Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Colts failed to make the playoffs, but we saw one new entrant and one elevation.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Peyton Manning
2. Johnny Unitas
3. Gino Marchetti
4. Marvin Harrison
5. Raymond Berry 

You can find the entire list here.

Offensive Lineman and six-time Pro Bowl Selection Quenton Nelson, advances to #22 from #30.

The lone new entry is Center Ryan Kelly, who debuts at #45.

Notably, Shaquille Leonard, who played half last season with Indianapolis, could not rise from his rank of #40.

Buddy Young fell out of the Top 50.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Colts entered another rebuilding year and were unable to make the playoffs. There was only one elevation resulting from the past season.

As always, we present our top five, which did not change.

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

You can find the entire list here.

The only change is Offensive Lineman, Quenton Nelson, climbs ten rungs to #30. He is now a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2021 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Colts went 9-8 but did not make the playoffs.  No new players made the top 50, but two players elevated their ranking.

As always, we present our top five, though there were no changes in this elite group:

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

You can find the entire list here.

Linebacker, Darius Leonard, advanced ten spots to #39.

One spot below, Offensive Guard, Quentin Nelson also rocketed up multiple spots to #40.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts of all-time.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL. 

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

There are two new additions in the Top 50, and one small elevation, from our current Colts, but none of which impact our top five.

As always, we present our top five.  They are:

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

You can find the entire list here.

Wide Receiver, T.Y. Hilton moved up one spot to #24.

Left Guard, Quenton Nelson, who has been a First Team All-Pro in all three of his seasons comes in at #48.

2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Darius Leonard enters at #49.

We welcome your input and commentsand as always, we thank you for your support.

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.

This was hardly a surprise.

Allegedly at a party in Peyton Manning’s honor, Pro Football Hall of Fame president, David Baker, informed Manning that he will be entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility.  Camera crews were on hand, so we can expect to see the footage on the official Hall of Fame broadcast this Saturday.  

At the time of Manning’s retirement, he was the all-time leader in every significant quarterback stat.   Manning was a five-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl Champion. 

Last week, LeRoy Butler revealed on Twitter that he was not chosen.

We are down to 13.

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.   

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number 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.

Last time, we looked at the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award of the NBA.  This time we look at its Football counterpart, the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award originated in 1970, and is given to the player honoring a player’s volunteer and charity work.  It was originally named the Man of the Year, and it was renamed in the honor of former winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Walter Payton, after he died in 1999.

While this is generally given to star players, we will not dissect the season in question as the award is not meant to be defined by stat lines and on field accomplishments.  

So how many Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 1970                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs 1972                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs 1973                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

George Blanda, Oakland Raiders 1974                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.

Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers 1976                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Walter Payton, Chicago Bears 1977                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys 1978                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers 1979                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles 1980                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers 1980                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dwight Stephenson, Miami Dolphins 1985                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks 1988                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Warren Moon, Houston Oilers 1989                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears 1990                             

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati Bengals 1991                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

John Elway, Denver Broncos 1992                                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs 1993                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers 1994                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Darrell Green, Washington Redskins 1996                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys 1997                               

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins 1998                                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings 1999                              

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000 (co-winner)

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers 2001                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 2005                      

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers 2007            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins 2008                               

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals 2009                             

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

John Hadl, San Diego Chargers 1971                             

Eligible Since 1983.  Ranked #103 on Notinhalloffame.com

Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals 1975                        

Eligible Since 1992.  Ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com

Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins 1982                  

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Chargers 1983                    

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Marty Lyons, New York Jets 1984                                  

Eligible Since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals 1986                     

Eligible Since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Duerson, Chicago Bears 1987                                

Eligible Since 1997.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals 1995                     

Eligible Since 2003.  Ranked #82 on Notinhalloffame.com

Jim Flanigan, Chicago Bears 2000 (co-winner)               

Eligible Since 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles 2002                         

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #275 on Notinhalloffame.com

Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons 2004                              

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Waters, Kansas City Chiefs 2009                          

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #156 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Madieu Williams, Minnesota Vikings 2010                     

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens 2011                                 

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?        

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in the NFL who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears 2013

Eligible in 2021.

Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers 2015

Eligible in 2022.

Eli Manning, New York Giants 2016 co-winner

Eligible in 2025.

Chris Long, Philadelphia Eagles 2018

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year who are still active.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints 2006

41 Years Old,Playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Jason Witten, New Orleans Saints 2013

38 Years Old,Playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers 2014

37 Years Old,Playing for the Washington Football Team.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals 2016 co-winner

37 Years Old,Playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans 2017

31 Years Old,Playing for the Houston Texans.

Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars 2019

34 Years Old,Playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

This is an award based more on character, and will likely continue to yield winners all over the ability spectrum, but let’s be honest; it is a lot easier to be philanthropic when you are a star name!

…and yes we know Peyton is not inducted yet, but come on!

So, what is up next?

We return to the NHL with a similar award to this one, the King Clancy Memorial Award.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

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.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number 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.

Last time, we looked at the Vezina Trophy in the NHL.  This time, we go back to the gridiron with the NFL AP MVP.

The award got off to a rocky start.  From 1957 to 1960, as it was disputed as the pre-1961 winners winning a Most Outstanding Player Award, and sources show multiple winners. In the years between 1958 to 1960.  For our purposes, we will use the single names, as shown by Pro Football Reference. In 1961, the AP MVP was clear, presenting a specific MVP Award, thus negating any confusion.

