1980 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

If you have been following our Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, you know we have asked the rhetorical question: What if the PFHOF began in January 1946?

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, in which we asked each voter to give us 25 names as their semi-finalists and 5 in the Senior Pool. We then asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee and one Senior inductee.

This is the result of the 35th official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 31 votes.

Remember that we have reverted back to the top five candidates entering the Hall in the Modern Era

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1980:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1980.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1980.

About the 1980 Inductees:

Bob Lilly DT-DE, DAL 1961-74: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Bob Lilly would not just become a star player for Dallas, but he would earn the nickname of “Mr. Cowboy.”  He was the first player ever drafted by the team, and while the organization struggled in its early years, Lilly was a definite star for the team.  A Pro Bowl Selection in 1962, Lilly would have a ten-year streak of trips to Hawaii from 1964 to 1973, with seven of those years seeing Lilly named as a First Team All-Pro.

As the Cowboys improved, Lilly became the heart of the first incarnation of the "Doomsday Defense."  It was that defense that brought Dallas to their first Super Bowl appearance (V), which they lost to Baltimore.  The Cowboys returned the next season to the Super Bowl, and Lilly and Dallas would destroy the Miami Dolphins.  It was Lilly who had the signature play of the game when he sacked Bob Griese for a 26-yard loss. 

Lilly played with the Cowboys until 1974, and he is the most outstanding defensive player that Dallas ever had.

Deacon Jones, DE, RAM 1961-71, SDG 1972-73 & WAS 1974: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

It was Deacon Jones who came up with the term "Sacking the Quarterback," and as such, his style of play revolutionized the idea of what a Defensive Player could be.  Jones helped make the idea of being a defensive player a star, and arguably his entire career occurred by accident as he was a late-round (14^th) pick who was chosen for his athleticism and not for his football skills.  Becoming what would be part of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome," Jones was a pass-rushing dynamo who would (unofficially) sack the QB well over 150 times as a Ram, and "unofficially" led the NFL in five seasons.  He was a five-time First-Team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl with Los Angeles and was quickly the star attraction of the organization.

Jim Otto, C, OAK 1960-74.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Jim Otto was undrafted in 1960, as the teams in the National Football League considered the Center to be too small to take his skills to the next level.  They got it wrong.  The AFL took shape the same year, and the Oakland Raiders saw something in the Miami Hurricane, and Otto was given the opportunity to win the Center job with the Raiders.  Otto won it as a rookie, and he would start the next (and first) 210 Games for the team.

Otto was not just the best Center of the AFL in the 1960s, he was the top man in front of the Quarterback in all of Professional Football.  He was an 11-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl Selection and was so dominant that in the entire history of the American Football League, no other Center was a First Team All-Pro.

The Raiders would win the division seven times with Otto at Center, and won the AFL Championship in 1967.  Otto played his entire career with the Raiders and is the best Offensive Lineman in team history.

Sonny Jurgensen, QB, NYG 1958, PHI 1957-63 & WAS 1964-74.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, Sonny Jurgensen was the Eagles’ backup when they won the 1960 NFL Championship.  Jurgensen took over as their starting QB, leading the league in Passing Yards in both 1961 and 1962.  Jurgensen was hurt for much of 1963, and the Eagles deemed him expendable; he was traded to the Washington Redskins for fellow quarterback Norm Snead and Cornerback Claude Crabb.

Jurgensen fit perfectly in regards to leading the Washington offense.  He went to the Pro Bowl in his first year in Washington, and he would lead the NFL in Passing Yards in both 1966 and 1967, setting a then-record of 3,747.  That season, he also threw for a league-leading 31 Touchdown Passes.  In 1969, Jurgensen was a First Team All-Pro and was a Pro Bowler for the fourth time as a Redskin.   

As great as Jurgensen was at this time, he did not have the horses around him to help the Redskins make the playoffs.  In the 70s, he helped Washington make their first Super Bowl, but Billy Kilmer now replaced him, as Jurgensen’s injuries were accumulating.  He played until 1974, retiring as a Redskin.

Overall, with the Redskins, Jurgensen threw for 22,585 Yards with a TD-INT Ratio of 179-116.  These were outstanding numbers for his era.  Jurgensen would be named to the 1960s All-Decade Team.

Chuck Howley, RB, CLE 1964-73.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 2nd Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Chuck Howley was a six-time Pro Bowler and was a First Team All-Pro five times.  Howley was a big game player, and even in the Super Bowl V defeat, he won the MVP of the game.  To this day, Howley remains the only player on a losing team to win that award.  Howley’s play was good enough to win the Super Bowl MVP in Dallas’s win, but Roger Staubach edged him out.  The Dallas defense was loaded those years, but Howley was certainly a great contributor to that.  Legendary coach Tom Landry called Howley the greatest linebacker he ever had, and he was the fourth player in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Al Davis, Owner, OAK/LAD 1963-2010.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Coaches/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Just win, baby.

