The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, so this results in a long push to revise what we already have; specifically, now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the eleventh ten of the 2024 Football List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 101 to 110:

101. Dave Grayson
102. Justin Smith
103. George Kunz
104. Bucko Kilroy
105. Jim Hart
106. Ben Coates
107. Tobin Rote
108. Aqib Talib*
109. Olin Kreutz
110. Shane Lechler 

*Denotes First Year of Eligibility

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

From Rice University, Tobin Rote was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but in '50 the Pack was not very good, and wouldn't be for years.  Green Bay's ineptitude wasn't Rote's fault; he proved to be an excellent QB, but he didn't have many teammates at his level.  He was also a solid rusher, especially early in his career.  For those who dismissed Rote in 1956, on what was still a mediocre Packers team, he led the NFL in Passing Yards and Completions and threw a then-record 29 Touchdown Passes.  Despite that great season, the Packers traded him to Detroit, where he began the season sharing Quarterback duties with Bobby Layne, but he was clearly the main pivot on a team that would win the 1957 NFL Championship.

Sadly, Rote and the Lions had a disastrous 1959 season, and when he was released, he went north to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, where he did well, but American football called again, and he joined the San Diego Chargers.  At age 35, he had the best season of his life, leading the AFL in Passer Rating (86.7) and taking his new team to a championship while winning the AP MVP.  He would play another year in San Diego and a final one in Denver in 1966.

It can't be dismissed that Rote's decision to play in Canada hurt his overall chances, but this is one of the most underrated Quarterbacks not only of his day but of all-time.