While most of the sporting world is looking toward the Super Bowl, the NFL Honors has always been our primary focus, as it features the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.  This year, we learned that five new entrants, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig (Senior), will be Canton-bound.

Drew Brees: SDG 2001-05 & NOR 2006-20.  After five years in San Diego, Brees ascended to superstar status in New Orleans.  Brees led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win, was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and was selected to 13 Pro Bowls.  He threw for 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns, and is a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee on his first attempt.

Larry Fitzgerald:  ARI 2004-20.  Fitzgerald had a stellar career, earning 11 Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro selection, and was named the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Twice leading the league in Receptions as well as Touchdown Passes, Fitzgerald had 1,432 Receptions (Second all-time), 17,492 Yards (second all-time), and 121 Touchdowns (sixth all-time).  Like Brees, Fitzgerald only needed one year of eligibility to enter the Hall.

Luke Kuechly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly was a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility, as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  He enters the Hall in his second year of the ballot.

Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599).  Like Kuechly, he is a second-year inductee.

Roger Craig:  Running Back, SFO 1983-90, RAI 1991 & MIN 1992-93.  The first player to accumulate 1,000 Yards Rushing and Receiving, Craig won three Super Bowls, was the Offensive Player of the Year, earned four Pro Bowls, and was a First Team All-Pro.  From Scrimmage, he had 73 Touchdowns and 13,100 Yards.  Craig was a Modern Finalist in 2010 and a Senior Finalist in 2020, and is the only candidate to enter via the Seniors/Coaches/Contributor section.

Thanks to Clark Judge, who posted his roundup on Jack Silverstein’s WordPress site (take a look at this, as it is worth the read, and while you are there, read Jack’s other articles!), we have additional information about the cuts.

Jahri Evans, Torry Holt, Eli Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Kevin Williams were cut from 15 to 10, with Holt’s first cut being the biggest surprise, as he was a top-seven finisher last year.  Holt still has time, but this is a significant step backward.

Frank Gore, Jason Witten, and Darren Woodson were then cut from 10 to 7, and Willie Anderson, Marshal Yanda, and Terrell Suggs made it to the final seven before failing to make the vote.  As such, Anderson, Suggs, and Yanda are automatic finalists for 2027.

In late March, we will begin work on revising our Notinhalloffame list of those to consider for the PFHOF.  This will reflect the removal of the five who were elected, the addition of the big names who are eligible, and changes to existing players based on your votes and comments.

We here at Notinhalloffame would like to congratulate the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Oh, what a happy day to be a Hall of Fame enthusiast!

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its 15 Modern Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2026, down from a list of 26.

To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least five years ago:

*Denotes they were a Finalist last year.

**Denotes they are eligible for the first time.

Quarterbacks (2): Philip Rivers did not advance.

**Drew Brees: SDG 2001-05 & NOR 2006-20.  After five years in San Diego, Brees ascended to superstar status in New Orleans.  Brees led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win, was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and was selected to 13 Pro Bowls.  He threw for 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns.  Ranked #1 on notinhalloffame.com.  First Time as a Finalist.

*Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #107 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second Time as a Finalist.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

There is no surprise here, as Drew Brees should cruise into the Hall on his first attempt, and Eli Manning was also expected to advance.  Manning, who is in his second year of eligibility, likely won’t enter the PFHOF in ’26, but no worries, Giants fans; nobody (except Jim Tyrer, and we know why) was a first ballot Finalist and failed to enter Canton.

The wildcard was Rivers, who returned to the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.  Assuming he will not return in 2026, Rivers now views his new year of eligibility as 2031. 

Running Backs (1): Fred Taylor did not advance.

**Frank Gore:  SFO 2005-14, IND 2015-17, MIA 2018, BUF 2019 & NYJ 2020.  Gore was a six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who amassed a whopping 16,000 Rushing Yards (third all-time), 19,985 APY, and 99 Touchdowns.  Ranked #19 on notinhalloffame.com.  First Time as a Finalist.  

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

We thought that Frank Gore’s appearance on the ballot would negatively impact Fred Taylor, and this is precisely what happened.  Gore has significantly more yardage than Taylor, and we have a rare occurrence of a multi-time Finalist (Taylor was a Finalist the last two years) failing to get through.  As for Gore, he is the ultimate compiler and was never a top-five Running Back (well, maybe once).  Gore’s Hall of Fame candidacy fascinates us.

Wide Receivers (3): (Steve Smith Sr. & Hines Ward did not advance)

**Larry Fitzgerald:  ARI 2004-20.  Fitzgerald had a stellar career, earning 11 Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro selection, and was named the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Twice leading the league in Receptions as well as Touchdown Passes, Fitzgerald had 1,432 Receptions (Second all-time), 17,492 Yards (second all-time), and 121 Touchdowns (sixth all-time).   Ranked #2 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Finalist.

*Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #9 on notinhalloffame.com.  Seventh time as a Semi-Finalist.

Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #23 on notinhalloffame.com.  Seventh time as a Finalist (2020-26).

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

The Wide Receiver slot has been log-jammed for years, and the arrival of Larry Fitzgerald (the second lock behind Brees) clearly pushed Steve Smith Sr. aside. 

