Arguably, Jared Allen would be in the top five if this ranking was based on popularity, though we have to wonder of that glorious mullet he once sported moved him up a couple of spots.

‘Tis the season for NFL retirements, and we have an epic one with Jared Allen who retired by literally riding off into the sunset.

Allen was drafted in the fourth round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004 out of Idaho State.  The Defensive End would quickly become a starter and would become a fan favorite known for his quirk mannerisms and mullet hairstyle.  In 2007, which would be his last season with Kansas City, Allen would make his First Team All Pro roster, first Pro Bowl and would lead the NFL in Sacks.  He would also win the prestigious NFL Pass Rusher of the Year Award.

Allen would be traded to the Minnesota Vikings and would sign what was then the largest contract in NFL history for a defensive player.  In Minnesota, the accolades kept coming.  He made three more First Team All Pro Selections (2008, 2009 & 2011), won the NFL Alumni Defensive Alumni Player of the Year in 2009 and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.  In that season, Allen had 22 Sacks, which remains a Minnesota Vikings record.

He would later play with the Chicago Bears and finished off his career last season as a member of the Carolina Panthers where he appeared in last month’s Super Bowl.

Jared Allen finished off his career with 643 Tackles, 136 Quarterback Sacks and 6 Interceptions.  He will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Jared Allen for his great career, and the impressive way in which he retired. 

Onwards and upwards for us here at Notinhalloffame.com, as we have added a new addition to an existing section.  We have added a 2021 section for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and here are the key players worth looking at:

They are:

Antrel Rolle: a Super Bowl winning Cornerback with the New York Giants.  He would also go to three Pro Bowls.

Ben Grubbs, a two time Pro Bowl Offensive Guard. 

Calvin Johnson, the longtime Detroit Lions Wide Receiver who went to six Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice.  He is also a three time First Team All Pro Selection.

Charles Tillman, a Defensive Back who went to two Pro Bowls and spent most of his career with the Chicago Bears.

Charles Woodson, A nine time Pro Bowl Defensive Back who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year.  Woodson was named a First Team All Pro three times and helped the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XLV.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a three time Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman who played his entire career with the New York Jets.

Greg Jennings, a two time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver who was on the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XLV team.

Heath Miller, a Tight End who was with the Pittsburgh Steelers for all eleven of his NFL seasons.  Miller would go to two Pro Bowls and helped Pittsburgh win two Super Bowls.

Jared Allen, a Defensive End most known for his time with the Minnesota Vikings.  He would win the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2011 and was a five time First Team All Pro.  Allen would also be a two time Sack leader.

Jason Hatcher, a one time Pro Bowl Defensive End.

Justin Tuck, a two time Pro Bowl Defensive End known mostly for his big game performances in two New York Giants Super Bowl wins.

Kevin Williams, a six time Pro Bowler who was also chosen for five First Team All Pro spots. 

Logan Mankins, a seven time Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman who played most of his career with the New England Patriots.

Matt Hasselbeck, a Quarterback who went to three Pro Bowls.

Peyton Manning, a Quarterback who is considered one of the best of all-time who holds the records for Passing Yards.  The two time Super Bowl winner also won five MVPs, was chosen for seven First Team All Pros and 14 Pro Bowls.

Reshean Mathis, a one time Pro Bowl Cornerback.

The entire section can be found here.

We encourage you to take a look and cast your votes!

It seems that the more lists we create, the more we have to continue to update them.  

That sounded pretty obvious didn’t it?  Of course, we have to, and we love it!

Today, we have the unveiling of our 2021 version of the Notinhalloffame.com football list.  Only a few months ago, we expanded our list to 300, and this is the number that we are going to keep it firm at. 

Last season, the National Football League celebrated its 100^thAnniversary, and to coincide with the landmark, the Pro Football Hall of Fame added 15 new members, 10 of which were former players.  In addition to the five who were chosen by the regular committee, this means that we had to remove 15 names in total, the most we have ever done.

