Never underestimate how much First Team All Pro Selections mean in terms of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  While it is possible to enter Canton without one, this accolade tells everyone that in that particular year you are the best at your position.  Now granted it means more in some positions than others (Special Teams for example will always struggle to get players inducted) but this is a vital step to get into the Hall.

Rather than look at the 2018 First Team All Pro Selections by position, let’s list them in order of how many they have in total.

5^th: J.J. Watt, Defensive End: Houston Texans.  Watt was named a First Team All Pro each season from 2012 to 2015 but injuries prevented him earning any accolades the last two seasons.  He is clearly back!  Watt is currently an eight year veteran of the National Football League.

5^th: Luke Kuechly, Linebacker: Carolina Panthers.  Kuechly was a First Team All Pro in 2013 2014, 2015 and 2017 previously and he is a six time Pro Bowl Selection over his seven season career.

4^th: Aaron Donald, Defensive Lineman: Los Angeles Rams. Donald has been chosen for his fourth straight First Team All Pro and he is a five year veteran.  Donald received the maximum number of votes.

4^th: Bobby Wagner, Linebacker: Seattle Seahawks.  This is Wagner’s fourth First Team All Pro and third in a row.  He is a seven year veteran, all with the Seahawks.

3^rd: Zach Martin, Right Guard: Dallas Cowboys.  In five seasons in the NFL, Martin has been a Pro Bowl in all of them and a First Team All Pro in three.  This is a Hall of Fame caliber start.

3^rd: Khalil Mack, Defensive End: Chicago Bears.  In four seasons with Oakland, Mack went to two First Team All Pros.  In his fifth season in the NFL and first in Chicago he was chosen for his third First Team All Pro.

3^rd: Justin Tucker, Place Kicker: Baltimore Ravens. Tucker’s two previous selections were in 2013 and 2016.

2^nd: Todd Gurley, Running Back: Los Angeles Rams. Gurley is in his fourth season and this is his second straight selection.  He led the league in Rushing Touchdowns (17) and had 1,251 Yards with another 580 from the air.

2^nd: Tyreke Hill, Wide Receiver (Flex Selection): Kansas City Chiefs.  Hill was a First Team All Pro in his rookie season and this his third year in the NFL. The Kansas City Chief caught 87 passes for 1,479 Yards and 12 Touchdowns.

2^nd: DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver: Houston Texans.  Hopkins was first chosen for this honor in 2017 and this year he caught 115 Passes for 1,572 Yards and 11 Touchdowns.

2^nd: Travis Kelce, Tight End: Kansas City Chiefs.  The first time he did this was in 2017 and this is now his sixth season in the NFL.  Kelce set personal records with 103 Receptions, 1,336 Receiving Yards and 10 Touchdowns.

2^nd: Jason Kelce, Center: Philadelphia Eagles.  This is Kelce’s eight season and second straight First Team All Pro Selection.

1^st: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback: Kansas City Chiefs. The second year man set record after record this year and he threw for an NFL high 50 Touchdown passes with 5,097 Yards.

1^st: Michael Thomas, Wide Receiver: New Orleans Saints. In his third season, Thomas continued his streak of 1,000 Receiving Yard seasons with a career high of 1,405.  He would lead the NFL in Receptions with 125 and he caught 9 Touchdown passes.

1^st: David Bakhtiari, Left Tackle: Green Bay Packers. This is his sixth season in the NFL and he on a 90 Game starting streak.

1^st: Mitchell Schwartz, Right Tackle: Kansas City Chiefs. In his seventh season in the league, Schwartz become a First Team All Pro Selection for the first time.

1^st: Quenton Nelson, Left Guard: Indianapolis Colts.  Nelson is a First Team all Pro as a rookie.  The sky is the limit for Nelson.

1^st: Fletcher Cox, Defensive End: Philadelphia Eagles. Cox has been in the league now for seven years and he has been named a Pro Bowler in the last fourth however this is the first time that he received a First Team All Pro.

1^st: Darius Leonard, Linebacker: Indianapolis Colts. This is Leonard’s rookie season and he would lead the National Football League in Solo Tackles.

1^st: Kyle Fuller, Cornerback: Chicago Bears.  In the fourth season of Fuller’s career he was chosen for his first Pro Bowl and First Team All Pro this year.

1^st: Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback: New England Patriots. This is Gilmore’s seventh season and it is first time being named a First Team All Pro.