Of note, Holt was among the last seven in the voting last season, ensuring he would be an automatic Finalist, but, as phenomenal as he was, his resume falls below Fitzgerald's.  Wayne, who, like Holt, is on his seventh Finalist ballot, also looks to be below Fitzgerald, and with the current process, it is difficult to see two Wide Receivers advancing.

Also, I predicted years ago that Hines Ward would go 20-for-20, meaning he would reach 20 Semi-Finals without advancing to the finals.  As Bon Jovi sang in “Living on a Prayer, “Whoa, we’re halfway there.”

Tight Ends (1): 

**Jason Witten:  2003-17 & 2019 & LVR 2020.  Witten went to a whopping 11 Pro Bowls, with two of those seasons netting him First Team All-Pros.  The 2012 Walter Payton Award winner had 13,046 Yards with 74 TDs.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Finalist.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Jason Witten is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.  There is no doubt of that, and thankfully, he does not have to worry about Antonio Gates, who entered last year.  If he does not enter this year, Rob Gronkowski is on the horizon and will jump over (and should) Witten.  Witten will eventually enter Canton, but the current structure does him no favors in 2026.

Offensive Lineman (3): (Lomas Brown, Richmond Webb, and Steve Wisniewski did not advance)

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous three years.  Ranked #101 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fifth time as a Finalist (2021-26).

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #29 on notinhalloffame.com.  Third time as a Finalist (2021-26).

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #4 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Finalist (2025-26).

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I said when we looked at the Semi-Finalists that I would be thrilled if Wisniewski, Brown, and/or Webb got into that room to be discussed as a PFHOF Finalist, but I doubted that I would be delighted.  That is precisely what transpired, and for Wiz, this is the end of the modern pool, as he falls into the abyss of the senior pool.  Webb has only one year left, and both he and Wiz are Hall of Fame material; there is no doubt about that.

As for the rest, Anderson was guaranteed to be a Finalist based on last year’s top-seven finish, and Yanda and Evans are returnees.  Anderson appears to be atop the queue, and Evans and Yanda both debuted in their respective years as a Finalist, so it should be only a matter of time for those two Guards.  The O-Line looks to be as jammed as the WR slot.

Defensive Linemen: (1) (Robert Mathis and Vince Wilfork did not advance)

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #26 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Finalist.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

This is the biggest surprise for me.  It is not that they chose Kevin Williams; that should have happened long ago.  It is that they remembered him at all, after forgetting his existence over the first five years of his eligibility, and here he is, making his first Semi and Final.  He did so by leapfrogging two guys (Robert Mathis and Vince Wilfork), who, with all respect to those two stars, he should have been ahead of to begin with.

Yep, very happy on this one!

Linebackers: (2)

*Luke Kuechly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly was a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility, as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #3 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Finalist 2025-26.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a significant part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and, as a veteran, he retired after winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #10 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Finalist 2025-26.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Two Linebackers.  Two former Defensive Players of the Year winners.  Two players who easily could have entered on their first ballot.  Two players face the same struggle as last year based on the current process.   The main difference is that Kuechly was a guaranteed Finalist based on finishing in the top seven last year.

Defensive Backs: (1) (Rodney Harrison and Earl Thomas did not advance)

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early '90s, a five-time Pro Bowl, and a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #65 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fourth time as a Semi-Finalist 2015, 2017, & 2019-26.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Earl Thomas has the goods to be a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, and it is curious to see him drop off after being a Finalist in his first year of eligibility.  With Rodney Harrison also dropping off, this is a good ballot for Woodson, who is the only DB left.  We saw the Hall induct Eric Allen late in his eligibility, and Woodson is in his 18th year.

Place Kickers: (1)

*Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #88 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist 2025-26.

Vinatieri was one of the last seven from last year and was grandfathered in as a guaranteed Finalist.

To enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, these candidates must receive 80% of the vote, after it is pared down to seven candidates. 

In a separate vote, Senior candidates Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood, Coach candidate Bill Belichick, and Contributor candidate Robert Kraft will also have to receive 80% for enshrinement

The Class of 2026 will be inducted on August 8.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of Finalists.

P

Can we say again, how much we love November?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its 26 Modern Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2026, down from a list of 52.

To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least five years ago:

This group will be pared down to 15 Finalists this winter by the 50-person Hall of Fame committee.

*Denotes they were a Finalist last year.

**Denotes they are eligible for the first time.

Quarterbacks (3): No Quarterbacks were cut from 52.

**Drew Brees: SDG 2001-05 & NOR 2006-20.  After five years in San Diego, Brees ascended to superstar status in New Orleans.  Brees led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win, was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and was selected to 13 Pro Bowls.  He threw for 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns.  Ranked #1 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

*Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #107 on notinhalloffame.com. Second time as a Semi-Finalist (2025-26).

**Philip Rivers:  SDG/LAC 2004-19 & IND 2020.  A Charger for all but his final season, Rivers was chosen for eight Pro Bowls and was fourth in OPOY voting three years in a row (2008-10).  He threw for 63,440 Yards and 221 Touchdowns.  Ranked #21 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Drew Brees was a lock, and is a lock moving forward.  Was Rivers a minor surprise?  Perhaps, and while we have him as the better QB than Eli Manning, Manning’s two Super Bowls propelled him to become a first-year Finalist, and nobody who reached that stage in year one (except Jim Tyrer) has ever failed to advance to Canton.  Rivers feels like a longish shot to advance to the Finals, as three QBs (assuming that Eli advances) in the Final round is rare.  If I were in the camp of Philip Rivers for the PFHOF, I would consider the Semi-Final debut as a huge win.

