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 will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important that the Detroit Lions have announced that Calvin Johnson will be inducted into their Pride of the Lions.

Nicknamed “Megatron,” Johnson was the most dynamic wide receiver of his day, making impossible catches and making them look easy.

A Lion for the entirety of his career, Johnson was taken second overall in 2007 and would twice lead the NFL in Receiving Yards.   In only nine seasons, Johnson accumulated 11,619 Yards with 93 Touchdowns, with his last six campaigns yielding Pro Bowl Selection.  Johnson was also a three-time First Team All-Pro and was named to the 2010s All-Decade Team.

Johnson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 in his first year of eligibility. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Calvin Johnson for his impending honor.

For most people, the Super Bowl is one of their favorite days of the year.  It is for us too, but we have one day on the football calendar that we like just a little bit more.  It is the day before the Super Bowl, when they announce the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame committee met virtually two weeks ago due to COVID-19.  This is atypical, as they usually meet in person close to the Super Bowl.  We expected that leaks would come out, but to the credit of those involved, the spilling of details were minimal:

Let’s get to it!

The Class of 2021 is:

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 made year six.  He has been arguably been “leapfrogged” by Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae, and it won’t happen again.  Faneca has been overdue for some time.  Ranked #4 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 was his first year on the ballot, and while other Wide Receivers exceed his overall stats, there was no one who passed the eye test more than “Megatron”.  Ranked #27 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. There was zero doubt that Manning was going in, and it was already leaked that his selection was filmed at a party.  Ranked #1 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.  Lynch gets in on his eighth try.  Ranked #25 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 was Woodson’s first year of eligibility, and like Manning, he was considered a sure thing.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Drew Pearson: Wide Receiver:  1973-93 Dallas Cowboys.  Pearson is this year’s senior inductee, and it has been a long time coming.  Pearson was a Finalist last year for the Centennial Slate, and his reaction when he was not chosen was heartbreaking.  There are many fans, and not just those of the Cowboys who are happy for the former Wide Receiver.  Ranked #28on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Flores: Head Coach:  Flores, a former quarterback with Oakland, Buffalo and Kansas City, became the first Hispanic Head Coach in NFL history when Al Davis promoted him in 1979 after being the Wide Receivers Coach.  Flores helmed the Raiders until 1987 and would win two Super Bowls (XV & XVIII).  He came out of retirement as Seattle’s Head Coach from 1992 to 1994, and he had an overall coaching record of 97-87.

Bill Nunn: Scout:   A reporter for the Pittsburgh Courier, Bill Nunn had a keen knowledge of the history black colleges.  These were schools that were underrepresented in the NFL, and Art Rooney, owner of the Steelers hired him as a scout, and he would also be their Assistant Personnel Director.  He remained with the Steelers until 2014, and he helped them win six Super Bowl rings. Nunn was also a charter member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.   

The ten Finalists who did not get in were:

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This was 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, but it is believed that he was not going to get in until Lynch did.  Now that this has happened, Barber has a much clearer path to Canton.  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, and will likely see a sixth next year.  He is a beneficiary of Faneca’s selection.  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, but he did not get in.  Butler leaked earlier last week that he was not chosen.   Ranked #73 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. Johnson’s immediate induction will help him in the future.  Ranked #9 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 was in his last year of eligibility, and this was the first time he made it as a Finalist.  While he has the most fervent fan base on social media regarding this year’s potential class, he came up empty.  Matthews will have to get in via the senior committee.  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 but he is now down to one year 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.  Seymour has now been a Finalist three times.  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 a two-time Finalist, and has plenty of time left in his eligibility.  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 in his first two years of eligibility, and like Holt, the induction of Johnson helps him.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

We will be altering our Notinhalloffame.com Football list next month to reflect the deletion of this year’s inductees and adding those who are eligible.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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.

A huge day is afoot for us as the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their 25 Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2021.

The 25 were pared down from 130 Preliminary nominees, which includes four first year eligible players:

They are:

Eric Allen:  Cornerback: 1998-94 Philadelphia, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints & 1998-01 Oakland Raiders.  Eligible since 2007, Allen cracked his way to Semi-Finals for the first time.  He has 54 career Interceptions and is a six-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.  

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 he was expected by many to make it to this round.  Allen led the NHL 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.

