gold star for USAHOF

99. Phil Simms

Phil Simms is a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, though many who watched his first five years of play may not have foreseen it.

Simms may have been inconsistent early in his NFL career, but something seemed to click in 1984.  It wasn’t just the influx of talent to the Giants roster, as it was at this time that Simms became their leader and found ways to win.  He wasn’t the quickest or the hardest thrower, but he became a winner, and most importantly, he had the belief and trust of his teammates; something that not every Quarterback had.  Because of the Giants’ stellar defense, many have said Simms only had to manage the game, but those who played with him always praised his high football IQ and leadership skills.

Simms has been called overrated and underrated at various times in his career.  Regardless of how he is rated, anyone with a Super Bowl Ring as a quarterback and who was at times considered in the top five has to be considered a candidate for the Football Hall of Fame.



Should Phil Simms be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 66.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 13%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 10%
No opinion. - 0.8%
No way! - 9.5%

On a weekend where the world of professional football is celebrating their Hall of Fame and the legends that made the sport great, one of the great ones has passed away.

 

It was announced today that Frank Gifford died of natural causes at the age of 84 at his home in New Haven, Connecticut.  

 

A star at USC, Gifford was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants, the only team he would play for and one that he would suit up for fifteen seasons.  As a player, Gifford would make eight Pro Bowls, and help bring the Giants to five NFL Championships, winning one in 1956.  That would easily be the best year of his career, as not only did he win the NFL title, he was also named the Most Valuable Player of the league.  

 

A testament to his versatility is that Gifford was a Pro Bowler at three different positions and his longevity was that he was a member of the 1950’s All-Decade Team.  Gifford, who would suffer a severe head injury in 1960, would return to the National Football League in ’62, winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.  

 

Following the end of his playing career, Frank Gifford would become a very successful broadcaster, notably as a commentator on the iconic, Monday Night Football, where he would work for over two decades.  

 

Frank Gifford is a member of both the College Football and the Pro Football Hall of Fame and this is a major loss for the community of American Football.

 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Frank Gifford at this time. 

 

49. Charlie Conerly

Many entries on this list discuss the difficulty of comparing offensive statistics from the 1960s and 1970s to today's inflated numbers. This is even more true when you look at the stars of the 1950s. Charlie Conerly, the Quarterback of the New York Giants during the 1950s, was on the final ballot multiple times but dropped off seemingly for good after 1980.

Conerly was the Giants QB throughout the 1950s and consistently ranked near the top annually in touchdown passes and quarterback rating. While those numbers would not be considered huge by today's standards, they were more than acceptable for that era. He was popular with fans and teammates and showed flashes of brilliance throughout his career.  His overall numbers of 19,486 passing yards, a TD-INT ratio of 173-167, and a role in the 1956 NFL Championship are awfully good for his era.

It is likely that had he led the NFL in more offensive categories during his career, he would have had a better shot at enshrinement. Since he was not even chosen as a semifinalist for the 2020 Centennial Class, it appears that the window for Charlie Conerly to enter Canton may have closed for good.



Should Charley Conerly be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 87.9%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 5.8%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 3.9%
No opinion. - 0.5%
No way! - 1.9%