So how many MVPs have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the NFL AP MVP who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, Running Back (1957)

Hard to start with a better player isn’t it?  This was Brown’s rookie year, and the product of Syracuse shot right out of the gate leading the NFL in Rushing Yards (942), Rushing Touchdowns (9), and Touchdowns (10), which was a precursor of the greatness to come.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, Running Back (2) (1958)

The rookie season of Jim Brown was really good, but his sophomore season was groundbreaking.  The Running Back shattered the Rushing Yards mark with 1,527 (Steve Van Buren rushed for 1,146 in 1949) and his 17 Rushing Touchdowns were staggering for the era.  This would be the first of five seasons where he would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage. Brown would also win the UPI MVP and NEA MVP this season.  It took only two years for us to have our first repeat winner.   Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts, Quarterback (1959)      

Johnny Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to the NFL Championship, and in his fourth season in the NFL, he would take his team to back-to-back titles.  This year, “Johnny U” led the NFL in Completions (193), Passing Yards (2,899), Touchdown Passes (32), and he was a First Team All-Pro for the second time.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Norm Van Brocklin, Philadelphia Eagles, Quarterback (1960)

Norm Van Brocklin was a grizzled veteran by this time, as he played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1949 to 1957, and he joined the Eagles in 1958.  A Champion with the Rams in 1951, the 1960 campaign would see him go 10-2, with 2,471 Yards, and 24 Touchdowns.  In what was his ninth Pro Bowl, he would go to his first and only First Team All-Pro, while also leading the Eagles to the NFL Championship.  This was his last year as a player, as he hoped to be named the team’s head coach after.  That didn’t happen, but he would take over as the HC for the Minnesota Vikings.  Van Brocklin retired with a record of 61-36-4 with 23,611 Yards and 173 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers, Halfback & Kicker (1961)

A former Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame, Paul Hornung played his entire with the Green Bay Packers, and in 1960, he rushed for 597 Yards.  The Packers would also win the NFL Championship that year, and he was also rewarded with the Bert Bell Award.  Hornung played until 1966, and won three more titles with Green Bay.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers, Fullback (1962)

The MVP year of Jim Taylor made him the second straight Green Bay Packer to win the AP MVP.  The Fullback led the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,474), Rushing Touchdowns (19), and he was on the third of five straight Pro Bowls.  The Packers would win the NFL Championship and he would win four in total.  Taylor played until 1967 (his final year was in New Orleans), and he would accumulate 8,597 Rushing Yards with 81 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants, Quarterback (1963)

In the 1950s, Y.A. Tittle was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the San Francisco 49ers, and at the age of 34 in 1961, he was traded to the New York Giants.  There were many who thought he was washed up, but instead the next three seasons would see Tittle secure himself as a Hall of Famer.  A Pro Bowler in 1961, and 1962, Tittle would have the best year of his life in 1963, where he would lead the NFL in Completion Percentage (60.2), Touchdown Passes (36), Quarterback Rating (104.8), and threw for 3,145 Yards. He only played one more season, and after getting hurt in the second game, he was ineffective and followed his best year with his worst.  Overall, Tittle threw for 33,070 Yards and 242 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts, Quarterback (2) (1964)

This season, Unitas took his team to the NFL Championship, though they would fall to the Cleveland Browns in an upset. Regardless, this was a stellar regular season for the “Golden Arm”, as Unitas was chosen for his third First Team All-Prom and he threw for 19 TDs against only 6 Interceptions.  Unitas also went 12-2 with 2,824 Yards.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, Running Back (3) (1965)

After his second win, Brown remained the elite running back in football.  In 1963, he had his best season with a record setting a new record with 1,863 Rushing Yards. He didn’t win the AP MVP, but did win the UPI MVP, NEA MVP and Bert Bell Award. 1965 would be Brown’s last season in the NFL, as he would abruptly retire, and pursue a career in acting. Brown remains the only player to win the MVP in his first and final year in the NFL.  He was a Pro Bowl in all of his nine years, and a First Team All-Pro in eight of them.  This win also made him the first player to win the AP MVP three times.  Brown also won the Rushing Title in eight of those years. He left the game as the first player to rush for 10,000 Yards, was the all-time leader in Rushing Yards (12,312), Rushing Touchdowns (106), Touchdowns (126), and All-Purpose Yards (15,549). While those numbers have since been broken, he did retire at the top of his game, and many still consider him he be the greatest Running Back of all-time.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.

Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers, Quarterback (1966)

Joining the Green Bay Packers in 1956, Bart Starr would evolve into one of the best Quarterbacks of the game, and he would lead his star-laden team to NFL Championships in 1961, 1962 & 1965. In 1966, he would lead the NFL in Pass Completion (62.2), and had a TD-INT rate of 14-3.  He would take the Packers to another NFL Championship, and they would soundly defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I.   How fitting is it that the QB of the first Super Bowl is also the first MVP in the Super Bowl Era?  Starr won his fifth NFL Championship and second Super Bowl the season after, and he retired in 1971, in a career spent entirely in the “Frozen Tundra”.  He would have 24,718 Passing Yard with 152 TDs over his career.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts, Quarterback (3) (1967)

Arguably, this is the last great season of Unitas’s career, who would play until 1973, with one forgettable year in San Diego. 1967 saw him go to his tenth Pro Bowl and fifth First Team All-Pro, both of which would be his last.  Unitas threw for 20 Touchdowns and 3,428 Yards, and for the first and only time in his career, he led the NFL in Completion Percentage (58.5).  When he retired, he had a record of 118-63-4, 40,239 Passing Yards and 290 Touchdowns. He is a member of the 1960s All-Decade Team, 75^thAnniversary Team and 100^thAnniversary Team. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings, Defensive Tackle(1971)

A member of the famed “Purple People Eaters” Defense of the Vikings in the 1970s, Alan Page was the first defensive player and the first Minnesota Viking to win the AP MVP.  This year, Page was chosen for his third straight First Team All-Pro, but was also in his third consecutive season where he would lead the NFL in Approximate Value.  He would also be named the Defensive Player of the Year.  Page would go on to be named to three more First Team All-Pros, and he would overall go to nine Pro Bowls.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills, Running Back (1973)