1^st: Eddie Jackson, Safety: Chicago Bears.  Jackson’s first time being named an All Pro comes in his sophomore year.  Two of his six Interceptions were ran back for Touchdowns.

1^st: Derwin James, Safety: Los Angeles Chargers.  We have another rookie off to a great start by earning this accolade.

1^st: Desmond King, Defensive Back: Los Angeles Chargers. King was also used as a Returner this year for the Chargers.

1^st: Michael Dickson, Punter: Seattle Seahawks.  Dickson is a rookie and you can’t ask for a better start.

1^st: Andre Roberts, Kick Returner: New York Jets.  This is the ninth season for Roberts and his fifth team as he played previously for Arizona, Washington Detroit and Atlanta.

1^st: Tarik Cohen, Punt Returner: Chicago Bears.  Cohen is a sophomore with the Bears and he was the leader in Punt Return and Punt Return Yards.

1^st: Adrian Phillips, Special Teams: Los Angeles Chargers. This is Phillip’s fifth season and he also played Defensive Back, Linebacker and Safety this season.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate all of the 2019 First Team All Pro Selections.

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.

The Class of 2018 of our Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame has been announced!

After a one year vote, California karate star, Daniel LaRusso, former Rockford Peach, Dottie Hinson and NFL star turned inmate, Paul “Wrecking” Crewe” have been named to the Hall.

They join Bobby Boucher (The Waterboy), Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump), Willie “Mays” Hayes (Major League), Apollo Creed (Rocky), Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, Charlie Conway (The Mighty Ducks), The Hanson Brothers (Slap Shot), Reggie Dunlop (Slap Shot), Happy Gilmore (Happy Gilmore), Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn (Major League), Crash Davis (Bull Durham), Roy Hobbs (The Natural) and Rocky Balboa, the inaugural inductee.

Little League Coach, Morris Buttermaker enters as a contributor and Huxley College (The Marx Brothers) enters in the Veteran’s category.

Every year since the Hall’s inception Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) has been a Finalist and this year he finally broke through as the leading vote getter.  The winner of the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament is getting a new look in the YouTube program, Cobra Kai.  

Dottie Hinson becomes the first female to enter the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame.  Hinson (Geena Davis) played one season in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the Catcher was clearly the best player not only on her team but in the league.  This is the first induction from the movie, “A League of Their Own”.

From the original Longest Yard in 1974, Paul “Wrecking” Crewe went from the NFL to the prison football in what was the arguably the grittiest sports movie of the 1970’s.  Reynolds, who died earlier this year may have received some sympathy votes as none of his many characters have ever finished in the top ten in voting before. 

Morris Buttermaker was a former Pitcher turned down and out little league coach/pool cleaner. Portrayed by Walter Matthau, this was in the original (and by far the best) Bad News Bears and he is the first from the franchise to get inducted.                         

The legendary Marx Brothers enter for their work on the College Football farce, Horse Feathers.

Voting has now begun on the 2019 Class and the Preliminary Nominees are now up.

You can find them here.

When you can, please support our site and cast your vote for the Class of 2019!

The Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame, along with its sister site, The Fictitious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is part of Notinhalloffame.com, a pop culture/sports website that first launched in 2009.

It is a sad day for wrestling fans as it was announced that former interviewer, “Mean” Gene Okerlund died today at the age of 76.  It is unknown at this time how he passed.

From Nebraska, Okerlund moved to Minneapolis where his outstanding voice made him a natural to become a disc jockey.  In 1970, he would be hired by Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association where for over a dozen years he served as a backstage interviewer and occasional ring announcer. As part of Vince McMahon’s national expansion, Okerlund was poached and he would join the World Wrestling Federation at the start of 1984 and again he would take on the role of backstage interviewer.  He would also commentate and ring announce and arguably throughout his run in the organization he was on television as much as anybody.

Okerlund was well liked by fans and his highlights in the WWF included singing the National Anthem at Wrestlemania I, teaming with Hulk Hogan in a match against George Steele and Mr. Fuji (Okerlund would get the fall) and was well liked by the wrestlers.

He would sign with WCW and continue to be an interviewer but would also work the WCW Hotline, which was a big money maker for the company.  

Okerlund would make sporadic appearances with the WWE following the closure of WCW and he would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 by Hulk Hogan.  He made his last appearance on the 25^thAnniversary show in January when he interviewed A.J. Styles.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends and fans of “Mean” Gene Okerlund at this time.