For us, this is as big as the Super Bowl
Tonight, at the NFL Honors, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nine new members of the Canton based institution.
The Class of 2023 is:
Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Cleveland Browns 2007-17: Thomas was expected to be a first ballot inductee, and that is what transpired for the former Outland Trophy winner. The runner-up for the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Thomas played a record-breaking 10,363 Snaps and allowed only 30 Sacks. Charting new territory as the first Offensive Lineman to make the Pro Bowl in his first ten years, Thomas was a six-time First Team All-Pro and 2010’s All-Decade player.
Darrelle Revis, Cornerback, New York Jets 2007-12 & 2015-16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013, New England Patriots 2014, Kansas City Chiefs 2017: Along with Joe Thomas, Revis is a first ballot inductee, and the Super Bowl Champion with the Pats went to seven Pro Bowls with four First Team All-Pros and was a 2010s All-Decade player. The proprietor of Revis Island had 29 Interceptions and was second in 2009 Defensive Player of the Year voting.
DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys 2005-13, Denver Broncos 2014-16: Many expected Ware to enter on year one, but here he is on his second go. Amassing 138.5 Sacks and twice leading the league, the Linebacker was a nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro and a Super Bowl Champion late in his career with the Broncos.
Zach Thomas, Linebacker, Miami Dolphins 1995-2007, Dallas Cowboys 2008: Thomas was a Finalist the last four years, and is now a Hall of Famer on his tenth year on the ballot. The Linebacker had eleven years where he broke at least 100 Tackles, and he was a five-time First Team All-Pro as well as a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Ronde Barber, Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997-2012: With all due respect to Barber, this was a slight surprise, as his selection gave us three Corners (including Revis and Riley) in the 2023 Class. A Super Bowl Champion, Barber is the only player in history with at least 45 Interceptions and 25 Sacks. A 2000’s All-Decade Selection, Barber went to five Pro Bowls.
Chuck Howley, Linebacker, Chicago Bears 1958-59, Dallas Cowboys 1961-73: This was a long time coming for Howley, who has been eligible for 45 years, and had never been a Finalist. The first, and only player to win the Super Bowl MVP on a losing team, Howley got the Super Bowl Ring later, and also had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros on his docket.
Ken Riley, Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals 1969-83: Riley was never a Finalist before this year, and the career Bengal was used to being snubbed, having only one First Team All-Pro despite 65 career Interceptions. This gives the Bengals their second Hall of Famer, behind Offensive Lineman, Anthony Munoz.
Joe Klecko, Defensive Tackle, New York Jets, 1977-87, Indianapolis Colts 1988. Klecko enters the Hall of Fame after 30 years of eligibility and now the “New York Sack Exchange” has a Hall of Fame inductee. He was the second player (after Frank Gifford) to earn Pro Bowl honors at three different positions and he was named by UPI as their Defensive Player of the Year in 1981.
Don Coryell, Head Coach, St. Louis Cardinals 1973-77, San Diego Chargers 1978-86: Coyell was one of the most influential minds in football, revolutionizing the passing game with his “Air Coryell” offense. A Finalist six previous times, Coryell finally receives his due, albeit 12 years after his death.
As per Clark Judge, the first five Finalists cut were Devin Hester, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson, Dwight Freeney and Patrick Willis. Hester, is a bit of a surprise, as he made it to the final ten last year.
The three Wide Receivers on the ballot, Andre Johnson, Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne made it to the top ten, but none advanced, meaning that the logjam at Wide Receiver remains clogged. Jared Allen, who has been a Finalist every year since eligible, also made it to the final cut. The biggest disappointment was for Albert Lewis, who had to wait until his final year of modern eligibility to make it as a Finalist (or even a Semi-Finalist) was also in the final ten and now is in the very deep Seniors pool.
We will be revising our Notinhalloffame.com list next month, where we will remove those inducted, add those now eligible, and alter the list based on your votes and comments.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Some say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. For us at Notinhalloffame.com, it is the month after, where “Hall of Fame Season” is in its apex, with the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists.
We at Notinhalloffame.com, held our mock committee meeting last month, where we pushed through our 15, which differs from the actual Hall (as expected).