In 1973, O.J. Simpson would become the first Running Back to rush for the elusive 2,000 Rushing Yards mark, when he finished with 2,003.  Needless to say, that led the NFL, as did his 12 Rushing Touchdowns and 2,073 All-Purpose Yards.  He would also win the Offensive Player of the Year and the Bert Bell Award that year. Simpson was in year two of his five-year run of First Team All-Pros, where he would win the Rushing Title in four of those years.  Simpson played until 1979, and would have 11,236 Rushing Yards with 108 total Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Ken Stabler, Oakland Raiders, Quarterback (1974)

“The Snake”, Ken Stabler, would be in chosen for his second of four Pro Bowls this year, and he led the NFL in Touchdown Passes (26) with 2,469 Yards.  Stabler would play football until 1984, and would take the Raiders to a win in Super Bowl XI.  Overall, Stabler would throw for 27,938 Yards for 194 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings, Quarterback(1975)

The best scrambling Quarterback of the 1970s, Fran Tarkenton would lead the NFL in Completions (273) and Touchdown Passes (25) with 2,994 Yards.   He would also win the Bert Bell Award this year.  This was his eighth of nine Pro Bowl Selections, and he would finish his career with 47,003 Yards and 342 Touchdowns, while also rushing for 3,674 Yards and another 32 TDs.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Walter Payton, Chicago Bears, Running Back (1977)

Walter Payton played his entire career with the Chicago Bears, and he would become one of the best Running Backs that the game ever saw.  1977, was his third season, and this year he would have personal highs with 1,852 Rushing Yards 1n 14 Rushing Touchdowns, both of which would lead the NFL.  Payton also led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage with 2,121.  This would be the second of five First Team All-Pros for “Sweetness” who also was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.  He would later win the Super Bowl with the Super Bowl Shuffle winning team, and he would retire in 1987 as the all-time leading rusher with 16,727 Yards.  He would also have another 4,538 Receiving Yards with 125 total Touchdowns.  Payton was so regarded for his philanthropy that he Man of the Year Award was renamed the Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers, Quarterback (1978)

You win a lot of games when you have as good a defense as Terry Bradshaw had with the Steel Curtain, but don’t mistake that for the Quarterback not doing his fair share.  Playing his entire career (1970-83) with Pittsburgh, Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, with 1978 being his third.  This season, he would lead the NFL in Touchdown Passes (28) with 2,915 Passing Yards.  He retired in 1983 with 27,989 Passing Yards and 212 TDs.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers, Running Back (1979)

Coming out of the University of Texas, Earl Campbell was the best Running Back in the first three years of his NFL career, all of which seeing him win the Rushing Title and Offensive Player of the Year.  1979 was the second of those seasons, and in addition to leading the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,697) and also first in Rushing Touchdowns (19).  He also won the Bert Bell Award.  Campbell would play until 1985 and would have 10,213 Yards from Scrimmage with 74 Touchdowns over his career.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, Quarterback (1984)

Playing his entire career with the Miami Dolphins, this was the second season that Dan Marino was in the NFL.  This year, he shattered the Passing Yards record with 5,084, making him the first QB to hit the 5,000 mark.  He also threw for 48 Touchdowns, destroying Y.A. Tittle’s 36 in 1963. Marino was also first in Quarterback rating (108.9), Approximate Value (21), and Completions (362).  The Dolphin pivot would lead the NFL in Passing Yards four more times, and after he retired in 1999, he would have 61,361 Yards with 420 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.  

Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders, Running Back (1985)

Already a Super Bowl Champion two years before, Marcus Allen’s 1985 season was the best of his life.  The former USC Running Back would lead the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,759) and Yards from Scrimmage (2,314), and he had 14 Touchdowns.  Allen played for the Raiders until 1992, and he would then join the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played until he retired in 1997. Allen ended his career with 12,243 Rushing Touchdowns, 5,411 Passing Yards, 144 total Touchdowns and six Pro Bowls. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants, Linebacker (1986)

Arguably the greatest Linebacker of all time, Lawrence Taylor debuted in 1981, where he began a six-year streak of First Team All-Pro Selections.  This season, Taylor would lead the NFL in Quarterback Sacks (20.5) and won his third Defensive Player of the Year Award.  Taylor also won the Bert Bell Award.  He would take the Giants to a Super Bowl win this year, and again four years later.  Taylor played his entire career with the Giants, and would play in 10 Pro Bowls and recorded 132.5 Sacks over his career.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

John Elway, Denver Broncos, Quarterback (1987)

John Elway was a great Quarterback, but this was a bit of a curious selection, as he lost the First Team All-Pro to Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers.  Elway took the Broncos to the Super Bowl (they lost to Washington) and he threw for 3,198 Passing Yards and 19 Touchdowns.  He would have better seasons than this, though he was a Pro Bowler this year, which was his second of what would be nine.  He would finally win his Super Bowls in the 1997 and 1998 season, and he retired after with 5,1475 Passing Yards, 300 Touchdown Passes and 33 Rushing Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback (1989)

You would have thought that Joe Montana would have won an MVP by now considering that prior to 1989, he had already won three Super Bowls with five Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  “Joe Cool” also had already led the NFL in Touchdown passes twice and Completion Percentage four times.  This year, Montana would win his fourth Super Bowl, was again a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl, and he again led the league in Completion Percentage (70.2).  Montana also threw for 3,521 Passing Yards and 26 TDs.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback (2) (1990)

While the Niners did not win the Super Bowl this year, Montana still had a great season and took San Francisco deep into the playoffs.  The Quarterback would go 14-1 with 3,944 Passing Yards and 26 TDs.  He missed the entire 1991 season due to an elbow injury, and Steve Young was anointed his successor.  He played two final seasons in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs, and retired in 1994.  He left the game with 40,551 Passing Yards and 273 Touchdown Passes.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills, Running Back (1991)