Running Backs (2): (cut from 8)

**Frank Gore:  SFO 2005-14, IND 2015-17, MIA 2018, BUF 2019 & NYJ 2020.  Gore was a six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who amassed a whopping 16,000 Rushing Yards (third all-time), 19,985 APY, and 99 Touchdowns.  Ranked #19 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #157 on notinhalloffame.com.  Seventh time as a Semi-Finalist (2020-26).

The Running Backs who did not advance were Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, and Ricky Watters.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

First off, Ricky Watters’ omission from the Semis is criminal.  This was his final year on the Modern ballot, and now he goes to the Senior Pool, where players have a much more challenging road to the Hall of Fame.  Also, Marshawn Lynch and LeSean McCoy have outstanding resumes, and of all the Running Backs who were preliminary candidates, if you had one rushing play to punch it in, wouldn’t you pick Lynch?

Pete Carroll wouldn’t, but wouldn’t you?

This leaves us with Gore and Taylor.  Taylor has been a long-time Finalist, but now he has a peer with more Yards than he.  Could Gore pass him on the ballot with his accumulations?  That is Gore’s path, as he was never a top-five Running Back (well, maybe once).  Gore’s Hall of Fame candidacy fascinates us.

Wide Receivers (5): (Cut from 8)

**Larry Fitzgerald:  ARI 2004-20.  Fitzgerald had a stellar career, earning 11 Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro selection, and was named the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Twice leading the league in Receptions as well as Touchdown Passes, Fitzgerald had 1,432 Receptions (Second all-time), 17,492 Yards (second all-time), and 121 Touchdowns (sixth all-time).   Ranked #2 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

*Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #9 on notinhalloffame.com.  Twelfth time as a Semi-Finalist (2015-26).

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #25 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fifth time as a Semi-Finalist (2022-26).

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #47 on notinhalloffame.com.  Tenth time as a Semi-Finalist (2017-26).

Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #23 on notinhalloffame.com.  Seventh time as a Semi-Finalist (2020-26).

The Wide Receivers who did not advance were Anquan Boldin, Jimmy Smith, and Rod Smith.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I don’t have any problem with the Wide Receivers being removed, but I will again go on record that Hines Ward will go 20-for-20 as a Hall of Fame Semi-Finalist without advancing to the final round.  Also, how loaded is it moving forward that Boldin did not return as a Semi-Finalist?

Tight Ends (1): (Cut from 2)

**Jason Witten:  2003-17 & 2019 & LVR 2020.  Witten went to a whopping 11 Pro Bowls, with two of those seasons netting him First Team All-Pros.  The 2012 Walter Payton Award winner had 13,046 Yards with 74 TDs.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

The Tight Ends who did not advance were Greg Olson. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Jason Witten is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.  There is no doubt of that, and thankfully, he does not have to worry about Antonio Gates, who entered last year.  If he does not enter this year, Rob Gronkowski is on the horizon and will jump over (and should) Witten.  Witten will enter Canton and is likely to be a Finalist this year, but the current structure does him no favors in 2026.

Offensive Lineman (6): (Cut from 11)

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous three years.  Ranked #101 on notinhalloffame.com.  Sixth time as a Semi-Finalist (2021-26).

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he helped Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl.  Ranked #138 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #29 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fourth time as a Semi-Finalist (2021-26).

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #43 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist (2025-26).

Steve Wisniewski (G):  RAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A former Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders and was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #24 on notinhalloffame.com.  Third time as a Semi-Finalist (2014 & 2025-26).

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #4 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist (2025-26).

The Offensive Linemen who did not advance were Ruben Brown, Olin Kreutz, Logan Mankins. Maurkice Pouncey & Erik Williams.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I said it two years ago, and it looks to be the case:  Jason Kelce will be the next Center in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  There are some solid candidates out there (Nick Mangold and Jeff Saturday), and an arguably better one, Maurkice Pouncey, did not make it to the semi-finals for 2026.

As for the six who are here, I love that we have three who are nearing the end of their candidacy and have made it here.  With all due respect to Anderson, Evans, and Yanda, if the three Offensive Linemen put forth were Brown, Webb, and Wisniewski, I would be thrilled, if only because it gets them in that room, which none of them have ever been to.

Somehow, I doubt I will be thrilled.

Defensive Linemen: (3) (Cut from 6)

Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earned his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #112 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fifth time as a Semi-Finalist (2022-26).

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro selection.  Ranked #136 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fifth time as a Semi-Finalist (2022-26).

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #26 on notinhalloffame.com.  First time as a Semi-Finalist.

The Defensive Linemen who did not advance were John Abraham, Haloti Ngata & Simeon Rice.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I am very happy and satisfied that Kevin Williams has finally been recognized.   Seriously, it is that big for many Hall of Fame watchers that this happened.

Linebackers: (2) (Cut from 4)

*Luke Kuechly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly was a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility, as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #3 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist 2025-26.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a significant part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and, as a veteran, he retired after winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #10 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist 2025-26.