The 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists of 2023 are:
Jared Allen: Defensive End. 2004-07 KC, 2008-13 MIN, 2014-15 CHI, 2015 CAR. Allen advances for the third straight year, and has been a Finalist in all three of his eligible years. A two-time Sack leader with 136 career Sacks, Allen also has 171 Tackles for Loss. A five-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Allen is ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Willie Anderson: Offensive Tackle. 1996-2007 CIN, 2008 BAL. Anderson was eligible for the first time in 2013, and eight years later, he was a Semi-Finalist for the first time. Big Willie is now on a two-year streak as a Finalist. Anderson went to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Ronde Barber: Cornerback & Safety. 1997-2002 TB. Barber has been on the ballot for six years and is now a three-time Finalist. A member of Tampa’s first Super Bowl Title, Barber has 47 Interceptions, 20 Sacks and went to five Pro Bowls as well as earning three First Team All-Pros. Barber is ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dwight Freeney: Defensive End. 2002-12 IND, 2013-14 SD, AZ 2015, 2016 ATL, 2017 SEA, 2017 DET. Freeney was one of the five first year eligible players to make the Semi-Finals, and he is now a first-year Finalist; a huge accomplishment for a Hall of Fame path. Freeney won a Super Bowl with the Colts, had 125.5 Sacks and went to seven Pro Bowls earning three First Team All-Pros. Freeney is ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Devin Hester: Punt Returner, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver. 2006-13 CHI, 2014-15 ATL, 2016 BAL. Hester is a Finalist in his first two years of eligibility. A three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Hester is a member of the 100th Anniversary Team. Hester is ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Torry Holt: Wide Receiver. 1999-08 STL, 2009 JAX. A nine-time Semi-Finalist, Holt is no a four-time Finalist. A Super Bowl Champion with the Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls, and was a two-time Receiving Yards leader. Holt is ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Andre Johnson: Wide Receiver. 2003-14 HOU, 2015 IND, 2016 TEN. Johnson is a two-time Finalist, which is the same number of years he has been eligible. Named to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros, Johnson had well over 14,000 Receiving Yards and twice led the league in that category. Johnson is ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Albert Lewis: Cornerback. 1983-93 KC, 1994-98 LA/OAK. Lewis makes the Finals on his last year of eligibility, and was only a Semi-Finalist once before, in 2013. He was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Darrelle Revis: Cornerback. 2007-12 NYJ, 2013 TB, 2014 NE, NYJ 2015-16, KC 2017. A Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots in the lone year he was there, Revis is best known for his time with the Jets. Revis went to seven Pro Bowls, had four First Team All-Pros and is the 2009 leader in Approximate Value. This is his first year on the ballot. Revis is ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Joe Thomas: Offensive Tackle. 2007-17 CLE. Thomas is without a doubt the best player in the second wave of the Cleveland Browns, but he did not have a lot of help. This is his first year on the ballot, and he was pegged to be a first-year Finalist by EVERYONE! The Lineman was a six-time First Team All-Pro, and went to ten Pro Bowls. Thomas is ranked #1on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Zach Thomas: Linebacker. 1997-2007 MIA, 2008 DAL. Thomas is now on a four-year streak of Finalist Selections. He went to seven Pro Bowls, earned five First Team All-Pros and was a two-time leader in Combined Tackles. Thomas is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
DeMarcus Ware: Linebacker & Defensive End. 2005-13 DAL, 2014-16 DEN. Ware is on his second year of eligibility has been a Finalist both years. A nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Ware twice led the NFL in Sacks, with 138.5 in total. Ware is ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Reggie Wayne: Wide Receiver. 2001-14 IND. Wayne won a Super Bowl with the Colts and this marks the fourth consecutive trip to the Finalist round. A former Receiving Yard leader and six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Patrick Willis: Linebacker. 2007-14 SF. Willis adds a second straight Finalist to his resume, and with teammate, Bryant Young out of the way, there should be less obstruction. Willis only played eight years but was a Pro Bowl in seven and a First Team All-Pro in five of them. He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.
Darren Woodson: Safety. 1992-03 DAL. Woodson, who was a six-time Semi-Finalist, is finally a Finalist. He was a three-time Super Bowl winner, a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com.