Along with Jim Kelly and Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas and the Buffalo Bills won four straight AFC Championships, with 1991 being in the middle of it.  From 1989 to 1992, Thomas would annually lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage, this year seeing the Running Back gain 2,038 with 12 Touchdowns.  He played with Buffalo until 1999, with one final season spent in Miami.  Thomas retired with 12,074 Rushing Yards, 4,458 Receiving Yards and 88 Touchdowns. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback (1992)

While Steve Young was the starting Quarterback for the 49ers in 1991, 1992 was the year where he proved he should be.  Young led the NFL in Completion Percentage (66.7), Touchdown Passes (25) and Quarterback Rating (107.0), and would go to his first of seven straight Pro Bowls.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys, Running Back (1993)

Emmitt Smith and the Dallas Cowboys won the Super Bowl the year before, and in 1993 he won his third straight Rushing Title with 1,486 Yards.  Smith was also first in Yards from Scrimmage (1,900) and he also won the Bert Bell Award. Dallas would win the Super Bowl with Smith winning the Super Bowl MVP.  Smith would be named to the next two First Team All-Pros and secured a third Super Bowl ring two later, which coincided with his fourth Rushing Title.  The Running Back played for Dallas until 2002, and had two final seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before he called it a career in 2004. He retired with 18,355 Rushing Yards and 164 Rushing Touchdowns, which makes him first all-time.  Smith is also second all-time in All-Purpose Yards with 21,579.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback (2)(1994)

In 1993, Young was again a First Team All-Pro, and his third would be this season.  Young led the NFL in Completion Percentage (70.3), 35 Passing Touchdowns and QB Rating (112.8).  Young would also lead San Francisco to a Super Bowl win this year.  He would have three more seasons where he finished first in Completion Percentage, one more in Touchdown Passes, and two more in QB Rating.  Young played until 1999, and retired with 33,124 Passing Yards, 232 Touchdown Passes, 4,239 Rushing Yards and 43 Rushing TDs.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Quarterback (1995)

After four attempts (with no completions) for the Atlanta Falcons in 1992, Brett Favre joined the Green Bay Packers where he went to the Pro Bowl in both 1992 and 1993.  In 1995, “The Gunslinger” earned his third Pro Bowl, his first First Team All-Pro, and he would lead the NFL in Passing Yards (4,413), Touchdown Passes (38), and he also won the Bert Bell Award.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers (2), Quarterback(1996)

Favre had another phenomenal year where he went to Pro Bowl number four, First Team All-Pro number two, and again won the MVP and the Bert Bell Award.  Statistically, he led the NFL in Touchdown Passes (39) with 3,899 Passing Yards, and he would lead the Packers to a Super Bowl win.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers (3), Quarterback(1997)

Favre became the first player to win the AP MVP for the third straight season and he earned his fifth Pro Bowl and third First Team All-Pro.  The Quarterback again led the NFL in Touchdown Passes with 35 and had 3,867 Yards, and Green Bay would again return to the Super Bowl, though this time they would lose to the Denver Broncos.  Favre would have four more Pro Bowls with Green Bay, one with the Jets, and one with the Vikings and retired in 2010.  He would finish his career with 71,838 Passing Yards and 508 Touchdown Passes. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions, Running Back (1998)

Barry Sanders played his entire career with the Detroit Lions, debuting in 1989, where he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and was a First Team All-Pro.  Sanders would also win the Bert Bell Award, and was the 1994 Offensive Player of the Year.  In 1997, he would again win that award, but would also capture the AP MVP and his second Bert Bell Award.  In 1997, Sanders won his fourth Rushing Title with a career-high 2,053 Rushing Yards. He also rushed for 11 Touchdowns, and was first overall in Yards from Scrimmage with 2,358.  Sanders played one more season, retiring in his prime at 30, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his years in the NFL.  He ended his career with 15,269 Rushing Yards, 2,921 Receiving Yards and 109 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, Running Back (1998)

From 1996 to 1998, Terrell Davis was a First Team All-Pro Selection, and this was his best year of them all.  T.D. anchored Denver to a Super Bowl win the year before, and would do so again this season where he won the Super Bowl MVP.  In the regular season, he won the Rushing Title with 2,008 Yards and led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns with 21.  Davis would suffer a torn ACL and MCL the year after, and he was limited after that, retiring in 2001 with 7,607 career Rushing Yards.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams, Quarterback (1999)

1999 was the improbable season ever for a Quarterback.  Kurt Warner went from Northern Iowa to bagging groceries to the Arena League and then to the NFL, where he won the back-up job to Trent Green, which in itself was a huge accomplishment.  Green would be injured in the preseason, and Warner was the starting QB, and he made the most of his opportunity.  The leader of the “Greatest Show on Turf”, Warner would throw for 4,353 Yards and lead the NFL in Completion Percentage (65.1), Touchdown Passes (41) and Quarterback Rating (109.2).  Warner would then lead the Rams to a Super Bowl Championship.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams, Running Back (2000)

Sandwiched between Kurt Warner’s MVPs was his Running Back, Marshall Faulk.  Faulk was with the Indianapolis Colts for the first five years of his career where he would go to three Pro Bowls and was the Offensive Rookie of the Year.  Faulk joined the Rams in 1999, and he helped Warner and the Rams win the Super Bowl and was the Offensive Player of the Year.  In his 2000 MVP season, Faulk led the NFL with 18 Rushing Touchdowns, 26 Total Touchdowns and had 2,189 Yards from Scrimmage. 2001 would see Faulk win the Bert Bell Award and the Offensive Player of the Year.  He played until 2005, accumulating six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros, 12,279 Rushing Yards, 6,875 Passing Yards and 136 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams, Quarterback (2) (2001)