The Linebackers who did not advance were London Fletcher and James Harrison.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Two Linebackers.  Two former Defensive Players of the Year winners.  Two players who easily could have entered on their first ballot.  Two players face the same struggle as last year based on the current process.

Defensive Backs: (3) (Cut from 6)

Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #159 on notinhalloffame.com.  Fifth time as a Semi-Finalist 2021 & 2023-26.

*Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist 2025-26.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early '90s, a five-time Pro Bowl, and a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #65 on notinhalloffame.com.  Tenth time as a Semi-Finalist 2015, 2017, & 2019-26.

The Defensive Backs who did not advance were Asante Samuel, Charles Tillman, and Troy Vincent.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Safeties have such a hard time entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but this year, there are no Corners to block them.  Saying that, despite the talent of all three, the path to Canton will not materialize for any of them in 2026.

Place Kickers: (1) (Cut from 2)

*Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #88 on notinhalloffame.com.  Second time as a Semi-Finalist 2025-26.

The only Place Kicker who did not advance was Gary Anderson. 

Of note, Punter Shane Lechler and Special Teams player Brian Mitchell were also cut.

Last year, only Brian Mitchell was at this stage.

This group will be reduced to 15 Finalists in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who have reached this stage.

The news coming from Canton continues, as the Pro Football Hall of Fame has reduced their Modern Era Preliminary Nominees from 128 to 52.

To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least five years ago:

This group will be pared down to 25 names this fall by the 50-person Hall of Fame committee.

*Denotes they were a Finalist last year.

**Denotes they are eligible for the first time.

Quarterbacks (2): (cut from 10)

**Drew Brees: SDG 2001-05 & NOR 2006-20.  After five years in San Diego, Brees ascended to superstar status in New Orleans.  Brees led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win, was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and was selected to 13 Pro Bowls.  He threw for 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.  Ranked #1 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #107 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Philip Rivers:  SDG/LAC 2004-19 & IND 2020.  A Charger for all but his final season, Rivers was chosen for eight Pro Bowls and was fourth in OPOY voting three years in a row (2008-10).  He threw for 63,440 Yards and 221 Touchdowns.  Ranked #21 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Quarterbacks who did not advance were Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair & Alex Smith.

Last year, the three QBs who made it to this stage were Eli Manning and Steve McNair. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Cunningham and McNabb are in trouble, especially Cunningham, who now disappears into the Senior abyss.  These are two QBs who clearly have no momentum to get a shot in the modern wing, and now there are two (Brees & Rivers) who have passed them.  The wild card is Rivers, who, if he does not reach the Semis right away, will see a slew of similar QBs creeping up on him in the upcoming years.

Running Backs (8): (cut from 21)

Warrick Dunn:  TAM 1997-2001 & 2008 & ATL 2002-07.  Dunn was the 1997 Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 10,957 Yards and 49 Touchdowns.  He had another 15 TDs and 4,339 Yards from the air.  Ranked #304 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #175 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Frank Gore:  SFO 2005-14, IND 2015-17, MIA 2018, BUF 2019 & NYJ 2020.  Gore was a six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who amassed a whopping 16,000 Rushing Yards (third all-time), 19,985 APY, and 99 Touchdowns.  Ranked #19 on notinhalloffame.com.

Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #44 on notinhalloffame.com.

**LeSean McCoy:  PHI 2009-14, BUF 2015-18, KAN 2019 & TAM 2020.  A six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, McCoy won the 2013 Rushing Title, while also leading the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage.  He was second in OPOY voting that year.  Overall, he rushed for 11,102 Yards, had an even 15,000 Yards From Scrimmage, and had 89 Touchdowns.  Ranked #110 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lorenzo Neal (FB):  NOR 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TAM 1998, TEN 1999-2000, CIN 2001-02, SDG 2003-07 & BAL 08.  Playing as a Fullback, Neal would go to four Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #178 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #157 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and made the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996, totaling 14,891.  Ranked #41 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Running Backs who did not advance were Shaun Alexander, Mike Alstott, Tiki Barber, Larry Centers, Jamaal Charles, Corey Dillon, Arian Foster, Priest Holmes, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis, and Eric Metcalf.

Last year, the three RBs who made it to this stage were Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Eddie George, Marshawn Lynch, Fred Taylor, and Ricky Watters. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I honestly don’t know why former MVP Shaun Alexander can’t make it to this stage at the very least.  Somehow, the MVP and over 100 TDs aren’t enough. 

Also, where is Tiki Barber?  I have never been sold on his HOF candidacy, but he was a Semi-Finalist two years ago.  Both Alexander and Barber had made it to the last 50 last year, and what does this say about their chances from now on?   Not too good.

With all due respect to Warrick Dunn, is he better than Tiki and Shaun?

Selfishly, happy to see Lorenzo Neal advance.  There are a lot of people who want to see this, and they have turned me on to the case of this Fullback.

Wide Receivers (7): (Cut from 18)

Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #92 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Larry Fitzgerald:  ARI 2004-20.  Fitzgerald had a stellar career, earning 11 Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro selection, and was named the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Twice leading the league in Receptions as well as Touchdown Passes, Fitzgerald had 1,432 Receptions (Second all-time), 17,492 Yards (second all-time), and 121 Touchdowns (sixth all-time).   Ranked #2 on notinhalloffame.com. 

*Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #9 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01) and, in 1999, led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #170 on notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith:  DEN 1995-2006.  Smith would win two Super Bowls with the Broncos and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He recorded 11,389 Yards with 68 TDs.  Ranked #76 on notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #25 on notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #47 on notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #23 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Wide Receivers who did not advance were Donald Driver, Chad Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Brandon Marshall. Derrick Mason, Herman Moore, Mushin Muhammed, Jordy Nelson, Wes Welker, and Roddy White.

Last year, the three WRs who made it to this stage were Anquan Boldin, Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, and Reggie Wayne.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I don’t have any problem with the Wide Receivers being removed, but I will again go on record that Hines Ward will go 20-for-20 as a Hall of Fame Semi-Finalist without advancing to the final round. 

Tight Ends (2): (Cut from 6)

**Greg Olsen:  CHI 2007-10, CAR 2011-19 & SEA 2020.  Olsen was at his best in Carolina, where he went to three consecutive Pro Bowls (2014-15).  He compiled 8,683 Yards with 60 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Jason Witten:  2003-17 & 2019 & LVR 2020.  Witten went to a whopping 11 Pro Bowls, with two of those seasons netting him First Team All-Pros.  The 2012 Walter Payton Award winner had 13,046 Yards with 74 TDs.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.

Last year, the TEs who made it to this stage were Ben Coates and Antonio Gates (who was inducted).

The Tight Ends who did not advance were Vernon Davis, Zach Miller, Delanie Walker, and Wesley Walls. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

Is Greg Olsen better than I remember? 

Offensive Lineman (12): (Cut from 22)

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous three years.  Ranked #101 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he helped Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl.  Ranked #138 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #113 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #29 on notinhalloffame.com.

Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #125 on notinhalloffame.com.

Nick Mangold (C):  NYJ 2008-16. Mangold played his entire career with the Jets, where he went to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #85 on notinhalloffame.com.

Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #89 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Maurkice Pouncey (C) PIT 2010-20.  Pouncey was one of the top Centers of the 2010s, who was a Pro Bowl Selection in nine of his ten seasons.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #24 on notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #43 on notinhalloffame.com.

Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also named to the First Team All-Pro twice.

Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A former Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders and was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #24 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #4 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Offensive Linemen who did not advance were Matt Birk, Ryan Clady, David DeCastro, Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, Jeff Saturday, Josh Sitton, Joe Staley, and Brian Waters.

Last year, the OLs who made it to this stage were Willie Anderson, Lomas Brown, Ruben Brown, Jahri Evans, Olin Kreutz, Logan Mankins, Jeff Satruday, Joe Staley, Richmond Webb, Wrik Williams, Steve Wisniwski, and Marshal Yanda.

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

While I did not think David DeCastro would make the Semis, he would at least make this cut.  Tom Nalen continues to get no love, but I'm happy that Nick Mangold has reached this level, unlike last year.  It was also a mild surprise to see Jeff Saturday and Joe Staley fail to reach this stage, but three cheers for Richmond Webb and Steve Wisnieuski for their advancement. I am hoping to see both in the Semis.

Defensive Linemen: (6) (Cut from 13)

John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #77 on notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #112 on notinhalloffame.com.

Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #45 on notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #140 on notinhalloffame.com.

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro selection.  Ranked #136 on notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #26 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Linemen who did not advance were Geno Atkins, Jurrell Casey, Elvis Dumerville, La’Roi Glover, Jay Ratliff, Justin Smith & Ted Washington.

Last year, the DLs who made it to this stage were John Abraham, Jared Allen (Inducted), Robert Mathis, Haloti Ngata, Simeon Rice, Neil Smith (Moved to Seniors), Vince Wilfork, and Kevin Williams. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

I would have lost a small wager regarding Geno Atkins, as I thought he could reach this stage.   Beyond that, Kevin Williams NEEDS to get further than this stage.

Linebackers: (4) (Cut from 14)

London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #58 on notinhalloffame.com.

James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly was a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility, as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #3 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a significant part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and, as a veteran, he retired after winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #10 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Linebackers who did not advance were NaVorro Bowman, Lance Briggs, Tedy Bruschi, Thomas Davis, James Farrior, A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews III, Dat Nguyen, Takeo Spikes, and Lee Woodall.

Last year, the LBs who made it to this stage were Cornelius Bennett (moved to the seniors), London Fletcher, James Harrison, Luke Kuechly, and Terrell Suggs. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

There is no problem from my end as to the four Linebackers who advanced.

Defensive Backs: (6) (Cut from 15)

Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #159 on notinhalloffame.com.

Asante Samuel (CB):  NWE 2003-07, PHI 2008-11 & ATL 2012-13.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection and one-time First Team All-Pro, Samuel led the NFL in Interceptions twice and has 51 in total.  He also won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.  Ranked #190 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Tillman (CB):  CHI 2004-14 & CAR 2015.  Tillman is in his first year of eligibility and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would have 38 career Interceptions and 44 Forced Fumbles with 930 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #222 on notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002, he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #260 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early '90s, a five-time Pro Bowl, and a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #65 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Backs who did not advance were Eric Berry, Kam Chancellor, Nick Collins, DeAngelo Hall, James Hasty, Carnell Lake, Allen Rossum, Patrick Surtain, and Adrian Wilson.