The Semi-Finalists who did not advance are Anquan Boldin, Henry Ellard, Jahri Evans, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters and Vince Wilfork.
It should be noted that we will be holding our Mock Committee meeting on January 17, 9:30 EST, and we will be combining the official Finalists with ours.
This means we will be adding Randall Cunningham, Henry Ellard, Tom Nalen, Leslie O’Neal, Pat Swilling, and Richmond Webb.
So, who is going to get in!!!
You know that we will be paying attention, and we are excited to see how this pans out.
A day after the Baseball Hall of Fame announced their official ballot for the 2023 Class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame counters with the Semi-Finalists for their 2023 Class
Normally they nominate 25 men, but likely due to a tie vote, we have 28 official Semi-Finalists. This group includes five First Year eligible candidates.
Let’s take a look!
Eric Allen: Cornerback. 1988-94 PHI, 1995-97 NO, 1998-2001 OAK. Allen is now a Semi-Finalist for the third straight year, and he needs this momentum as he has been eligible since 2007. A six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who has 54 career Interceptions, Allen is ranked #49 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jared Allen: Defensive End. 2004-07 KC, 2008-13 MIN, 2014-15 CHI, 2015 CAR. Allen returns as a Semi-Finalist for the third straight year, and considering he was a Finalist the last two years, it is expected that he will advance again. A two-time Sack leader with 136 career Sacks, Allen also has 171 Tackles for Loss. A five-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Allen is ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Willie Anderson: Offensive Tackle. 1996-2007 CIN, 2008 BAL. Anderson was eligible for the first time in 2013, and eight years later, he was a Semi-Finalist for the first time. Now a three-time Semi-Finalist, “Big Willie” was a Finalist for the first time last year. Anderson went to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Ronde Barber: Cornerback & Safety. 1997-2002 TB. Barber has been on the ballot for six years and has been a Semi-Finalist for all of them, though only a Finalist the last two. A member of Tampa’s first Super Bowl Title, Barber has 47 Interceptions, 20 Sacks and went to five Pro Bowls as well as earning three First Team All-Pros. Barber is ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Anquan Boldin: Wide Receiver. 2003-2009 AZ, 2010-12 BAL, 2013-15 SF, 2016 DET. A Semi-Finalist last year in his first year of eligibility, the former Wide Receiver returns again, seeking his first trip to the Finals. With 13,779 Yards and 82 Touchdowns, Boldin won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection. Boldin is ranked #96 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Henry Ellard: Wide Receiver. 1983-93 LAR, 1994-98 WAS, NE 1998. This is the last kick at the can for Ellard, who is a Semi-Finalist for the first time in his final year of eligibility. Ellard had 65 Touchdowns and 13,777 Receiving Yards, which had fewer peers when he played than the other nominated Wide Receivers. A three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Ellard is ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Jahri Evans: Offensive Guard. 2006-16 NO, 2017 GB. Evans makes the Semis in his first year of eligibility, and is the first player from the New Orleans Super Bowl winning team to make it here. The Guard was. a six-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.