While Warner and the Rams did not win the Super Bowl, Warner had the best regular season of his career where he led the NFL in Completions (375), Completion Percentage (68.7), Passing Yards (4,830), Touchdown Passes (36) and Passer Rating (101.4).  He would later play one year for the Giants and five seasons for Arizona to close out his career in 2009.  He retired with 32,344 Passing Yards, 208 TDs, and the best story in sports.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, Running Back (2006)

Debuting in 2001, Tomlinson would have 1,236 Rushing Yards, which would be the least he would have until 2008.  In his MVP season, he would win his fourth of five Pro Bowls, second of three First Team All-Pro, and his first of two Rushing Titles with 1,815.  He would also lead the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns (28) and Touchdowns (31).  Tomlinson also won the PFWA MVP, NEA MVP, Bert Bell Award, Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Damn, what a season!  Tomlinson played with the Chargers until 2009, and he would have two final seasons in football with the New York Jets.  His career ended with 13,684 Rushing Touchdowns, 4,772 Receiving Touchdowns and 153 Touchdowns.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

The following are the players who have won the NFL AP MVP in the NFL who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Earl Morrall, Baltimore Colts, Quarterback (1968)

Earl Morrall had one of the most inconsistent careers of any Quarterback, or for that matter any NFL player.  In 1968, he had been in the NFL for a dozen seasons and had stops in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Detroit and New York.  Some seasons, he was a starter, some he was a backup, and he was positioned in the latter role, to play off the bench to Johnny Unitas.  Morrall would wind up taking over for Unitas, when he was injured in the last pre-season game, and Morrall responded with the best year of his career.  The Colts Quarterback would win 13 Games, and he led the NFL in Touchdown Passes with 26, and he also had 2,909 Passing Yards.  Morrall took the Colts to Super Bowl III, but he had a bad game and they lost to the Joe Namath and the New York Jets.  He would later play for the Miami Dolphins, again as a backup, but he would win two Super Bowl Rings in South Florida.  He retired in 1976, after 21 seasons, and he threw for 161 Touchdowns and 20,809 Passing Yards.  Eligible Since 1982.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roman Gabriel, Los Angeles Rams, Quarterback (1969)

The first Filipino-American star in football, Roman Gabriel was the number one pick in the 1963 Draft, but he did not become the permanent starting Quarterback for the Rams until 1966.  He would ascend into the upper-tier of NFL pivots, and he went to the Pro Bowl each year from 1967 to 1969, and in ’69, he would lead the league in Touchdown Passes (24), and he also threw for 2,549 Yards. Gabriel would also win the Bert Bell Award this year.  Gabriel would later join the Philadelphia Eagles, winning the Comeback Player of the Year in 1973.  He played until 1977, and retired with 29,444 Passing Yards and 201 Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 1982.  Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Brodie, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback (1970)

John Brodie was one of the game’s early gunslingers, and prior to 1970, he would he would lead the NFL in Passing yards in both 1965 and 1968.  This season, he would do that for a third time with 2,941, and he was also first in Touchdown Passes with 24.  Brodie played his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers (1957-73) and he threw for 31,548 Yards and 214 Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 1982.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Brown, Washington Redskins, Running Back(1972)

In the first four years of Larry Brown’s career, he was one of the better Running Backs in the NFL.  Brown, who had won the Rushing Title in 1970, would not do so in 1972, but would put up a career-high in Rushing Yards in 1972.  That season, he also had another 473 Receiving Yards, and was first in the league in Yards From Scrimmage (1,689).  Brown regressed after that, and he retired in 1975 with 8,360 Yards from Scrimmage with 55 TDs.  Eligible Since 1982.  Ranked #160 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bert Jones, Baltimore Colts, Quarterback (1976) 

Bert Jones would have a nice career in the NFL, where he played for ten seasons, nine of which were in Baltimore.   1976 was his fourth season, and this would be his only Pro Bowl year.  Jones had an 11-3 record with 24 TDs and a league-leading 3,104 Passing Yards.  He played until 1982 and Jones would overall throw for 18,190 Yards and 124 Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 1988.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Sipe, Cleveland Browns, Quarterback (1980)

Brian Sipe would play his entire 10-year career with the Browns, and it was in 1980, where he would go to his first and only Pro Bowl, which coincided with his MVP win.  He would throw for 30 Touchdowns with only 14 Interceptions, with 4,132 Passing Yards.  Sipe also led the NFL in Quarterback Rating (91.4).  He retired after 1983 with 23,713 Passing Yards and 154 Touchdown Passes. Eligible Since 1989.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals, Quarterback (1981)

Ken Anderson is considered by most Bengals fans to be the most important player in franchise history, and the biggest Hall of Fame snub.  Anderson spent his entire career with the Bengals (1971-86) and in 1981, he would go to his third of four Pro Bowls and took Cincinnati to their first Super Bowl. In the regular season, Anderson threw for 29 Touchdowns and 3,754 Yards.  He played until1986, and retired with 32,838 Yards with 197 TDs.  Eligible Since 1982.  Ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Moseley, Washington Redskins, Place Kicker (1982)

Perhaps the unlikeliest AP MVP, Place Kicker, Mark Mosely, accomplished this feat in the strike-shortened 1982 season, making him the first Special Teams player to win this award.  This year, Moseley set a then record with a 95.2 Field Goal Percentage, and would kick two Field Goals in the Redskins Super Bowl win that year. Mosely played from 1970 to 1986, and is still the all-time leader in Points in the history of the Redskins’ franchise.  Eligible Since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins, Quarterback (1983)

It took a long time for Joe Theismann to become a star Quarterback, as he had to start in the CFL, was a Punt Returner as an NFL rookie, and was a backup for three years before becoming the starter in 1978 for. The Washington Redskins.  This season, Theismann threw for 3,714 Yards and 29 Touchdowns, and he would take Washington to their second straight Super Bowl, though this time they lost the big game. A gruesome leg injury at the hands of the Giants’ Lawrence Taylor would end his career, and Theismann retired with 25,206 Passing Yards and 160 Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals, Quarterback (1988)

