner)               

Eligible Since 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles 2002                         

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #275 on Notinhalloffame.com

Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons 2004                              

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Waters, Kansas City Chiefs 2009                          

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #156 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Madieu Williams, Minnesota Vikings 2010                     

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens 2011                                 

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?        

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in the NFL who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears 2013

Eligible in 2021.

Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers 2015

Eligible in 2022.

Eli Manning, New York Giants 2016 co-winner

Eligible in 2025.

Chris Long, Philadelphia Eagles 2018

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year who are still active.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints 2006

41 Years Old,Playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Jason Witten, New Orleans Saints 2013

38 Years Old,Playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers 2014

37 Years Old,Playing for the Washington Football Team.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals 2016 co-winner

37 Years Old,Playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans 2017

31 Years Old,Playing for the Houston Texans.

Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars 2019

34 Years Old,Playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

This is an award based more on character, and will likely continue to yield winners all over the ability spectrum, but let’s be honest; it is a lot easier to be philanthropic when you are a star name!

…and yes we know Peyton is not inducted yet, but come on!

So, what is up next?

We return to the NHL with a similar award to this one, the King Clancy Memorial Award.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is news to us that New York Giants co-owner, John Mara, stated in a recent interview that Eli Manning and Michael Strahan will have their numbers retired.

Sort of.

This is what he said about Eli’s number:

“It’s retired.”

When asked to clarify, Mara responded:

“Not yet.  We’ll do Michael’s (Strahan) announcement another day, but Eli’s will be retired.”

As for when that will happen is anyone’s guess.  

Wearing #10, Manning announced his retirement this past Friday.  Playing at Quarterback, Manning threw for 57,034 Yards and 366 Touchdowns, and led the Giants to two Super Bowl Championships, both over the New England Patriots.  He was named the MVP in both of those games, and he is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

As for Strahan, he has already been inducted into Canton, which occurred in 2014.  Like Manning, Strahan played his entire career with the Giants and he was the 2001 Defensive Player of the Year.  The seven-time Pro Bowl won a Super Bowl in his last game in the league.  He wore #92, which has never been issued since his retirement.

At present, the Giants have retired the numbers of Ray Flaherty (#1), Tuffy Leemans (#4), Mel Hein (#7), Phil Simms (#11), Y.A. Tittle (#14), Frank Gifford (#16), Al Blozis (#32), Joe Morrison (#40), Charlie Conerly (#42), Ken Strong (#50) and Lawrence Taylor (#56).

We here at Notinhalloffame.com are looking forward to these events in the future and are hopeful that the Giants will move on this action soon.

Speculated all year, Eli Manning will announce his retirement from the National Football League at a press conference tomorrow.

Drafted in 2004 with the third overall pick by the San Diego Chargers, Manning did not want to play for the Bolts, and he was quickly dealt to the New York Giants, where he would play his entire career.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, he would take the Giants to two Super Bowl Championships, both against the heavily favored New England Patriots, the first of which was when the Pats were undefeated going into the big game.  Notably, he was the Super Bowl MVP in both of their title wins.

Manning lost his starting job this year to rookie, Daniel Jones, but Manning finished the season when Jones went down to injury.

He retires with 57,023 Passing Yards with a TD-INT ratio of 366-244.

Manning will likely be the most polarizing Hall of Fame candidate if he isn’t already.  The younger brother of Peyton, is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, but was never a First or Second Team All-Pro, and has a .500 record as a starter.  He is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

In our pre-season rank of potential Hall of Famers, Manning was ranked #22.  Along with Luke Kuechly and Antonio Gates, three of our pre-season top twenty-five selections have now retired.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank Eli Manning for the gridiron memories and we wish him the best in his post-playing career.