London Fletcher: Linebacker. 1998-01 STL, 2002-06 BUF, 2007-13 WAS. Eligible since 2019, Fletcher is a first time Semi-Finalist who recorded over 2,000 Tackles over his career and is a Super Bowl Champion with the Rams. A four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro is ranked #64 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dwight Freeney: Defensive End. 2002-12 IND, 2013-14 SD, AZ 2015, 2016 ATL, 2017 SEA, 2017 DET. Freeney is one of the five first year eligible players to make the Semi-Finals, a huge accomplishment for a Hall of Fame path. Freeney won a Super Bowl with the Colts, had 125.5 Sacks and went to seven Pro Bowls earning three First Team All-Pros. Freeney is ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
James Harrison: Linebacker. 2002-12 PIT, 2013 CIN, 2014-17 PIT, 2017 NE. Harrison is a Semi-Finalist on his first year on the ballot and was a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers. The 2008 AP Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison went to five Pro Bowls and earned two-time First Team All-Pros. Harrison is ranked #51 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Rodney Harrison: Safety. 1994-2002 SD, 2003-08 NE. Eligible since 2014, Harrison was a Semi-Finalist once before in 2021, and is a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots. Also, a two-time Pro Bowl Selection, Harrison had 30.5 Sacks and 30 Interceptions. Harrison is ranked #211 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Devin Hester: Punt Returner, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver. 2006-13 CHI, 2014-15 ATL, 2016 BAL. Hester was a Semi-Finalist and Finalist last year, which was his first year on the ballot. A three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Hester is a member of the 100th Anniversary Team. Hester is ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Torry Holt: Wide Receiver. 1999-08 STL, 2009 JAX. A nine-time Semi-Finalist, Holt has been a Finalist the last three years, and likely will add a fourth. A Super Bowl Champion with the Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls, and was a two-time Receiving Yards leader. Holt is ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Andre Johnson: Wide Receiver. 2003-14 HOU, 2015 IND, 2016 TEN. Johnson was a Finalist last year in his first year of eligibility, and he is back one step away from doing it again. Named to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros, Johnson had well over 14,000 Receiving Yards and twice led the league in that category. Johnson is ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Albert Lewis: Cornerback. 1983-93 KC, 1994-98 LA/OAK. Lewis is on his last year of eligibility, and was only a Semi-Finalist once before, in 2013. He was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Robert Mathis: Defensive End & Linebacker. 2003-16 IND. A Super Bowl Champion with Indianapolis, the team he spent his entire career with, Mathis is on his second year of eligibility, and is now a two-time Semi-Finalist. With 123 career Sacks, six Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro, Mathis is ranked #112 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Darrelle Revis: Cornerback. 2007-12 NYJ, 2013 TB, 2014 NE, NYJ 2015-16, KC 2017. A Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots in the lone year he was there, Revis is best known for his time with the Jets. Revis went to seven Pro Bowls, had four First Team All-Pros and is the 2009 leader in Approximate Value. Revis is ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Steve Smith: Wide Receiver. 2001-13 CAR, 2014-16 BAL. A five-time Pro Bowl and 14,000 Receiving Yards Club member, Smith is one of the greatest offensive players in Panthers history. Smith has been eligible for two years, and is now a Semi-Finalist in both of them. He is ranked #26 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Fred Taylor: Running Back. 1998-08 JAX, 2009-10 NE. Taylor is now on a four-year streak of Semi-Final Selections, though he has yet to be a Finalist. He only had one Pro Bowl under his belt, but is highly believed to be the best offensive skill player that Jacksonville ever had. Taylor is ranked #180 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Joe Thomas: Offensive Tackle. 2007-17 CLE. Thomas is without a doubt the best player in the second wave of the Cleveland Browns, but he did not have a lot of help. This is his first year on the ballot, and many expect him to easily make it to the Finals. The Lineman was a six-time First Team All-Pro, and went to ten Pro Bowls. Thomas is ranked #1on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Zach Thomas: Linebacker. 1997-2007 MIA, 2008 DAL. Thomas is now on a five-year Semi-Finalist run, and he will likely add a fourth straight Final. He went to seven Pro Bowls, earned five First Team All-Pros and was a two-time leader in Combined Tackles. Thomas is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Hines Ward: Wide Receiver. 1998-2011 PIT. Ward has been a Semi-Finalist all seven years of eligibility, but this has yet to get him to the Finals. Could this be the year? If so, we are talking about a Super Bowl MVP, a two-time Super Bowl Champion and four-time Pro Bowler. Ward is ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.
DeMarcus Ware: Linebacker & Defensive End. 2005-13 DAL, 2014-16 DEN. Ware is on his second year of eligibility and was a Finalist last year. A nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Ware twice led the NFL in Sacks, with 138.5 in total. Ware is ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Ricky Watters: Running Back. 1992-94 SF, 1995-97 Ricky Watters, 1998-2001 SEA. Watters is running out of time as this his third last year on the ballot. A Semi-Finalist three times before, he won a Super Bowl with San Francisco and went to five Pro Bowls. Watters is ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Reggie Wayne: Wide Receiver. 2001-14 IND. Wayne won a Super Bowl with the Colts and has been a Semi-Finalist all four of his years on the ballot, and likely will be a four-time Finalist in a month. A former Receiving Yard leader and six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Vince Wilfork: Defensive Tackle & Nose Tackle. 2004-12 NE, 2015-16 HOU. The mountain of a man helped New England win a Super Bowl and is now two-for-two in Semi-Final appearances. The five-time Pro Bowler is ranked #148on Notinhalloffame.com.