Much like Ken Anderson did before him, Boomer Esiason would take the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, but like Anderson, his Bengals lost to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.  Regardless, this was a good season for Boomer, who was also named the PFWA MVP this season.  He threw for 3,572 Passing Yards with 28 Touchdowns, and he led the NFL in Passer Rating (97.4). Esiason was named to his second of what would be four Pro Bowls, and he played until 1997 with stops in New York with the Jets and Arizona, before playing his final season with the Bengals.  He retired with 37,920 Passing Yards with 247 Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 2003.  Ranked #86 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders, Quarterback (2002)

This was year four of Rich Gannon’s four year run of Pro Bowls, and this season he would lead the NFL in Completions (418) and Passing Yards (4,689) while throwing for 26 Touchdowns.  He would get hurt the following season, and only played one more year before retiring in 2004 with 28,743 Passing Yards with 180 Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 2010.  Ranked #290 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans, Quarterback (2003)

McNair’s career began in 1995 when the Titans were still in Houston.  In 2003, he had his second Pro Bowl, and he led the NFL in Passer Rating (100.4).  He would throw for 24 Touchdowns and 3,215 Yards. McNair played until 2007, and would accumulate 31,304 Passing Yards with 174 TDs.  He also had 3,590 Rushing Yards and punched 37 attempts in the end zone.  Eligible Since 2013.  Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks, Running Back (2005)

Alexander was a Pro Bowl for the third (and final) and he would lead the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,880), Rushing Touchdowns (27), and Touchdowns (28).  The Running Back also won the Offensive Player of the Year and the Bert Bell Award. He would play with the Seahawks until 2007, and had one final year with the Redskins before retiring.  He left the game with 9,453 Rushing Yards and 100 Rushing Touchdowns.  Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #100 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the AP MVP in the NFL who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (2003)

Peyton Manning was in his sixth season in the NFL, and he would have his fourth Pro Bowl year.  Manning would be named a First Team All-Pro for the first time, and he would lead the league in Completions (379), Completion Percentage (67.0), Passing Yards (4,267) and he would throw for 29 Touchdowns.  Manning also won the NEA MVP and Bert Bell Award this season.  He would co-win this award with Steve McNair  Eligible in 2021.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (2) (2004)

Peyton Manning went back-to-back, also securing a First Team All-Pro and a fifth Pro Bowl.  Manning finished first in Touchdown Passes (49) and Quarterback Rating (121.1), and he threw for 4,557 Yards.  In this season, Manning would also win the PFWA MVP, NEA MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and the Bert Bell Award. Eligible in 2021.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (3) (2008)

In the years between his second and third MVP, Manning went to three Pro Bowls, another First Team All-Pro, and finally won the Super Bowl, where he was named the MVP of the game.  This season, he again was a First Team All-Pro and would lead the NFL in QBR (78.3).  The QB had 27 Touchdown Passes and 4,002 Yards.  Manning would also win the PFWA MVP this year.  Eligible in 2021.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (4) (2009)

Peyton Manning became the first four-time MVP, and this was the fifth year he was a First Team All-Pro.  He threw for 4,500 Yards and 33 TDs this season.  The Quarterback also won the PFWA MVP this year. Eligible in 2021.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, Quarterback (5)(2013)

It still seems strange to type Peyton Manning as a Denver Bronco, and he would have a monster regular season with a league-leading 450 Completions, 5,477 Passing Yards, 55 Touchdown Passes and a 80.9 QBR. He would also capture the PFWA MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and Bert Bell Award this season.  Manning played until 2015, and while he was not great, the Broncos defense allowed him to go on top as a Super Bowl Champion.  He retired with 71,940 Passing Yards and 539 Passing Touchdowns.  Eligible in 2021.

The following are the players who have won the AP MVP who are still active.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Quarterback (2007)

Tom Brady already won three Super Bowls (with two Super Bowl MVPs) before he secured his first AP MVP.  This was the year of the bittersweet season where the Pats entered the Super Bowl undefeated, only to lose to Eli Manning and the New York Giants.  Still, it was an incredible year, where the Patriots’ Quarterback led the league in Completion Percentage (68.9), Passing Yards (4,806), Touchdown Passes (50), Passer Rating (117.2) and QBR (88.5).  Brady also would win the PFWA MVP, NEA MVP, Bert Bell Award and Offensive Player of the Year this season.  42 Years Old, Playing for the New England Patriots.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Quarterback (2) (2010)

Brady would again lead the NFL in Touchdown Passes with 36, and was first in Passer Rating (111.0) and QBR (78.3).  He would also throw for 3,900 Yards, and only had four Interceptions.  This year Brady would also win the PFWA MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award.  42 Years Old, Playing for the New England Patriots.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, Quarterback (2011)

This was Aaron Rodgers’ seventh season in the NFL but only his fourth as the Packers starter.  Rodgers won the Super Bowl the year before, and this season he would finish first in Passer Rating (122.5) and QBR (84.5), while throwing for 45 Touchdowns, and accumulating 4,643 Passing Yards.  He would also win the PFWA MVP and Bert Bell Award.  36 Years Old, Playing for the Green Bay Packers.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, Running Back (2012)

Adrian Peterson would be named to four First Team All-Pro selections, this being his third.  Peterson also won three Rushing Titles, with this season being the best one (and second), with him going for 2,097 Yards.  The Minnesota Viking also finished first in All-Purpose Yards with 2,314, and he secured 13 Touchdowns this year.  34 Years Old, Playing for the Washington Redskins.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, Quarterback (2) (2014)

