The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their Finalists for the Class of 2019 and as per normal, there are little surprises.
The Finalists are:
Steve Atwater: Atwater played Free Safety for the Denver Broncos from 1989 to 1998 and in that span, he would win two Super Bowls and would be named to two First Team All Pro and eight Pro Bowls. He was known for delivering the most punishing hits for a Safety. Atwater played one final season for the Jets and this is his second time as a Finalist, the last being in 2016. He is ranked #12on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Champ Bailey: Bailey began his career playing for the Washington Redskins in 1999 where he quickly would establish himself as one of the top Cornerbacks in the NFL. He would play there for five seasons, going to four Pro Bowls in his last four seasons there, but he would be traded to the Denver Broncos and elevated his career even more. A Bronco from 2004 to 2013 was a First Team All Pro three years in a row 2004-06 and was a Pro Bowl Selection eight more times. He retired with 52 Interceptions. Bailey becomes a Finalist in his first year of eligibility and he is ranked #2on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Tony Boselli: Arguably the greatest Jacksonville Jaguar of all-time, Boselli was only in the National Football League for seven seasons, but was a Pro Bowler for five of them and he was chosen for three straight First Team All Pros from 1997 to 1999. This is his third straight time for the Offensive Lineman as a Finalist and he is ranked #64on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Isaac Bruce: Bruce was an explosive Wide Receiver who played the first fourteen of his sixteen years with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and he was a member of the Rams Super Bowl winning “Greatest Show on Turf”. Bruce was the NFL leader in Receiving Yards in 1996 and retired with 15,208 Receiving Yards, which is fifth all-time. His 1,024 Receptions and 91 Receiving Touchdowns are thirteenth and twelfth all-time. Like Boselli this is Bruce’s third straight year as a Finalist. He is ranked #13on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Don Coryell: Coryell was the Head Coach of the St. Louis Cardinals (1973-77) and the San Diego Chargers (1978-86) and had a 114-89-1 record. Coryell never won a Super Bowl but is known for revolutionizing the passing game in football. This is his fifth time as a Finalist (2010, 2015, 2016 & 2017).
Alan Faneca: Faneca was a veteran of thirteen NFL seasons, the first ten of which were with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he won a Super Bowl and was named to five First Team All Pro and seven Pro Bowls. He followed that up with two Pro Bowl seasons with the New York Jets and one final season with Arizona. This is his fourth straight year as a Finalist and he is ranked #4on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Tom Flores: Flores was the Head Coach of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1979-87) and the Seattle Seahawks (1992-94) and had a 105-90 record. He would win two Super Bowls as a Head Coach with the Raiders and this is the first time that he is a Hall of Fame Finalist.
Tony Gonzalez: Gonzalez is the most successful Tight End in terms of offensive output and his contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs (1997-2008) and Atlanta Falcons (2009-13) will never be forgotten. Gonzalez caught 1,325 passes for 15,127 Yards and 111 Touchdowns, which are by far the best by anyone of his position. He would be named to six First Team All Pro and fourteen Pro Bowls and is a Finalist on his first year of eligibility. He is ranked #1on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Steve Hutchinson: Playing for the Seattle Seahawks (2001-05), Minnesota Vikings (2006-11) and Tennessee Titans (2012) over his career, the Left Guard would be a Pro Bowl in seven straight seasons (2003-09). He was also named to five First Team All Pro teams and this is his second year being names as a Finalist. He is ranked #26on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Edgerrin James: With the Indianapolis Colts for the first seven years of his career, James would lead the NFL in Rushing Yards in his first two seasons. James would be a four time Pro Bowl and one time First Team All Pro as a Colt and he would finish his career with Arizona for three seasons and a final one in Seattle.
Ty Law: Law played Cornerback for the New England Patriots from 1995 to 2004 where he was a four time Pro Bowl, two time First Team All Pro but more importantly was a three time Super Bowl Champion. Law would go to another Pro Bowl as a New York Jet and he would also finish his career with Kansas City and Denver. The two time leader in Interceptions is a Finalist for the third straight year and he is ranked #28on our Notinhslloffame.com football list.
John Lynch: Lynch played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1993 to 2003 where at Strong Safety he helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl and was a five time Pro Bowl and two time First Team Al Pro. He would move to Free Safety and the Denver Broncos the last four seasons of his career and was a Pro Bowl in all of them. This is Lynch’s sixth straight year as a Finalist and he is ranked #34on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Kevin Mawae: Mawae played for the Seattle Seahawks (1994-97), the New York Jets (1998-2005) and the Tennessee Titans (2006-09) and it was with the Jets where he was at their best with six straight Pro Bowls (1999-2004) with two First Team All Pros in that stint. He had two more Pro Bowls with Titans. Mawae is a Finalist for the third straight year and he is ranked #16on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Ed Reed: The 2004 Defensive Player of the Year was a nine time Pro Bowl and five time First Team All Pro Selection who played all but his final season with the Baltimore Ravens. A Super Bowl Champion with the Ravens, Reed was a three time Interception leader and he is seventh all time in Interceptions and first in Interception Return Yards. This is Reed’s first year of eligibility and he is ranked #3on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Richard Seymour: A three time Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots, Richard Seymour was also a First Team All Pro Defensive Tackle three years in a row from 2003 to 2005. The seven time Pro Bowl also played for the Oakland Raiders. This is Seymour’s first time as a Finalist and he is ranked #50on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
This group joins three Johnny Robinson (Seniors Finalists), Pat Bowlen (Contributor) and Gil Brandt (Contributor).
Johnny Robinson: A member of the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs throughout his career, Robinson was a Safety who was a Pro Bowl/AFL All Star seven times and a First Team All Pro five times. A Super Bowl Champion and three time AFL Champion is a Finalist for a seventh time, his last being in 1986. He is ranked #7on our Notinhalloffame.com Football list.
Pat Bowlentook over ownership of the Denver Broncos in 1984 and over that timeframe the team appeared in seven Super Bowls with three wins.
Gil Brandtis credited with revolutionizing scouting and his methods helped the Dallas Cowboys win Super Bowls.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee will announce their selections on February 2.
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