Patrick Willis: Linebacker. 2007-14 SF. Willis is now a four-time Semi-Finalist, and was a Finalist for the first time last year. Willis only played eight years but was a Pro Bowl in seven and a First Team All-Pro in five of them. He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
Darren Woodson: Safety. 1992-03 DAL. Woodson is now a six-time Semi-Finalist, but has yet to break through to the Finals. He was a three-time Super Bowl winner, a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.
It should be noted that we will be holding our Mock Committee meeting on either December 13 or 14 (TBD), and we will be combining the official Semi-Finalists with ours.
This means we will be adding Shaun Alexander, Ruben Brown, Ben Coates, Randall Cunningham, Tom Nalen, Leslie O’Neal, Neil Smith, Pat Swilling, Richmond Webb, Kevin Williams and Steve Wisniewski to our discussion.
So, who is going to get in!!!
You know that we will be paying attention, and we are excited to see how this pans out.
Is it that time again!
One of our core lists on Notinhalloffame.com, our list of those to consider for the Pro Footnall Hall of Fame has been revised.
The steps in our revisions are basic:
-Remove all of those who were inducted. This included Cliff Branch (#11), Richard Seymour (#35), Tony Boselli (#36), Sam Mills (#40), Leroy Butler (#69) and Bryant Young (#159).
-Input those we think worthy who are now eligible.
-Adjust rankings based on your votes and comments.
The entire list can be found here, but here is our new top ten:
#1. Joe Thomas. The career Cleveland Brown enters his first year of eligibility, and we expect that Thomas will walk in easily. Although Thomas’ teams had way more losses than wins, he is a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, a ten-time Pro Bowler and a six-time First Team All-Pro. He should be a lock.
#2. Chuck Howley. Ranked #3 last year, Howley starred at Linebacker for Dallas, where he helped them win Super Bowl VI, after winning the Super Bowl MVP in the Cowboys’ losing effort the year before. A six-time Pro Bowler and five-time First Team All-Pro, Howley’s path has to come via the Senior’s Committee.
#3. Randy Gradishar. The star of the Orange Crush Defense, Gradishar was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, and went to seven Pro Bowls and had five First Team All-Pros. Gradishar was a Finalist three times, most recently in 2020, on the Centennial Slate ballot. He was ranked #2 last year.
#4. DeMarcus Ware. Ware was ranked #1 last year, and while we thought he was going to enter last year on his first year on the ballot, it was not meant to be, although he reached the Finals. The Linebacker played for Dallas and Denver, winning a Super Bowl in his final season. A member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, Ware twice led the lead in Sacks, three times in Tackles for Loss, and went to nine Pro Bowls. Ware is also a four-time First Team All-Pro.
#5. Darrelle Revis. The New York Jets may not have had much to crow about over the last twenty years, but Darrelle Revis and “Revis Island” was one of the finest displays of Cornerback work over the last decade. Revis was a four-time First Team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowl Selection, and he won a Super Bowl with New England. This is his first year of eligibility.
#6. L.C. Greenwood. Greenwood helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in the 1970s and he was a Finalist for the Hall six times. A six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All Pro, the Defensive End was also chosen for the 1970s All-Decade Team. He drops two spots this year.
#7. Torry Holt. Holt is destined to follow his Hall of Fame Rams teammate and fellow Wide Receiver, Isaac Bruce into Canton. A Super Bowl Champion with St. Louis, Holt was an All-Decade Selection, seven-time Pro Bowler and he has been a Finalist the last three years. Holt slid one spot on this year’s rank.
8. Ronde Barber. Moving up two spots, Barber played his entire career with Tampa Bay, where he won a Super Bowl. A member of the 25-25 Club, Barber went to five Pro Bowls and was a 2010’s All-Decade Selection. He has been a Finalist the last two years.
9. Roger Craig. A former Offensive Player of the Year and three-time Super Bowl Champion with San Francisco, Craig made history as the first player to rush for 1,000 Yards and receive over 1,000 Yards in a season. The four-time Pro Bowler was ranked at number five last year, and was a Finalist in 2020.