Rodgers had another phenomenal year where he had a TD-INT record of 38-5, and threw for 4,381 Yards.  He would go to his fourth Pro Bowl this year, and also was named a First Team All-Pro for the second time.  Rodgers also won the PFWA MVP this year.  36 Years Old, Playing for the Green Bay Packers.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, Quarterback (2015)

Cam Newton was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, and this season, in addition to his AP MVP, he also won the Bert Bell Award and was the Offensive Player of the Year.  Stat wise, Newton threw for 35 Touchdowns, 3,837 Yards, and rushed for 636 Yards and 10 TDs.  He took Carolina to the Super Bowl, but they lost to the Denver Broncos.  30 Years Old, Playing for the Carolina Panthers.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, Quarterback (2016)

The first Atlanta Falcon to win the AP MVP, Matt Ryan would lead the NFL in Passer Rating (117.1) and QBR (79.4).  He would also throw for 4,944 Yards with 38 Touchdowns. This year, he would also win the Offensive Player of the Year and the Bert Bell Award.  Ryan would take the Falcons to the Super Bowl, but they lost to the New England Patriots.  34 Years Old, Playing for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Quarterback (3) (2017)

In between his second and third MVP, Brady won his fourth and fifth Super Bowl.  Brady also captured the PFWA MVP this season. He would win his sixth Super Bowl the year after.   This season, he was first in Passing Yards (4,577) with 32 Touchdown Passes.  42 Years Old, Playing for the New England Patriots.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, Quarterback (2018)

After playing backup as a rookie, Patrick Mahomes took over the starting Quarterback job for the Chiefs and he instantly became one of the most exciting players in the NFL.  Mahomes would lead the NFL in Touchdown Passes (50) and QBR (80.4), and he would throw for 5,097 Yards.  This season, he would also win the Offensive Player of the Year and Bert Bell Award.  24 Years Old, Playing for the Kansas City Royals.

This yielded a high percentage as expected, which considering how difficult it is to win the NFL AP, makes complete sense.

So, what is up next?

Normally, we bounce around, but we are going to buck tradition, and stay with something very familiar, the Bert Bell Award, the MVP presented by the Maxwell Football Club.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Denver Broncos. 

The Nets were formed in 1960, as a charter member of the American Football League.  While the fanbase proved to be strong, the play on the field was not, and they had little to no success in the 1960s.  The first few seasons when they migrated to the NFL saw the same result, but a developing “Orange Crush” Defense, took them to Super Bowl XII.  They came up short, but it was a start.

The Broncos would trade for the number one pick in 1983, John Elway, and it would usher in a wave of success in Mile High.  Elway took the Broncos to three AFC Championships in the 1980s, but they were unable to convert that success into a Super Bowl ring.  This changed in the 90s, when Elway gained a prime offensive weapon in Terrell Davis, and the two would win Super Bowl back-to-back in the 1997 and 1998 season, ending the anxiety of Broncos fans.

Denver would again sign a Hall of Fame Quarterback, though in Peyton Manning, it was at the end of his career.  The Broncos went to Super Bowl XLVIII, but were thrashed by the Seattle Seahawks. In Manning’s last year, he did enough for them to win Super Bowl 50, though that was more on the strength of their defense.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2018 Season.

The complete list can be found here,but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. John Elway

2. Randy Gradishar

3. ShannonSharpe

4. RodSmith

5. ChampBailey

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for or All-Time Top 50 Carolina Panthers coming next!

As always we thank you for your support.

It seemed like forever that the Denver Broncos were searching for Quarterback to replace John Elway, and it took Elway himself to find one.  As the Broncos' General Manager and one Hall of Famer signed another and Peyton Manning was signed as a Free Agent from the Indianapolis Colts.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number 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.

Our focus now shifts towards the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award in the NFL.  Relatively speaking, this is a new award, so there won’t be too many players to dissect here.  How many of these winners made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

None.

The following are the players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Doug Flutie, Buffalo Bills, Quarterback (1998)

The first winner of this award did not come back from injury.  He came back from Canada.  Doug Flutie was the hero whose Hail Mary won the Orange Bowl for Boston College against Miami.  The Quarterback was considered too short for the NFL and he would play in the USFL and Canada, though he would have stints in the NFL with Chicago and New England, though his run with the Patriots ended in 1989.  A decade later, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills and at age 36, he would play in 13 Games and throw for 2,711 Yards, 20 Touchdowns and go to the Pro Bowl.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Bryant Young, San Francisco 49ers, Defensive Tackle (1999)

Bryant Young suffered a severe broken leg late in 1998 and a metal rod had to be placed to assist his healing.  Young would return in 1999 with an 11.0 Sack season and a selection to the Pro Bowl.  He would play until 2007 and would record 89.5 Sacks in total.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Johnson, New Orleans Saints, Defensive End(2000)

Joe Johnson was a Pro Bowler for the Saints in 1998, but a knee injury kept him out of the entire 1999 Season.  The Defensive End would come back in 2000 with his second (and final) Pro Bowl Selection and he would have a career-high 12.0 Sacks this year.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Garrison Hearst, San Francisco 49ers, Running Back (2001)

Garrison Hearst rushed for over 1,500 Yards in 1998, but he had to sit out two years due to Avascular Necrosis.  Many thought Hearst was done for good, but he returned in 2001 to the Niners and would rush for 1,206 Yards and go to his second (and final) Pro Bowl.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Tommy Maddox, Pittsburgh Steelers, Quarterback(2002)

Tommy Maddox played in the NFL from 1992 to 1995 with three different teams but the backup saw limited action and actually left football.  He came back in the Arena League in 2000, and then would be the MVP in the lone season of the XFL.  That was enough to make him desirable to the NFL again and he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as their backup.  He would become their starter in 2002 and threw for 2,836 Yards and 20 TDs.  He would play until 2005.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Jon Kitna, Cincinnati Bengals, Quarterback (2003)