Last year, the DBs who made it to this stage were Eric Allen (Inducted), Kam Chancellor, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Troy Vincent, and Darren Woodson. 

The Chairman’s gut reaction: 

This is similar to last year, with Peanut advancing further than he ever has.  Could the Peanut Punch become a Semi-Finalist for the first time?

Place Kickers: (2) (Cut from 5)

Gary Anderson:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #209 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #88 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Place Kickers who did not advance were David Akers, Jason Hanson, and John Kasay.

Last year, the PKs who made it to this stage were Gary Anderson and Adam Vinatieri. 

Punters: (1) (Cut from 2)

Shane Lechler:  OAK 2000-12 & HOU 2013-17.  Lechler went to seven Pro Bowls and was an All-Decade Selection in the 2000s and 2010s.  He is also a four-time leader in Punting Yards and a five-time leader in Yards per Punt.  Ranked #111 on notinhalloffame.com.

The lone Punter who did not advance was Sean Landeta.

Last year, there were no Punters at this stage.

Special Teams (1): (Cut from 2)

Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #160 on notinhalloffame.com.

The lone Special Teams player who did not advance was Josh Cribbs.

Last year, only Brian Mitchell was at this stage.

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who have reached this stage.

For us at Notinhalloffame.com, this is our march toward our Christmas. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the Modern-Era Preliminary Nominees for the Class of 2026, a total of 128 former players, 13 of whom are first-time eligible.

To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least five years ago:

This group will be pared down to 25 names this fall by the 50-person Hall of Fame committee.

*Means they were a Finalist last year.

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

Quarterbacks (10): (same number from last year)

**Drew Brees: SDG 2001-05 & NOR 2006-20.  After five years in San Diego, Brees ascended to superstar status in New Orleans.  Brees led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win and was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, having also been selected to 13 Pro Bowls.  He threw for 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.  Ranked #1 on notinhalloffame.com

Randall Cunningham:  PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001.  Cunningham is a three-time Bert Bell Award winner and a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He also threw for nearly 30,000 Yards, had 207 Touchdown Passes, and rushed for 4,928 Yards and 35 Touchdowns.  Ranked #38 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Delhomme:  NOR 1999-2002, CAR 2003-09, CLE 2010 & HOU 2011.  Delhomme led the Panthers to an NFC Championship in 2003 and to the Pro Bowl in 2005.  He passed for 20,975 Yards and 126 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rich Gannon:  MIN 1987-92, WAS  1993, KAN 1995-98 & OAK 1999-2002.  Gannon became a bona fide NFL star in his mid-30s when he joined his fourth team, Oakland.  Gannon was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection and a two-time Bert Bell winner who won the 2002 AP MVP.  The two-time First Team All-Pro threw for 28,743 Yards and 180 Touchdowns and was 2002’s passing leader and the QB of the AFC Champions.  Ranked #299 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Garcia:  SFO 1999-2003, CLE 2004, DET 2005, PHI 2006 & TAM 2007-08.  Garcia went to four Pro Bowls and threw for 25,537 Passing Yards and 161 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #107 on notinhalloffame.com.

Donovan McNabb:  1999-01, PHI, WAS, MIN.  McNabb took the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance and was a six-time Pro Bowler.  He threw for 37,276 Yards with 234 Touchdowns and ran for another 3,459 Yards and 29 TDs.  Ranked #84 on notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair:  HOU 1995-97, TEN 1997-2005 & BAL 2006-07.  In 1999, Steve McNair quarterbacked the Tennessee Titans to their first Super Bowl appearance, and in 2003, he was the AP MVP.  A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,590 Yards and 37 TDs.  Ranked #128 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Philip Rivers:  SDG/LAC 2004-19 & IND 2020.  A Charger for all but his final season, Rivers was chosen for eight Pro Bowls and was fourth in OPOY voting three years in a row (2008-10).  He threw for 63,440 Yards and 221 Touchdowns.  Ranked #21 on notinhalloffame.com.

Alex Smith: SFO 2005-12, KAN 2013-17 & WAS 2018-20.   Smith went to three Pro Bowls and statistically threw for 35,650 Yards and 199 TDs.

(Quarterbacks added: **Drew Brees, **Philip Rivers & Alex Smith.  Quarterbacks removed: Marc Bulger, Doug Flutie & Tony Romo)

Running Backs (21): (Down from 31 last year)

Shaun Alexander:  SEA 2000-08 & WAS 2008.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls (2003-05), and in the last one, he won the Rushing Title (1,880) and was named the consensus MVP.  Alexander twice led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #91 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Mike Alstott (FB):  TAM 1996-06.  Playing his entire career with the Bucs, Alstott went to six straight Pro Bowls (1997-2002) and earned three consecutive First Team All-Pros (1997-99).  He was also a key member of Tampa’s first Super Bowl Championship and had 7,372 Yards from Scrimmage with 71 TDs.  Ranked #163 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tiki Barber:  NYG 1997-06.  Barber played the entirety of his career with the Giants, where he went to the Pro Bowl in his final three seasons.  He led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage twice, and in the second of those years (2005), he was a First Team All-Pro and fourth in AP MVP voting.  Barber rushed for 10,449 Yards and had 5,183 Receiving Yards with 67 TDs from Scrimmage.  Ranked #146 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Centers FB:  PHO 1990-93, ARI 1994-98, WAS 1999-2000, BUF 2001-02, & NWE 2003.  Centers was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection and totaled 8,985 Yards from Scrimmage.  He was also a First Team All-Pro once, and in his final season, he helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamaal Charles:  KAN 2008-16, DEN 2017 & JAX 2018.  Charles went to four Pro Bowls, was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and, in a career spent mainly in Kansas City, netted 10,156 Yards from Scrimmage with 64 Touchdowns. He also led the NFL in TDs in 2013 and was third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Corey Dillon:  CIN 1997-2003 & NWE 2004-06.  Dillon won the Super Bowl with the 2004 Patriots and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He accumulated 13,154 Yards from Scrimmage with 89 Touchdowns.  Ranked #209 on notinhalloffame.com.