10. Zach Thomas. Thomas has been a Finalist the last three years and likely will be again in 2023. The Linebacker was an All-Decade Selection in the 2000s, a two-time leader in Combined Tackles, and was a five-time First Team All-Pro. Thomas was ranked #21 last year.
There were many other new entries on our top 300.
Offensive Lineman, and Super Bowl Champion with New Orleans, Jahri Evans, enters at #36. He was a four-time First Team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl Selection.
James Harrison went from undrafted to two-time Super Bowl Champion and Defensive Player of the Year with the Steelers. The five-time Pro Bowler debuts at #51.
Defensive End, Dwight Freeney, went to seven Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and won the Super Bowl with Indianapolis. Freeney had 125.5 career Sacks and comes in at #61.
Shane Lechler, who is one of the best Punters ever makes his first appearance on the list at #110.
Rounding out the new entries are former Bears and Jets Running Back, Matt Forte (#215), former 49ers Linebacker, NaVorro Bowman (#231), and former Bengals and Cardinals Quarterback, Carson Palmer (#258).
Thank you all for your support, and we encourage you to cast your votes and offer your opinions.
Oh, what a day!
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 Finalists for the Class of 2021. This group was pared down from 25 Semi-Finalists, who were chosen from 133 Preliminary Candidates.
Let’s get right to who they chose for the final stage.
Jared Allen: Defensive End: 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers. This is Allen’s first year of eligibility, and anyone who makes it as a Finalist in his first year of eligibility will make it to Canton eventually. Allen led the NFL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total. He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro. Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Ronde Barber: Cornerback/Safety: 1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions. He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions. After four years as a Semi-Finalist, Barber makes it through to the Finals. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Tony Boselli: Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans. The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has now been a Finalist for the five years in a row. Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com
LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers. Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career. He is on a four-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was also a Finalist last year. In terms of gaining momentum over the past three years, Butler is in the upper-tier of the list. Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Alan Faneca: Guard: 1998-07 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets & 2010 Arizona Cardinals. A Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time First Team All-Pro. Faneca has been a Semi-Finalist and Finalist in his first five years of eligibility, and this makes year six. He has been arguably been “leapfrogged” by Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae. Could this be his year? Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Torry Holt: Wide Receiver: 1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars. Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards. Holt is now a two-time Finalist, but the Wide Receiver position is loaded with worthy candidates. Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Calvin Johnson: Wide Receiver: 2007-15 Detroit Lions. Johnson went to six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and was considered the most exciting Wide Receiver of his day. This is his first year on the ballot, and while other Wide Receivers exceed his overall stats, there was no one who passes the eye test more than “Megatron”. Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.
John Lynch: Free Safety: 1993-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers & 2004-07 Denver Broncos. Lynch went to seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay. He is now a Finalist for the eighth straight year. Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Peyton Manning: Quarterback: 1998-11 Indianapolis Colts & 2012-15 Denver Broncos. Manning took both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl win, and he is a five-time MVP with 14 Pro Bowls and seven First Team All-Pros. He would throw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and this is his first year on the ballot. It is expected that Manning will enter the Hall immediately. Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Clay Matthews: Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns & 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons. A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews had 69.5 Sacks with 1,595 Combined Tackles. Matthews is a Semi-Finalist for the fifth straight time, but has never been a Finalist. He finally makes it on what is last year of Modern Era eligibility. Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Sam Mills: Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers. A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL. A four-time Semi-Finalist, Mills made it to the Finals for the first time, last year and he returns but only has two more years left of Modern Era eligibility. Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Richard Seymour: Defensive End/Defensive Tackle: 2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders. Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro. This is his third consecutive year as a Finalist. Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Zach Thomas: Linebacker: 1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys: Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro. He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles. Thomas is now a two-time Finalist. Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com
Reggie Wayne: Wide Receiver: 2001-14 Indianapolis Colts. A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns. Wayne was a Finalist last year in what was his first year on the ballot, and he now goes two-for-two. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Charles Woodson: Cornerback/Safety: 1998-05 & 2013-15 Oakland Raiders & 2006-12 Green Bay Packers. Woodson is a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers and has 65 career Interceptions. The nine-time Pro Bowler is also a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998) and Defensive Player of the Year (2009). This is Woodson’s first year of eligibility, and like Manning, he is considered a lock. Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.