Willie Anderson: Tackle: 1996-07 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens.  Anderson has been Hall of Fame eligible since 2014, but this is his first time making it as a Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #283 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.  Barber is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth consecutive year, all beginning with his first year of eligibility.  This has not yet translated into a Finalists appearance.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Cornelius Bennett:  Linebacker: 1987-95 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons & 1999-00 Indianapolis Colts.  Bennett has been eligible since 2006 but this is the first time, he has made it to the Semi-Finals.  Over his career, Bennett helped take Buffalo to four Super Bowls, had 71.5 Sacks and was a five-time Pro Bowler. Ranked #124 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 been a Finalist for the last four years.  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 a Finalist last year.  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 is year six.  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison:  Safety: 1994-02 San Diego Chargers & 2003-08 New England Patriots.  Winning two Super Bowls with the Patriots, Harrison is also a two-time Pro Bowler. Eligible since 2014, Harrison is a Semi-Finalist for the first time.  Unranked 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 made it to the Finals last year, and has been a Semi-Finalist every year, with this ballot making number seven.   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.  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 has been a Finalist the last seven years, and is likely set for an eighth.  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.   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.  This is his last year on the Modern Era ballot, so it is now or (likely) never.  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, but only has two more years 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.  He is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth straight year and was a Finalist the last two years.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Tasker:  Special Teams/Wide Receiver:  1985-86 Houston Oilers & 1986-97 Buffalo Bills.  Tasker went to seven Pro Bowls, and despite having never been a Finalist, he has been a Semi-Finalist seven other times.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Fred Taylor:  Running Back:  1998-08 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2009-10 New England Patriots.  With 11,695 career Rushing Yards, Taylor is also a one-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Taylor, who was first eligible in 2016, is on his second straight Semi-Finalist ballot.  Ranked #171 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.  A Semi-Finalist for the last three years, Thomas was a Finalist for the first time, last year.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com

Hines Ward:  Wide Receiver:  1998-11 Pittsburgh Steelers.  Ward won two Super Bowls with a Super Bowl MVP on his resume, and the four-time Pro Bowl Selection recorded an even 1,000 Receptions with 12,083 Yards with 86 Touchdowns.  Ward has been a Semi-Finalist every year since eligibility, but it has not translated into a spot in the Finals.  Ranked #33 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.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis:  Linebacker: 2007-14 San Francisco 49ers.  The Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, Willis went to five First Team All-Pros over his career.  Willis was a Semi-Finalist last year in what was his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #15 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.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darren Woodson:  Safety: 1992-03 Dallas Cowboys.  Woodson won three Super Bowls with Dallas and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  This is his fifth year as a Semi-Finalist but Woodson has yet to be named a Finalist.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bryant Young:  Defensive Tackle:  1994-07 San Francisco 49ers.  Eligible since 2013, Young was a Semi-Finalist and Finalist last year for the first time.  The career Niner had 89.5 Sacks, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls.  Ranked #164 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The only two eligible Semi-Finalists from last year who did not reach this stage are Ricky Watters and Simeon Rice.

This group will be shrunk to 15 in January.  

We are in the preliminary stages of creating a Zoom meeting of football bloggers and Hall of Fame aficionados who will act as if we are the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee and debate as to who we think should advance.   

It seems that the more lists we create, the more we have to continue to update them.  

That sounded pretty obvious didn’t it?  Of course, we have to, and we love it!

Today, we have the unveiling of our 2021 version of the Notinhalloffame.com football list.  Only a few months ago, we expanded our list to 300, and this is the number that we are going to keep it firm at. 

Last season, the National Football League celebrated its 100^thAnniversary, and to coincide with the landmark, the Pro Football Hall of Fame added 15 new members, 10 of which were former players.  In addition to the five who were chosen by the regular committee, this means that we had to remove 15 names in total, the most we have ever done.

To recap, the 15 removed were Steve Atwater (#5), Troy Polamalu (#7), Isaac Bruce (#9), Alex Karras (#14), Edgerrin James (#20), Donnie Shell (#21), Mac Speedie (#22), Steve Hutchinson (#24), Cliff Harris (#26), Duke Slater (#33), Harold Carmichael (#37), Bobby Dillon (#118), Winston Hill (#147), Ed Sprinkle (#164) and Jimbo Covert (#285) 

We have added new names are now eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a few who we might have overlooked in the past.  Those who we had on our Futures Section, we have taken your votes and comments into account and inputted them into our revised list.  We have also looked at your existing votes, and we are proud to present the new list of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The complete list can be found here, but here is our new Top Ten:

#1. Peyton Manning.  Everyone else is fighting the remaining spots, as there has not been a lock this solid since Brett Favre’s first year of eligibility. Manning won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis and Denver, and he is a five-time MVP.  The Quarterback is also a fourteen-time Pro Bowl, seven-time First Team All-Pro and has a resume of 71,940 Passing Yards with 539 Touchdown Passes. Who else could be number one?

