Can we say again, how much we love “Hall of Fame Season.”
Two weeks after the Baseball Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2025, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their class, but it was not without controversy.
This was the first year under the new system, whereby the 15 Modern Finalists was cut to 10, and then to 7. From there , the Committee cast their ballots for five of the seven, with a candidate needing 80 percent of the vote to enter. As we suspected, and even warned about, a scenario could emerge where you would have a minimum of three elected, and that is what happened as only Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates receiving the call.
In a new wrinkle, those who made it to the final seven and did not enter (Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri) will be automatic Finalists in 2026. Notably, those who made the cut to 10 were Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda and Darren Woodson, meaning that the first five cut were Eli Manning, Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs, Fred Taylor and Reggie Wayne.
What occurred in the Seniors/Coaches/Contributors was worse. Five names were put forth with Seniors Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer, Coach Mike Holmgren and Contributor Ralph Hay falling short. Only Sterling was selected.
Four.
That’s it.
This is the smallest class in decades, and we will have more to say on that on our corresponding shows on Notinhalloffame.
Nevertheless, let’s celebrate the newest members of the Pro Football of Fame.
Inducted are:
Eric Allen, Cornerback. Philadelphia 1988-94, New Orleans 1995-97, Oakland 1998-2001. Allen enters on his 19th year of eligibility and the six-time Pro Bowl Selection recorded 54 Interceptions with eight returned for Touchdowns. A First Team All-Pro in 1989, Allen was named the UPI Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.
Jared Allen, Defensive End. Kansas City 2004-07, Minnesota 2008-2013, Chicago 2014-15, Carolina 2015. Allen was a Finalist in all five years of his eligibility and is now headed to Canton. A four-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl Selection, Allen twice led the league in Sacks and had 136 in total. He also had 171 Tackles for Loss, and was named by the Sporting News as their 2011 Defensive Player of the Year.
Antonio Gates, Tight End. San Diego/Los Angeles 2003-18. Gates enters the Hall of his second year, though many thought he should have entered on his first year. Gates went to eight consecutive Pro Bowls (2004-11), three First Team All-Pros (2004-06) and had 11,841 Yards and 116 Touchdowns.
Sterling Sharpe, Wide Receiver. Green Bay 1998-94. Sharpe joins his brother Shannon, making them the first set of brothers to achieve this honor. While his career was cut short by injury, Sharpe’s career was explosive netting him five Pro Bowls, there First Team All-Pros. He also led the NFL in Receptions three times, Receiving Touchdowns twice and Receiving Yards once.
We will begin revisions on our notinhalloffame.com Football list of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As we are also revising our Baseball list, please be patient!
Thank you all for your continued support.
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