Jon Kitna was not coming back from injury or another league, but rather had one of the best years of his career.  He would throw for 3,591 Yards and a career-high 26 Touchdowns.  He played until 2011 and would overall throw for 29,745 Yards.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi, New England Patriots, Linebacker(2005)

In 2004, Tedy Bruschi went to his first (and only) Pro Bowl.  Shortly after the Pro Bowl Game, Bruschi suffered a minor stroke and partial paralysis. He announced that he would miss the 2005 season, but that wouldn’t be the case.  The Linebacker returned in October and played nine Games for the Patriots that year.  He would co-win this award Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Pennington, New York Jets, Quarterback (2006)

In 2005, Chad Pennington suffered multiple injuries and was only able to play in three Games.  2006 was a much different season as he started all 16 Games for the Jets and would throw for 3,352 Yards and 17 Touchdowns.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Ellis, Dallas Cowboys, Linebacker (2007)

A ruptured Achilles ended Ellis’ 2006 Season after nine games, and he would return in 2007 with his best year ever. Ellis would go to the Pro Bowl for the only time and he had a career-high 12.5 Sacks.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins, Quarterback (2) (2008)

After winning this award in 2006, Pennington had a bad 2007 beset with injuries and poor play.  He was released by the Jets (who had signed Brett Favre) and Pennington would join the Miami Dolphins as a Free Agent.  He would take Miami to the Playoffs and would throw for a career-high of 3,653 Passing Yards.  Sure enough, he would suffer shoulder problems and would only play four more games in his career.  To date, Pennington is the only repeat winner of this award.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award in the National Football League who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers, Wide Receiver (2005)

In the first game of the 2004 Season, Smith would break his leg and would be out for the season.  He would return in 2005 and put forth the best season of his career with an NFL leading 103 Receptions, 1,563 Receiving Yards, and 12 Receiving Touchdowns.  He would be named a First Team All-Pro this year.  Smith was the co-winner of this award with Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots.  Smith is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2022.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, Quarterback (2010)

Due to his involvement in a dog fighting ring, Michael Vick was suspended for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, most of which was spent while incarcerated.  The Quarterback would return in 2009 to the Philadelphia Eagles as Donovan McNabb’s backup and in 2010 he began the year backing up Kevin Kolb.  Vick won the starting job after Kolb was knocked out with a concussion and he would go on to have an excellent season.  He would throw for 3,018 Yards with 21 Touchdowns and would rush for another 676 Yards and 9 Touchdowns.  He would go to his fourth Pro Bowl and was also named the Bert Bell Award winner.  Vick is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, Quarterback (2012)

Who else could it be?  Peyton Manning missed the entire 2011 campaign due to neck surgery and the Colts gad drafted Andrew Luck to replace him.  Manning would sign with the Denver Broncos and picked up right where he left off.  Named a First Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, Manning threw for 4,659 Yards and 37 Touchdowns.  He is the first player to be named a First Team All-Pro while winning the AP Comeback Player of the Year.  Manning is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Rob Gronkowski, Denver Broncos, Tight End (2014)

Ron Gronkowski was the first Tight End to win he AP Comeback Player of the Year Award and the New England Patriot recovered incredibly from a torn ACL and MCL from December of the year previous.  “Gronk” would be named a First Team All-Pro, win the Super Bowl and would secure 82 catches for 1,124 Yards and 12 Touchdowns. Gronkowski is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2024.

Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers, Wide Receiver(2016)

Jordy Nelson was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2014 but would have to sit out 2015 due to a torn ACL.  Nelson returned in 2016 to record 1,257 Receiving Yards and an NFL leading 14 Touchdown Receptions.  Nelson is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2024.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (2018)

Andrew Luck had to sit out the entire 2017 season due to issues with his throwing shoulder and he returned in 2018 to secure his fourth Pro Bowl.  He would throw for 4,593 Yards and 39 Touchdowns  Luck would shockingly retire during the 2019 training camp.  Nelson is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award who are still active.

Drew Brees, San Diego Chargers, Quarterback (2004)

It is hard to believe now, but Drew Brees was struggling to keep his starting Quarterback job in 2003 when he was with the San Diego Chargers.  This was his rebound year as he was holding off the 1^stRound Pick, Philip Rivers from taking his job.  In 2003, Brees would throw for 3,159 Yards and 27 Touchdowns.  He would be named to his first Pro Bowl.  40 Years Old, Playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Quarterback (2009)

Tom Brady only played in one game in 2008 due to a torn ACL and MCL.  He returned to the exact form you would expect throwing for 4,398 Yards and 28 Touchdowns and going to his fifth Pro Bowl.  42 Years Old, Playing for the New England Patriots.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, Quarterback (2011)

An injured shoulder limited Matthew Stafford to only three games in 2010, but he returned in 2011 and threw for 5,038 Yards and 41 Touchdowns, both of which are career-highs as of this writing.  31 Years Old, Playing for the Detroit Lions.

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers, Quarterback (2013)

Philip Rivers performed well in 2012 but the perception was not that it was not good enough.  In 2013, he did better than the year before with an NFL leading 69.5 Completion Percentage.  He would also throw for 4,478 Yards and 32 Touchdowns.  38 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs, Strong Safety (2015)

Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014 after having been named to the Pro Bowl three times.  Berry returned as a First Team All-Pro and recorded 77 Tackles for the Chiefs in 2015.  31 Years Old, Currently a Free Agent.

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers, Wide Receiver (2017)

In the 2016 season opener, Keenan Allen suffered a torn ACL and would miss the rest of the year.  The Wide Receiver would return to have what is his best year to date. Allen would made his first Pro Bowl and post a career-high 1,393 Receiving Yards.  27 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.

For the first time we have an award that has generated NO Hall of Famers, but this won’t always be the case with Manning, Brees and Brady as Hall of Fame locks.

We are going to back to the NHL and look at the Bill Masterton Award.

As always, we thank you for that support and look for that soon!