#2. Charles Woodson.  Woodson makes his debut at the second spot on our list, and like Manning, the Defensive Back looks like he is entering on his first year on the ballot. Splitting his career between Green Bay and the Oakland Raiders, Woodson won the Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998), and would later win the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.  The two-time Interception leader owns a Super Bowl Ring as a member of the Green Bay Packers (XLV).

3. L.C. Greenwood.  Greenwood drops from #2 to #3.  The former Defensive End is a four-time Super Bowl Champion with Pittsburgh and was a member of the 1970s All-Decade Team.

4. Alan Faneca.  Faneca fell from #3, and the former Offensive Lineman and Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers has been a Finalist the last five years.

5. Randy Gradishar.  A star in the Broncos’ Orange Crush Defense, Randy Gradishar fell from #4 to #5.  Gradishar was a Finalist in the recent Centennial Slate Class of nominees, and while he did not get in, he could see himself as a Senior Class Finalist.

6. Chuck Howley:  Howley was number #1 last year but dropped to #6 this year.  Howley is the MVP of Super Bowl V (even though his Dallas Cowboys lost), and he is a five-time First Team All-Pro.

7. Roger Craig.  The versatile Running Back dropped one rank from #6 to #7.  The long-time San Francisco 49er was a nominee this year for the 100^thAnniversary Centennial Slate Class.

8. Reggie Wayne.  Wayne was a first time Finalist last year, and the former Indianapolis Colt will likely get inducted in the next few years.

9. Torry Holt.  Holt moved up from #11 and he is coming off his first appearance as a Finalist.  The induction of his teammate and fellow Wide Receiver, Isaac Bruce, bodes well for Holt in the near future.

10. Ken Anderson.  The former Bengals Quarterback returns to the top ten after being ranked #12 last year. To the dismay of Southern Ohio, Anderson was not even a Finalist in the 100^thCentennial Slate Class.

There are two other significant debuts to mention.

Jared Allen makes his first appearance at #19.  The former Defensive End was a five-time First Team All-Pro, and was one of the most popular defensive players of his day.  He could become a Finalist in his first year, but entry as a first-ballot inductee will likely elude him.  Calvin Johnson enters at #27.  While the former Wide Receiver had Hall of Fame talent, he retired in his prime, and the brevity of his career will likely delay his entry.  

The other first time entries are:

109. Kevin Williams.  Williams was a star with the Minnesota Vikings and the Defensive Tackle has six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros on his resume.

126. Logan Mankins.  Mankins was with the New England Patriots for most of his career, and the Offensive Lineman would go to seven Pro Bowls.

161. Wes Welker.  Welker was exceptionally popular when he played with the Patriots, and he would go to six Pro Bowls and secure two selections to the First Team All-Pro roster.

180. Jerry Smith.  We did not include him in our first expansion to 300, and we heard it from you.  At the time of his retirement, he had more Receiving Yards than any other Tight End.

193. William Heffelfinger.  Heffelfinger was another former player we did not initially include.  He is considered to be the first man to ever be paid as a pro football player.

221. Michael Vick.  The dual-threat Quarterback remains one of the greatest rushing QB in the game’s history. He is a former Bert Bell Award winner.

225. Stephen Jackson.  Jackson is the Rams’ all-time leading rusher and is a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 2006.

228. Charles Follis.  Like Heffelfinger, Follis predates the NFL, and is the first African-American to be a paid professional in the game the football. We should have had him when we expanded to 300 last year.

291. Roddy White.  White spent his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons and would be a four-time Pro Bowler.

As always, you know what we want you to do!

Take a look at the new entries, cast your vote, and offer your opinions.  This helps us in future rankings!

We will keep making new lists and revise our existing ones, and we thank you for your support.

The College Football Hall of Fame has announced the Class of 2018 and let’s get right into who has been selected!

Trevor Cobb, Running Back, Rice: 1989-92. Cobb was an All-American in 1991 and was the winner of Doak Walker Award that year. He would tally 4,948 Rushing Yards with another 892 via Receptions over his four year career with the Owls. He scored 43 Touchdowns.

