The Pro Football Hall of Fame announces the Class of 2023
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.
Our Notinhalloffame Football List has been revised for 2023
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.
13. Chuck Howley
Perhaps one of the biggest snubs of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is Chuck Howley, though the beginning of his pro career did not make anyone think of greatness.
Our Football List has been revised. Chuck Howley now #1
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.
Major Update: Our Football List has been revised
We have another major update here at Notinhalloffame.com as our Football list of those who should be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has gone through a major revision.
Last February, 6 of our top 10 were selected (Ray Lewis #1, Jerry Kramer #2, Randy Moss #3, Brian Dawkins #7, Terrell Owens #8 and Brian Urlacher #9) as was another top 15 (Robert Brazile #15). This has brought as expected a major overhaul in our top 10 list but with the addition of three strong first ballot entries none of the returning entries will crack the top three.
Our Notinhalloffame.com Football Top Ten is:
Former Tight End Tony Gonzalez debuts at number one. Gonzalez is without question the greatest Tight End ever and if you don’t agree with that, you can’t argue that he is not the best in terms of pure offensive skill. The former dual sport star from UCLA is second all-time in Receptions and is a 14 time Pro Bowl Selection. If anyone on this list has a speech ready to go it should be Tony Gonzalez!
Champ Bailey makes his inaugural appearance on our list at #2. The Cornerback dominated his position for years and went to twelve Pro Bowls as well as being chosen for three First Team All-Pro rosters.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Ed Reed arrives at #3. Like Gonzalez and Bailey, Reed has the credentials of a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Safety is a nine time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All-Pro Selection and is a Super Bowl winner with the Baltimore Ravens. He is also the all-time leader in Interception Return Yards.
Alan Faneca returns at #4 and is the highest ranked returnee from our list. The Offensive Lineman has been a Finalist the last two years and is a nine time Pro Bowl and six time First Team All-Pro Selection. He won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Howley is the highest rated former player who would need to get in via the Senior Committee. Howley, the MVP of Super Bowl V and six time Pro Bowler remains at #5.
Four time Super Bowl Champion L.C. Greenwood also holds the same rank as last year as he holds at #6. The former Pittsburgh Steeler was a six time Finalist and like Howley would need the Senior Committee to get inducted.
Johnny Robinson jumped from #10 to #7. The longtime Kansas City Chief is a former Super Bowl winner and was a Finalist six times. He too needs to enter via the Senior Committee.
From the Denver Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush”, Randy Gradishar jumped from #12 to #8. The former Linebacker was a two time Finalist was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 and was a seven time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All-Pro Selection.
Three time Super Bowl Champion Running Back Roger Craig moves up to #9. Craig was a Finalist in 2009.
Rounding out to the new top ten is Wide Receiver Torry Holt. Holt went to twelve Pro Bowls and helped the St. Louis Rams win the Super Bowl.
Gonzalez, Bailey and Reed are not the only new entries.
Four time Pro Bowl Selection London Fletcher enters our list at #66. Fletcher was a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams and is one of four players to have participated in 250 straight games.
Regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com know that we eventually plan to grow our core sports lists to 150 and as such we are allowing new entries to push our Football list beyond 100. We have two new entries in the lower end of the list with Asante Samuel at #97 and Brian Waters at #102.
You know what we want you to do!
Take a look at our new list (which can be found here) and let us know who you think should be in the next Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.
Our Football Revisions are Complete! Ray Lewis to No. 1
The 2017 Hall of Fame Class added five players who we had listed (LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Terrell Davis, Kurt Warner and Morten Andersen), and we did not have trouble replacing them. Actually, we have increased our 100 slightly to 103, for an impending increase in the months (ok, maybe years to come).
The revised ranking is based on your votes and comments and the addition of newly eligible former players.
Let’s get right to it!
Former Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis debuts at the number one spot. The 13 Time Pro Bowl Selection was chosen for seven First Team All Pro slots and took Baltimore to two Super Bowl wins. Lewis is likely to get inducted on his first try.
This drops perennial snub, Jerry Kramer to number 2. Kramer was a Finalist nine times and helped Green Bay win the first two Super Bowls. He is the only member of the NFL 75th Anniversary Team not to be enshrined.
Randy Moss makes his first appearance on the list at #3. The former Wide Receiver is the highest ranked skill player and his appearance makes it harder for Terrell Owens to get in. Moss was a Pro Bowler seven times and is third all-time in Receiving Yards and second all-time in Receiving Touchdowns.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Lineman, Alan Faneca, remains at number four. Faneca, a nine time Pro Bowler was a Finalist for Canton in the past two seasons.