To recap, the 15 removed were Steve Atwater (#5), Troy Polamalu (#7), Isaac Bruce (#9), Alex Karras (#14), Edgerrin James (#20), Donnie Shell (#21), Mac Speedie (#22), Steve Hutchinson (#24), Cliff Harris (#26), Duke Slater (#33), Harold Carmichael (#37), Bobby Dillon (#118), Winston Hill (#147), Ed Sprinkle (#164) and Jimbo Covert (#285) 

We have added new names are now eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a few who we might have overlooked in the past.  Those who we had on our Futures Section, we have taken your votes and comments into account and inputted them into our revised list.  We have also looked at your existing votes, and we are proud to present the new list of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The complete list can be found here, but here is our new Top Ten:

#1. Peyton Manning.  Everyone else is fighting the remaining spots, as there has not been a lock this solid since Brett Favre’s first year of eligibility. Manning won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis and Denver, and he is a five-time MVP.  The Quarterback is also a fourteen-time Pro Bowl, seven-time First Team All-Pro and has a resume of 71,940 Passing Yards with 539 Touchdown Passes. Who else could be number one?

#2. Charles Woodson.  Woodson makes his debut at the second spot on our list, and like Manning, the Defensive Back looks like he is entering on his first year on the ballot. Splitting his career between Green Bay and the Oakland Raiders, Woodson won the Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998), and would later win the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.  The two-time Interception leader owns a Super Bowl Ring as a member of the Green Bay Packers (XLV).

3. L.C. Greenwood.  Greenwood drops from #2 to #3.  The former Defensive End is a four-time Super Bowl Champion with Pittsburgh and was a member of the 1970s All-Decade Team.

4. Alan Faneca.  Faneca fell from #3, and the former Offensive Lineman and Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers has been a Finalist the last five years.

5. Randy Gradishar.  A star in the Broncos’ Orange Crush Defense, Randy Gradishar fell from #4 to #5.  Gradishar was a Finalist in the recent Centennial Slate Class of nominees, and while he did not get in, he could see himself as a Senior Class Finalist.

6. Chuck Howley:  Howley was number #1 last year but dropped to #6 this year.  Howley is the MVP of Super Bowl V (even though his Dallas Cowboys lost), and he is a five-time First Team All-Pro.

7. Roger Craig.  The versatile Running Back dropped one rank from #6 to #7.  The long-time San Francisco 49er was a nominee this year for the 100^thAnniversary Centennial Slate Class.

8. Reggie Wayne.  Wayne was a first time Finalist last year, and the former Indianapolis Colt will likely get inducted in the next few years.

9. Torry Holt.  Holt moved up from #11 and he is coming off his first appearance as a Finalist.  The induction of his teammate and fellow Wide Receiver, Isaac Bruce, bodes well for Holt in the near future.

10. Ken Anderson.  The former Bengals Quarterback returns to the top ten after being ranked #12 last year. To the dismay of Southern Ohio, Anderson was not even a Finalist in the 100^thCentennial Slate Class.

There are two other significant debuts to mention.

Jared Allen makes his first appearance at #19.  The former Defensive End was a five-time First Team All-Pro, and was one of the most popular defensive players of his day.  He could become a Finalist in his first year, but entry as a first-ballot inductee will likely elude him.  Calvin Johnson enters at #27.  While the former Wide Receiver had Hall of Fame talent, he retired in his prime, and the brevity of his career will likely delay his entry.  

The other first time entries are:

109. Kevin Williams.  Williams was a star with the Minnesota Vikings and the Defensive Tackle has six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros on his resume.

126. Logan Mankins.  Mankins was with the New England Patriots for most of his career, and the Offensive Lineman would go to seven Pro Bowls.

161. Wes Welker.  Welker was exceptionally popular when he played with the Patriots, and he would go to six Pro Bowls and secure two selections to the First Team All-Pro roster.

180. Jerry Smith.  We did not include him in our first expansion to 300, and we heard it from you.  At the time of his retirement, he had more Receiving Yards than any other Tight End.

193. William Heffelfinger.  Heffelfinger was another former player we did not initially include.  He is considered to be the first man to ever be paid as a pro football player.

221. Michael Vick.  The dual-threat Quarterback remains one of the greatest rushing QB in the game’s history. He is a former Bert Bell Award winner.

225. Stephen Jackson.  Jackson is the Rams’ all-time leading rusher and is a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 2006.

228. Charles Follis.  Like Heffelfinger, Follis predates the NFL, and is the first African-American to be a paid professional in the game the football. We should have had him when we expanded to 300 last year.