This was the mantra of Al Davis, who may not have founded the Raiders, but he became their embodiment. 

Davis joined the Raiders as the head coach in 1962 and was given complete control by Raiders owner F. Wayne Valley. Named the AFL Coach of the Year in 1963, Davis was asked to become the commissioner of the league. His work expedited the expected merger between the NFL and AFL, and after a year, he went back to the Raiders, but now as a part-owner.

It would not be long before Davis became the owner, and the Raider philosophy was his creation. The Raiders won three Super Bowls under Davis, and while he was considered a renegade, no owner wanted to win more. Notably, he was the first to hire an African-American head coach (Art Shell), a Latino head coach (Tom Flores), and a female chief executive (Amy Trask). None of those hires was to fill a quota. He thought they were the best candidate for the job.

Davis is the only person in football who has held the following positions: personnel assistant, scout assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, chief executive officer, and owner. It is safe to say that it won't happen again.

Welcome back to the WNBA Cup!

In every WNBA regular season game, we award descending points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five players.  At the end of the season, the player with the most points will be awarded the Notinhalloffame WNBA Cup. However, the winning player must accept their award in person in the Emerald City of Seattle.

Here is the current top ten as of games concluded on July 10:

1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx, 73 Cup Points:  18 Games, 4.06 Cup Points per Game, 23.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 29.6 PER, 4.6 WS.  (#1 Last Week)

2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty, 59 Cup Points:  19 Games, 3.11 Cup Points Per Game, 19.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 23.6 PER, 3.3 WS.  (#2 Last Week)

3. (TIE) A’Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces, 58 Cup Points:  16 Games, 3.62 Cup Points per Game, 20.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 30.0 PER, 2.8 WS.  (#4 Last Week)

3. (TIE) Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm, 58 Cup Points:  20 Games, 2.90 Cup Points Per Game, 17.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21.8 PER, 2.5 WS. (#7 Last Week)

5. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury, 57 Cup Points:  15 Games, 3.80 Cup Points per Game, 15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 26.6 PER, 3.0 WS. (#6 Last Week)

6. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream, 55 Cup Points:  19 Games, 2.89 Cup Points per Game, 19.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.3 PER, 4.0 WS. (#5 Last Week)

7. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury, 52 Cup Points: 18 Games, 2.89 Cup Points per Game, 19.1, PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.8 PER, 2.2 WS. (#2 Last Week)

8. Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks, 49 Cup Points, 20 Games, 2.45 Cup Points per Game, 16.8, PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21.8 PER, 2.1 WS. (#8 Last Week)

9. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky, 48 Cup Points:  19 Games, 2.53 Cup Points Per Game, 13.3 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 19.0 PER, 1.3 WS. (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

10. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever, 46 Cup Points:  19 Games, 2.42 Cup Points per Game, 16.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 26.0 PER, 3.9 WS. (#10 Last Week)

Dallas’ Paige Bueckers fell off the top ten.

At present, 110 players have received at least one point, up from 103 last week.

Our next update will be up next Friday.

The 2025 MLB regular season is entering its most critical stretch. With fewer than 80 games remaining, the playoff race is beginning to solidify—but plenty can still change. 

Several teams have separated themselves, not only through wins, but through strong run differentials, dependable pitching, and momentum at the right time. From dominant leaders to surging challengers, these seven clubs are shaping the MLB playoff picture.

1. Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are having a breakout season and sit atop the standings at 58–34. Their +110 run differential is the second-highest in the league and underscores just how balanced this team is. At home, they’ve been nearly untouchable with a 31–14 record, and their pitching staff continues to exceed expectations by limiting opponents to 351 runs across 92 games. 

A five-game win streak and 8–2 stretch over their last 10 games suggest this isn’t a fluke—they’re in it for the long haul. For a franchise that hasn’t sniffed serious October contention in nearly a decade, this surge feels like a reset.

The Tigers have quietly assembled a roster capable of handling adversity, with timely hitting and a reliable bullpen. If their rotation holds steady, Detroit could secure a top seed in the American League and even challenge for the league’s best overall record by season’s end.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

At 56–36, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain a dominant force in the National League. No team has scored more runs than L.A.’s 501, and their +69 differential reflects a lineup that punishes mistakes. They’re an imposing 33–17 at home, but a four-game losing streak has temporarily cooled their momentum. Still, their depth—especially offensively—keeps them well-positioned for a playoff run.

