Did we make a mistake not ranking Drew Bledsoe in his first year of eligibility? Statistically speaking, we may have made a mistake, as his career statistics are more impressive than those of other Quarterbacks ranked higher than him. However, other intangibles come into play, which makes it hard for us to determine his perfect place on this list.

Sure, he has solid career totals and impressive statistical seasons, but what can never be forgotten is that once he got injured, Tom Brady stepped in and took the Patriots over the final hurdle Bledsoe never could; and that is where the problem lies. In his first year of eligibility, Bledsoe was not a semifinalist, which shows that many view him the same way we do…a very good QB who also was a bit of a stat accumulator at the end, yet has a bit of a Wally Pipp quality to him. Drew Bledsoe was very good, but a lot of things would have to go right for him to be considered a serious threat for Canton; that elusive Super Bowl (which he does have, but on the injured list) means more on a Quarterback’s Hall of Fame resume than any other position.

It is a shame how Steve McNair’s tragic ending may overshadow what a very productive (and one tackle away from a Super Bowl) career was. Unfortunately, professional sports have far too many stories like this. 

Steve McNair was one of the elite Quarterbacks in the late 90’s/early 00’s, yet he never seemed to quite reach the level of popularity he should have. Amazingly, this is the case even though he won an MVP and almost won a Super Bowl. “Air” McNair proved to be a devastating force with both his arm and legs and was one of the early prototypes of what many GMs look for in their Quarterbacks. Sadly, with QBs gaining even more protection after he retired, his numbers seem less impressive than they did, and this, combined with the way he passed away, will likely make him an afterthought for Hall of Fame voters.