Chuck Howley comes in at number five. The MVP of Super Bowl V was a six time Pro Bowl Selection and was chosen for five consecutive First Team All Pros.
Another former Pittsburgh Steeler, L.C. Greenwood is in the top ten at number six. Greenwood has been named a Finalist six times and was a part of the Steelers dynasty that won four Super Bowls in the 1970’s. He was ranked #5 last year.
Brian Dawkins returns at number seven. “Weapon X” was eligible for the first time last year and many expected that he would get inducted on his first try. He didn’t but was a Finalist last yea
At number eight is Terrell Owens, who dropped two spots from last year. T.O was a finalist in his first two years of eligibility but has been very vocal about being passed over. This could really cost him. He is second all-time in Receiving Yards, third in Receiving Touchdowns and eight in Receptions.
Brian Urlacher debuts at number nine, making three new eligible in the top ten. The career Chicago Bear went to eight Pro Bowls and was selected for four First Team All Pros.
Rounding out the top ten is Johnny Robinson who is known for his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Safety has been a Hall of Fame Finalist six times and has a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs.
Another high profile debut entry is Ronde Barber, the long time Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Back who appears at #15.
Offensive Lineman, Steve Hutchinson makes his first appearance on the list at #34.
Former three time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots, Richard Seymour comes in at #48. He is a seven time Pro Bowler.
Matt Birk, the Center who split his career with the Minnesota Vikings and the Baltimore Ravens, is ranked at #67.
Jeff Saturday, who protected Peyton Manning for Years and went to six Pro Bowls makes his debut at #76.
We have also added Tony Boselli, who was a Finalist last year, but was unranked by us previously. The man considered to be the greatest Jacksonville Jaguar of all-time finally makes his first appearance on our list at number 81.
The entire list can be found here.
Gang, you know what we want you to do!
Take a look at these revisions and cast your votes and give us your opinions!
We will soon be unveiling our Basketball Revisions and look for that unveiling soon.
As always, we thank you for your support!
Our Football List is Revised. Jerry Kramer back to #1
Recapping what happened last year, Brett Favre (#1), Marvin Harrison (#3), Ken Stabler (#6), Orlando Pace (#15), Dick Stanfel (#30) and Kevin Greene (#37) were selected along with Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and Tony Dungy were all inducted. With three of our top ten chosen, a major overhaul at the top has occurred as three new eligible entrants made the top ten.
Jerry Kramer, the only man who was named to the 75th NFL Anniversary Team who was not named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame returns to the top spot. Kramer played in the first two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers and remains a Lambeau legend.
LaDainian Tomlinson, the former Running Back who will be eligible for the first time, holds #2. Tomlinson spent most of his career with the San Diego Chargers and he is a former three time First Team All Pro and was the MVP in 2006. Tomlinson is also a two time rushing champion.
Former Super Bowl MVP, Chuck Howley, has his highest rank at #3. Howley is a six time Pro Bowl Selection.
At #4 is Alan Faneca, who is entering his second year of eligibility. The former Offensive Lineman was a Finalist last year.
L.C. Greenwood is ranked at #5. The former Defensive End helped the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowls and he has been a Hall of Fame Finalist six times.
The always controversial, Terrell Owens, returns at #6. The Wide Receiver has been vocal about the Hall of Fame voting process being flawed and has been the subject of much debate.
The now eligible Brian Dawkins comes in at #7. Dawkins adds to the already heavy logjam at Safety.
Torry Holt, who was not a Finalist last year, is ranked at #8.
AFL star, Johnny Robinson is at #9. Robinson is a former Super Bowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rounding out the top ten is another new entry, Defensive Tackle, Jason Taylor, a six time Pro Bowler.
The other new entries to our Notinhalloffame.com Football list are:
Former Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward enters our list for the first time at the #21 spot.
The “infamous” Ochocinco, Chad Johnson debuts at the #26 spot.
Former Quarterback, Donovan McNabb, enters our list at #30.
Wide Receiver, Derrick Mason makes his first appearance on our list at #59
Former Chicago Bear, Offensive Lineman, Olin Kreutz debuts at #69.
At #96, Joey Porter, the former Pittsburgh Steeler Linebacker who helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL.
Gang, you know what we want you to do! Take a look at the new entries and cast your votes and give us your opinions.
As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank all of you for your support!
Awards = HOF? Part Four: The Super Bowl MVP (NFL)
Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential. In basketball, the team sport with the least amount 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.