What sets this Dodgers team apart isn’t just talent, but postseason experience. Many of their core players have been through deep October runs, and that matters when games tighten. 

It’s no surprise that fans and analysts alike are closely watching this team. For those following futures markets or betting on the baseball playoff odds, the Dodgers remain a popular pick. If the pitching staff stabilizes, Los Angeles could quickly reassert itself as the NL's top threat.

3. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have the fewest runs allowed among top contenders, giving up just 332. With a 55–36 record and a +69 run differential, they continue to thrive by controlling the pace of games. Their home record (32–15) shows how hard it is to win at Minute Maid Park, while a 7–3 stretch in their last 10 games highlights their consistency.

Houston’s postseason experience and organizational stability are major assets. They've mastered the art of peaking late, and their pitching staff has been quietly excellent. If they can stay healthy and avoid a second-half drop-off, the Astros are fully capable of reaching another ALCS—or further.

4. Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs own the best run differential in Major League Baseball at +126 and are 54–36 overall. Their success is built on balance—strong run prevention, reliable power hitting, and the ability to win at home (30–16) or on the road. Seven wins in their last 10 outings reflect a club firing on all cylinders.

This version of the Cubs looks far more complete than recent iterations. The rotation is holding up, and the bullpen has limited blow-ups. They’re still within reach of the league’s top overall seed and have quietly positioned themselves as a serious threat in the NL. The MLB playoff picture won’t be complete without them.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are heating up fast. At 53–38, they’ve won nine of their last ten and have a firm grip on a playoff spot. While their +16 run differential isn’t eye-popping, their ability to win tight games and post a 32–16 home record makes them highly competitive. They’ve allowed just 404 runs—a sign that their pitching is doing enough to keep them in every contest.

Their recent surge hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Phillies have become a recurring topic in MLB news as one of the league’s most quietly dangerous contenders. Momentum may be their biggest weapon right now. If the offense catches up to their pitching over the next few weeks, Philadelphia could emerge not just as a Wild Card lock but a serious NL title threat.

6. Toronto Blue Jays

With a 53–38 record and riding a 9–1 surge, the Toronto Blue Jays are one of the hottest teams in baseball. Their +16 run differential may not jump off the page, but their execution in high-leverage moments has carried them. A 32–16 home record shows they protect their turf well, and their overall trajectory is upward.

This team feels dangerous because of its timing. They’ve found rhythm in July and are capitalizing on weak opponents while staying competitive against stronger teams. If they keep climbing, Toronto could make a late push for the AL East crown or a home Wild Card series, which could be a major factor given their record at Rogers Centre.

7. New York Mets

The New York Mets enter the playoff conversation with a 52–39 record. However, their 5–5 stretch over the past 10 contests shows some recent hiccups. The pitching rotation has remained steady, and clutch hitting in high-leverage situations has often tipped the scales in their favor.

What makes the Mets compelling is their potential for a second-half leap. Their core veteran presence—combined with emerging talent—can deliver impact performances down the stretch. If they can find balance between offense and pitching and tighten up their bullpen, New York has the pieces to swing decisively.

Next Steps in the MLB Playoff Journey

The tightest playoff races lie within the American League wild card field, where Detroit, Houston, Toronto, New York, Tampa Bay, Seattle, and Boston are all within striking range. In the National League, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia have separated themselves, though the chase for seeding remains fierce.

Look for late-season pitching depth, trade deadline moves, and individual player surges to shift standings. Expect drama, momentum swings, and maybe one or two surprise squads crashing October’s party. The 2025 MLB playoff picture is evolving and there’s plenty of excitement ahead.

*Content reflects information available as of 08/07/2025; subject to change.

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 maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 revision of our top 50 Cincinnati Bengals.

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 Bengals were led by an explosive offense featuring Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, but the defense let them down, and Cincinnati was unable to make the playoffs, finishing with a 9-8 record.  There was one new entrant, and multiple elevations based on last year’s season.

As always, we present our top five, which remains unchanged in that ranking.

1. Anthony Munoz
2. Ken Anderson
3. Geno Atkins
4. Ken Riley
5. Boomer Esiason 

You can find the entire list here. 

Superstar Quarterback Joe Burrow rocketed from #36 to #19.  Burrow was fourth in MVP voting in 2024.

Burrow’s prime weapon, Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase, also has a substantial increase by going from #49 to #25.  Chase earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl last year.

Defensive star Trey Henrickson jumped to #26 from #50.  He was last year’s Defensive Player of the Year’s runner-up.

The lone new entry is Wide Receiver Tee Higgins.  He comes in at #45.

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