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 to us that USC will be retiring Quarterback Caleb Williams's number 13 and appears to have reinstated running back Reggie Bush's retired number 5.

Williams began his college career at the University of Oklahoma in 2021 as a backup but went through the transfer portal to join USC the year after, when he had a season for the ages.   That year, he won the Heisman after a 4,537 Yard/42 Touchdown year where he only surrendered five Interceptions.  He had more modest numbers the year after (3,333 Passing Yards and 30 TDs, and would go number one in the following NFL Draft, joining the Chicago Bears.

In other USC retired number news, the reinstatement of Reggie Bush’s #5, a number that holds a significant place in the history of USC, has been recognized.  This follows the reinstatement of his 2005 Heisman Trophy.  Coincidentally, Bush has since sued USC, the PAC-12, and the NCAA, seeking compensation for his name, image, and likeness during his time with the Trojans.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Caleb Williams for his impending honor.

From the legendary Matthews family, Clay Matthews III became a perfect fit for Lambeau Field.  

Matthews was a star Linebacker since the moment he began, earning a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie year and making five more since.  Matthews has excelled at pass rushing and whenever you watch a game that featured Green Bay it is likely that Matthews was all over the screen.  

A First Team All-Pro in 2010, Matthews III was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year, with the PFWA naming him as their DPOY.

Matthews played a large part in Green Bay’s success in the 2010s, leading them to a Super Bowl in the aforementioned 2010 campaign.  He finished his career with a final year with the Rams, and had 91.5 Sacks with 130 Tackles for Loss over his career.

Dennis Smith was one of the best Defensive Backs in the history of the Denver Broncos. 

The 4^th Overall Pick in 1977 from USC, Marvin Powell wasted little time affixing himself as the starting Right Tackle for the New York Jets.  In 1979, Powell would begin a five-year run as a perennial Pro Bowl Selection, and in '79, 1981 & 1982, he was a First Team All-Pro.  Without Powell's protection and presence, the offensive game would not have been as good, and he was certainly one of the most underrated players in Jets history.

Tim McDonald split his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, where the Safety went to three Pro Bowls and two Second Team All-Pros with each team.  McDonald would have four seasons where he went over 100 Tackles and would have 1,138 in total along with 40 Interceptions over his career.  He was a member of San Francisco's Super Bowl XXIX championship team and would have had a higher profile had he not been a Cardinal in the first half of his season and overshadowed by other 49ers defensive players in the second half of his career.

It is hard not to consider Clay Matthews Jr. as part of football royalty.

How can you not? 

There was a time where Joey Browner was considered to be the best Cornerback in the National Football League, and this was not just an opinion in the state of Minnesota...it was thought throughout the entire country.

Ryan Kalil spent the first 12 seasons in the National Football League with the Carolina Panthers where he established himself as one of the best Offensive Lineman in franchise history.  The former USC Trojan was chosen for five Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All Pro rosters.  While Kalil was well respected in Carolina and helped them win many games he wasn’t as well-known as he should have been.  After retiring in 2018, he came back immediately, perfroming one year with the New York Jets before retiring for good.

Carson Palmer was the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and the USC Quarterback was considered a can’t miss prospect in the NFL.  Palmer would be drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals and the organization would take their time with the pivot as they did not play him in his rookie season choosing to start him in 2004 and in 2005 he was a Pro Bowl Selection who was second in the NFL in Completions, fourth in Passing Yards and he led all Quarterbacks in Touchdown Passes while taking the Bengals to the playoffs, though he would suffer a severe injury in the playoffs.