Kerry Collins, Quarterback, Penn State: 1991-94. In 1994, Collins was a consensus All-American, and the winner of the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Sammy Baugh Trophy and the Big Ten MVP. That year he Quarterbacked Penn State to an undefeated season and a win in the Rose Bowl. He threw for 5,304 Yards and 39 Touchdowns that season.

Dave Dickinson, Quarterback, Montana: 1992-95. A legend at the University of Montana, Dickinson holds numerous school and Big Sky Conference records. The Quarterback threw for 13,486 Yards with 116 Touchdowns. He is also a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Dana Howard, Linebacker, Illinois: 1991-94. Howard would win both the Dick Butkus and Jack Lambert Award in 1994 and he was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech: 2004-06. Johnson won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2006 and was a two time All-American.

Paul Palmer, Running Back, Temple: 1983-86. Palmer was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1986 and was an All-American that year.

Ed Reed, Defensive Back, Miami: 1998-01. Reed won the BCS National Championship with the Hurricanes in 2001 and was a two time All-American. He was also the co-winner of the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

Matt Stinchcomb, Offensive Tackle, Georgia: 1995-08. Stinchcomb was a two time All-American and was the winner of the Draddy Trophy and Jim Parker Trophy in 1998.

Aaron Taylor, Center/Offensive Guard, Nebraska: 1994-97. Taylor won the Outland Trophy in 1997 and was a two time All-American.

Charles Woodson, Defensive Back, Michigan: 1995-97. Woodson won it all in 1997 where he was National Champion in 1997 with the Wolverines and was also the winner of the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award and Big Ten Player of the Year. He was also a two time All-American.

Frank Beamer, Coach, Murray State (1981-86), Virginia Tech (1987-2015). 280-143-4. Beamer was the consensus Coach of the Year in 1999 and turned the Hokies into a national power.

Mack Brown, Coach, Appalachian State (1983), Tulane (1985-87), North Carolina (1988-97), Texas (1998-2013). 244-122. Brown took the Longhorns to the National Championship in 2005 and won 13 Bowl Games.

Mel Tjeerdsma, Coach, Austin College (1984-93), Northwestern Missouri State (1994-10). 246-82-4. Tjeerdsma took NMS to three Division II Titles.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

Let’s add Calvin Johnson to those who are championing Terrell Owens for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, “Megatron” had the following to say:

"Hands down. You can't name 10 receivers [better]. You got to at least name T.O. probably in there at some point.

If he was a humble guy -- I'm not saying he's not a humble guy, but if he didn't have all the craziness in the media -- maybe he'd be a first ballot, I don't know. I'm not a voter, I don't know. But I just assume that maybe that played into it. ...

[Owens is] one of the greatest receivers to play. All of us growing up, if you're a professional player or a college player, you're molding your game after guys. You see guys, you see things guys do. Like Randy Moss, I'm a Randy Moss guy. T.O., he's a bruiser. You take different things from different guys."

Owens has been a Finalist the last two years and has been very vocal about his perceived snub.  As for Johnson he will be Hall of Fame eligible in 2021.

Onwards and upwards for us here at Notinhalloffame.com, as we have added a new addition to an existing section.  We have added a 2021 section for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and here are the key players worth looking at:

They are:

Antrel Rolle: a Super Bowl winning Cornerback with the New York Giants.  He would also go to three Pro Bowls.

Ben Grubbs, a two time Pro Bowl Offensive Guard. 

Calvin Johnson, the longtime Detroit Lions Wide Receiver who went to six Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice.  He is also a three time First Team All Pro Selection.

Charles Tillman, a Defensive Back who went to two Pro Bowls and spent most of his career with the Chicago Bears.

Charles Woodson, A nine time Pro Bowl Defensive Back who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year.  Woodson was named a First Team All Pro three times and helped the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XLV.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a three time Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman who played his entire career with the New York Jets.

Greg Jennings, a two time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver who was on the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XLV team.

Heath Miller, a Tight End who was with the Pittsburgh Steelers for all eleven of his NFL seasons.  Miller would go to two Pro Bowls and helped Pittsburgh win two Super Bowls.

Jared Allen, a Defensive End most known for his time with the Minnesota Vikings.  He would win the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2011 and was a five time First Team All Pro.  Allen would also be a two time Sack leader.

Jason Hatcher, a one time Pro Bowl Defensive End.

Justin Tuck, a two time Pro Bowl Defensive End known mostly for his big game performances in two New York Giants Super Bowl wins.

Kevin Williams, a six time Pro Bowler who was also chosen for five First Team All Pro spots. 