291. Roddy White.  White spent his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons and would be a four-time Pro Bowler.

As always, you know what we want you to do!

Take a look at the new entries, cast your vote, and offer your opinions.  This helps us in future rankings!

We will keep making new lists and revise our existing ones, and we thank you for your support.

Oh, what a day!

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 Finalists for the Class of 2021.  This group was pared down from 25 Semi-Finalists, who were chosen from 133 Preliminary Candidates.  

Let’s get right to who they chose for the final stage.

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This is Allen’s first year of eligibility, and anyone who makes it as a Finalist in his first year of eligibility will make it to Canton eventually.  Allen led the NFL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total.  He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  Cornerback/Safety:  1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions.  He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions.  After four years as a Semi-Finalist, Barber makes it through to the Finals.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans.  The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has now been a Finalist for the five years in a row.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com

LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career.  He is on a four-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was also a Finalist last year.  In terms of gaining momentum over the past three years, Butler is in the upper-tier of the list.  Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alan Faneca:  Guard: 1998-07 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets & 2010 Arizona Cardinals.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time First Team All-Pro.  Faneca has been a Semi-Finalist and Finalist in his first five years of eligibility, and this makes year six. He has been arguably been “leapfrogged” by Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae.  Could this be his year?  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:  Wide Receiver:  1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards.  Holt is now a two-time Finalist, but the Wide Receiver position is loaded with worthy candidates.  Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Calvin Johnson: Wide Receiver:  2007-15 Detroit Lions.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and was considered the most exciting Wide Receiver of his day.  This is his first year on the ballot, and while other Wide Receivers exceed his overall stats, there was no one who passes the eye test more than “Megatron”.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch: Free Safety:  1993-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers & 2004-07 Denver Broncos.  Lynch went to seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  He is now a Finalist for the eighth straight year.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Peyton Manning: Quarterback:  1998-11 Indianapolis Colts & 2012-15 Denver Broncos.  Manning took both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl win, and he is a five-time MVP with 14 Pro Bowls and seven First Team All-Pros.  He would throw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and this is his first year on the ballot. It is expected that Manning will enter the Hall immediately.  Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews:  Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns & 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons.  A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews had 69.5 Sacks with 1,595 Combined Tackles.  Matthews is a Semi-Finalist for the fifth straight time, but has never been a Finalist.  He finally makes it on what is last year of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills:  Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL.  A four-time Semi-Finalist, Mills made it to the Finals for the first time, last year and he returns but only has two more years left of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:  2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  This is his third consecutive year as a Finalist.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas:  Linebacker:  1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys:  Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro.  He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles.  Thomas is now a two-time Finalist.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com

Reggie Wayne:  Wide Receiver:  2001-14 Indianapolis Colts.  A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns.  Wayne was a Finalist last year in what was his first year on the ballot, and he now goes two-for-two.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Woodson:  Cornerback/Safety:  1998-05 & 2013-15 Oakland Raiders & 2006-12 Green Bay Packers.  Woodson is a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers and has 65 career Interceptions.  The nine-time Pro Bowler is also a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998) and Defensive Player of the Year (2009).  This is Woodson’s first year of eligibility, and like Manning, he is considered a lock.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The ten men who were eliminated were Eric Allen, Willie Anderson, Cornelius Bennett.  Steve Tasker, Fred Taylor   Hines Ward, Patrick Willis, Darren Woodson and Bryant Young

We can’t wait to see who the Pro Football Hall of Fame selects, and a reminder that we will be doing our Mock Committee two Tuesdays before the Super Bowl.

One of the most popular defensive players in recent Vikings history, Jared Allen would not just be a well liked player, he would become one of the elite Defensive Ends of his day.  

Allen was mostly known for his work with the Minnesota Vikings, but he began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played the first four years of his career.  In the last year of his run in KC, Allen led the NFL in Sacks (15), and Tackles for Loss (19), and was named to the First Team All-Pro for the first time.  The DE moved to Minnesota, where he was a First Team All-Pro three times in the six seasons he was there, and he would never not have a year where he had two digits worth of Sacks.  He earned his second Sack Title in 2011 with a career-high 22. 

He would finish his career with Chicago and Carolina and at the time of his retirement in 2015, he had 136.0 Sacks.