The ten men who were eliminated were Eric Allen, Willie Anderson, Cornelius Bennett. Steve Tasker, Fred Taylor Hines Ward, Patrick Willis, Darren Woodson and Bryant Young
We can’t wait to see who the Pro Football Hall of Fame selects, and a reminder that we will be doing our Mock Committee two Tuesdays before the Super Bowl.
As we here at Notinhalloffame.com consistently work hard to create new lists we have to continuously update the ones that we have. One of our main core lists, the Football List of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been updated.
The first step for us is to take out all of those who were chosen for the Hall. This takes out Tony Gonzalez (#1), Champ Bailey (#2), Ed Reed (#3), Johnny Robinson (#7), Kevin Mawae (#16) and Ty Law (#28).
The second step is to add those who are now eligible. As we have a Football Futuressection that allows you to vote and make comments prior to their eligibility we factor that input before we slot in the new entries.
This leads to our third step, which is taking in your votes and comments on the existing names on the list and altering our rankings if deemed necessary.
The entire list can be found here, but on this page the new top ten are:
For the first time, Chuck Howley moved to the top. The former Linebacker and Super Bowl V MVP was a six time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All Pro Selection. He was ranked at #5 last year.
L.C. Greenwood rocketed to #2 from #6. Greenwood played for the Pittsburgh Steelers all of his career and was a member of the dynasty that won four Super Bowls in the 1970’s. The Defensive End was a six time Pro Bowl Selection and he was a Finalists for the Hall of Fame on six occasions.
Alan Faneca went up from #4 to #3. The Offensive Lineman was a nine time Pro Bowl and six time First Team All Pro and helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL. He has been a Finalist the last four years.
Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1978) Randy Gradisharjumps from #8 to #4. The former Denver Bronco would be chosen for seven Pro Bowls, five First Team All Pros and was a Finalist for the Hall of Fame twice.
Our highest new entry is also our highest rated offensive skill player in former Wide Receiver, Reggie Wayne. Wayne helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI and caught 1,070 Receptions with 14,345 Yards. He was a six time Pro Bowl Selection who led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007.
Roger Craig went from #9 to #6. The versatile Running Back helped the San Francisco 49ers win three Super Bowls and he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988. He made history as the first player to rush for 1,000 Yards and catch for 1,000 Yards.
Steve Atwater increased his rank from #12 to #7. “The Smilin’ Assassin” and former Denver Bronco was first a Finalist in 2016 and was against this year. The Defensive Back was an eight time Pro Bowler and two time Super Bowl Champion.
Troy Polamalu is the second new entry to break our top ten. Spending his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Polamalu was chosen for eight Pro Bowls, four First Team All Pros and was the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year. He helped Pittsburgh win the Super Bowl twice.
Former Super Bowl Champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ronde Barber is #9 after climbing from #11. The Defensive Back was chosen for five Pro Bowls and was the league leader in Interceptions in 2001.
Rounding out the top ten is Isaac Bruce, the former St. Louis Rams Wide Receiver of their “Greatest Show on Turf”. Bruce was a former Super Bowl Champion who caught 1,024 Passes for 15,208 Yards and 91 Touchdowns. He would go to four Pro Bowls.
There are other new entries on out Notinhalloffame.com Football List. Also making their debut are:
Patrick Willis comes in at #16. Playing his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers the Linebacker would be invited to seven Pro Bowls and five First Team All Pros.
John Abraham makes his first appearance at #40. Abraham is in the top 15 all time in Quarterback Sacks, Tackles for Loss and Forced Fumbles and he was a five time Pro Bowl Selection.
Former Chicago Bear Linebacker Lance Briggs enters at #80. He was a seven time Pro Bowl Selection.
The final new entry is Justin Smith at #101. Smith is a five time Pro Bowl Selection.
As you will see, there are 103 names on this list. Our intent is to eventually grow it to 250 (or possibly more) so as we are adding and subtracting names, we feel leaving it at this number is fine for now.
You know what we want you to do!
Take a look at our revised list and cast your votes and offer your opinions!
As always we here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank you for your support.