Logan Mankins, a seven time Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman who played most of his career with the New England Patriots.

Matt Hasselbeck, a Quarterback who went to three Pro Bowls.

Peyton Manning, a Quarterback who is considered one of the best of all-time who holds the records for Passing Yards.  The two time Super Bowl winner also won five MVPs, was chosen for seven First Team All Pros and 14 Pro Bowls.

Reshean Mathis, a one time Pro Bowl Cornerback.

The entire section can be found here.

We encourage you to take a look and cast your votes!

“Megatron” changed the culture of football in Detroit and made the team a must-watch in the NFL Package.  Calvin Johnson was not just an acrobatic receiver, he was an expert route runner who forced constant double teams and nightmares for defenses across the league.

It’s official.

As reported a month ago, Calvin Johnson made good on his claim that he was done with playing professional football and he has officially retired.

“Megatron” goes down as one of the most dynamic players in the history of the Detroit Lions and easily the best Wide Receiver in team history.  Johnson retires with 11,619 Receiving Yards and 83 Receiving Touchdowns with seven seasons exceeding the 1,000 Yard mark.  He was a six time Pro Bowl choice, a three time First Team All Pro and would twice lead all receivers in yards.

While Johnson was an elite player, his Hall of Fame ticket is not punched, as with the exception of Receiving Yards/Game (he is 2nd overall) he is not in the top twenty in any major category and with the explosion in the modern offense, he will drop quickly.  Johnson also has never won a playoff game, factors that could affect the voters.

Still, he is a Hall of Famer in our book, and we would like to wish Calvin Johnson the best in his post playing career.

This must be the say for Wide Receivers to talk about the Hall of Fame.

Lynn Swann, the Hall of Famer who was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty that won four Super Bowls and retired at the height of his career at the age of 30 and would join the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. 

Calvin Johnson is expected to retire at the same age, but when asked if “Megatron” was a Hall of Famer, the former Pittsburgh Steeler implied in a piece with the Detroit News that Johnson should not join that elite club.

“I would think that it would be difficult for Calvin Johnson at this point to be considered a Hall of Famer.  Calvin Johnson has an extreme amount of talent and ability, but when you start to look at his team, the success of his team and did he lift that team; he made them a little bit better, but at the end of the day, I’m not quite sure.

Hard to say he’s going to be in the Hall of Fame when his team hasn’t gotten to a Super Bowl, and they don’t get a chance to get into the playoffs…and that’s for a lot of guys across the board. If he had broken every passing record, like Danny Fouts, who didn’t win the Super Bowl, then yeah, I think there’s going to be consideration.”

Following this, Lynn Swann was criticized and rightly so.  In Pittsburgh, he was surrounded by a dream team, where as Calvin Johnson has not exactly been blessed with the most talented group of teammates.  Detroit did not make a lot of noise in the past decade, but how much worse would they have been without him?

Stat wise, it has been argued that Swann, who has half of the yards that Johnson has, should keep his mouth shut on the matter.  While that was in fact a different era and the passing game has exploded since then, Swann still was never in the top five in receiving yards during his career.

Swann’s argument about playoff success is also questionable as the Pro Football Hall of Fame is full of players who do not have Super Bowl rings or NFL Championships who have a spot in Canton.  Swann’s induction itself has been criticized as it was openly asked, if he were with a lesser team himself would be enshrined.

Should Calvin Johnson elect not to return to the National Football League, the Hall of Fame clock is set at 2021 for his first year of eligibility.  We wonder if Swann will be vocal on that matter again.

Unless he changes his mind, we have a major retirement on our hands.

It was reported today that multiple sources have told ESPN that Calvin Johnson had informed the Detroit Lions and a close circle of family and friends that he will be retiring from the National Football League. 

Should this in fact be the case, the Wide Receiver known as “Megatron” has put up a stellar NFL career that includes the following:


3 First Team All Pro Selections

5 Pro Bowls

1 Receptions Title

2 Receiving Yards Title

731 Receptions

11,619 Receiving Yards

83 Receiving Touchdowns

15.9 Yards/Reception 


Calvin Johnson may not have the career numbers of some of the current former Wide Receivers who are chasing Canton, but he does have elite seasons, and was a game changer.  This makes him in our eyes a bona fide Hall of Fame contender, which he will become eligible for in 2021.

Should this be the end of Calvin Johnson’s career, we here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank “Megatron” for the memories and wish him the best in his post-playing career.