Warrick Dunn:  TAM 1997-2001 & 2008 & ATL 2002-07.  Dunn was the 1997 Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 10,957 Yards and 49 Touchdowns.  He had another 15 TDs and 4,339 Yards from the air.  Ranked #304 on notinhalloffame.com.

Arian Foster:  HOU 2009-15 & MIA 2016.  Foster went to four Pro Bowls, and in 2010, he won the Rushing Title.  He also led the NFL twice in Rushing Touchdowns and amassed 8,878 Yards from Scrimmage with 68 TDs over his career.

Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #175 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Frank Gore:  SFO 2005-14, IND 2015-17, MIA 2018, BUF 2019 & NYJ 2020.  Gore was a six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who amassed a whopping 16,000 Rushing Yards (third all-time), 19,985 APY, and 99 Touchdowns.  Ranked #19 on notinhalloffame.com.

Priest Holmes:  BAL 1997-2000 & KAN 2001-05 & 07.  Winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, Holmes had tremendous individual success with the Chiefs, where he was a three-time First Team All-Pro and the 2001 Rushing Champion and 2002 Offensive Player of the Year.  He led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and Yards from Scrimmage in 2002 & 20023.  He would tabulate 11,134 Yards from Scrimmage and 94 TDs.  Ranked #130 on notinhalloffame.com.

Steven Jackson:  STL, 2004-12, ATL 2013-14, NWE 2015.  A three-time Pro-Bowler, Jackson accrued 15,121 Yards from Scrimmage and 78 Touchdowns.  He is the Rams’ all-time leading rusher and was the top finisher in YFS in 2006.  Ranked #206 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Johnson:  TEN 2008-13, NYJ 2014 & ARI 2015-17.  Johnson won the AP 2009 Offensive Player of the Year Award in a campaign where he set the single-season record for Yards from Scrimmage (2,509) and subsequently won the NFL Rushing Title (2,006).  A three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro, Johnson compiled 64 Touchdowns and 11,906 YFS.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Thomas Jones:  ARI 2000-03, TAM 2003, CHI 2004-06, NYJ 2007-09 & KAN 2010-11.  Jones is a member of the 10,000 Yard Rushing Club (10,591) and has 68 TDs on the ground.  He has also been selected to one Pro Bowl while a Jet.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamal Lewis:  BAL 2000 & 2002-06, CLE 2007-09.  In 2003, Lewis entered rarified air as he entered the 2,000 Yard club, rushing for 2,006 on the ground, and won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.  He would rush for 10,607 Yards and 58 Touchdowns.  Ranked #248 on notinhalloffame.com.

Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #44 on notinhalloffame.com.

**LeSean McCoy:  PHI 2009-14, BUF 2015-18, KAN 2019 & TAM 2020.  A six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, McCoy won the 2013 Rushing Title, while also leading the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage.  He was second in OPOY voting that year.  Overall, he rushed for 11,102 Yards, had an even 15,000 Yards From Scrimmage, and had 89 Touchdowns.  Ranked #110 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Metcalf (Also WR/PR/KR):  CLE 1989-94, ATL 1995-96, SDG 1997, ARI 1998, CAR 1999, WAS 2001 & GNB 2002.  Incredibly versatile, Metcalf was also used as a Wide Receiver and Returner, and the three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro totaled 17,230 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lorenzo Neal (FB):  NOR 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TAM 1998, TEN 1999-2000, CIN 2001-02, SDG 2003-07 & BAL 08.  Playing as a Fullback, Neal would go to four Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #178 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #167 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #41 on notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs added: Mike Alstott (FB), Arian Foster, *Frank Gore &* LeSean McCoy. Running Backs removed: Terry Allen, Jamal Anderson, Stephen Davis, Charlie Garner, John Kuhn, Vonta Leach, Dorsey Levens, Glyn Milburn, Clinton Portis, Tony Richardson, Robert Smith, Darren Sproles, Chris Warren & Ricky Williams.

Wide Receivers (18): (Down From 21 Last Year)

Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #92 on notinhalloffame.com.

Donald Driver:  GNB 1999-12.  Driver was a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers, where he would also go to three Pro Bowls.  He would accumulate 10,137 Receiving Yards and 61 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Larry Fitzgerald:  ARI 2004-20.  Fitzgerald had a stellar career, earning 11 Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro selection, and was named the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year.  Twice leading the league in Receptions as well as Touchdown Passes, Fitzgerald had 1,432 Receptions (Second all-time), 17,492 Yards (second all-time), and 121 Touchdowns (sixth all-time).   Ranked #2 on notinhalloffame.com. 

*Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #9 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Johnson:  CIN 2001-10, & NWE 2011.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls as a Bengal and accumulated 11,059 Receiving Yards, punching 67 of them into the end zone.  “Ocho Cinco” was also a First Team All-Pro twice and was the league leader in Receiving Yards once.  Ranked #153 on notinhalloffame.com.

Brandon Lloyd: SFO 2003-05 & 2014, WAS 2006-07, DEN 2009-11, STL 2011 & NWE 2012.  Lloyd had one 1,000-yard year, and it was the campaign in which he led the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He had 36 Touchdowns with 5,989 Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brandon Marshall:  DEN 2006-09, MIA 2010-11, CHI 2012-14, NYJ 2015-16, NYG 2017 & SEA 2018.  Marshall was a six-time Pro Bowler, and one was a First Team All-Pro.  He amassed 12,351 Yards with 83 Touchdowns and had 1,000-yard seasons for four teams.  Ranked #181 on notinhalloffame.com.

Derrick Mason:  TEN 1997-2004, BAL 2005-10, NYJ 2011 & HOU 2011.  Mason recorded 12,061 Receiving Yards and was twice chosen for the Pro Bowl.  Ranked #240 on notinhalloffame.com.

Herman Moore:  DET 1991-2001 & NYG 2002.  Moore went to four consecutive Pro Bowls (1994-97) and earned three straight First Team All-Pros (1995-97).  He twice led the NFL in Receptions (1995 & 1997) and had 9,174 Yards with 62 TDs.  Ranked #343 on notinhalloffame.com.

Muhsin Muhammad:  CAR 1996-2004 & 2008-09 & CHI 2005-07.  Muhammad led all NFL Wide Receivers in Yards in 2004, the season he was chosen as a First-Team All-Pro. He tallied 11,438 Receiving Yards and 62 TDs.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jordy Nelson:  GNB: 2008-18.  Nelson had 72 Touchdowns, 8,587 Yards, and a Super Bowl Ring with Green Bay.  He also went to one Pro Bowl.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01), and in 1999, he led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #170 on notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith:  DEN 1995-2006.  Smith would win two Super Bowls with the Broncos and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He recorded 11,389 Yards with 68 TDs.  Ranked #76 on notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #25 on notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #47 on notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #23 on notinhalloffame.com.

Wes Welker:  SDG 2004, MIA 2004-06, NWE 2007-12, DEN 2013-14 & STL 2015.  Welker led the NFL thrice in Receptions, and the five-time Pro Bowl Selection had 9,924 career Receiving Yards and 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #173 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roddy White:  ATL 2005-15.  White played the entirety of his career with the Falcons where he went to four consecutive Pro Bowls (2008-11) and was chosen for one First Team All-Pro in 2010 when he led the league in Receptions (115).  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers Added: **Larry Fitzgerald & Brandon Lloyd.  Wide Receivers Removed: Antonio Freeman, Irving Fryar, Joe Horn & Andre Rison.

Tight Ends (6): (The same number as Last Year)

Vernon Davis:  SFO 2006-15, DEN 2015 & WAS 2016-19.  Davis won a Super Bowl in his brief time in Denver and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection in San Francisco.  He compiled 63 Touchdowns and 7,562 Yards over his career. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Miller:  OAK 2007-10 & SEA 2011-14.  Miller went to the Pro Bowl once as a Raider and would later win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.  He had 3,804 Yards and 20 TDs.

**Greg Olsen:  CHI 2007-10, CAR 2011-19 & SEA 2020.  Olsen was at his best in Carolina, where he went to three consecutive Pro Bowls (2014-15).  He compiled 8,683 Yards with 60 Touchdowns.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Delanie Walker: SFO 2006-12 & TEN 2013-19.   Walker accumulated 36 Touchdowns and 5,888 Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selectee in Tennessee.  Unranked on Notinhallofame.com.

Wesley Walls:  1989-03, SFO, NOR, CAR, GNB.  Walls was named to the Pro Bowl five times with the Carolina Panthers.  He would have 5,291 Yards with 54 TDs in his career.  Ranked #333 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Jason Witten:  2003-17 & 2019 & LVR 2020.  Witten went to a whopping 11 Pro Bowls, with two of those seasons netting him First Team All-Pros.  The 2012 Walter Payton Award winner had 13,046 Yards with 74 TDs.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends added: Zach Miller, **Greg Olsen & **Jason Witten.  Tight Ends Removed: Ben Coates (Aged out) & Antonio Gates (Inducted) & Jeremy Shockey.

Offensive Lineman (22): (Down four from 26 Last Year)

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous three years.  Ranked #101 on notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk (C):  MIN 1998-2007 & BAL 2009-12.  Birk is a Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens and would have had six Pro Bowls as a Minnesota Viking.  Ranked #137 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #138 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #113 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ryan Clady (T):  DEN 2008-14 & NYJ 2016.  Clady was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection (all with Denver) and was twice a First Team All-Pro.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**David DeCastro (G):  PIT 2012-20.  DeCastro was a Pro Bowl Selection in his last six seasons, with two of them earning First Team All-Pro Accolades.  Ranked #198 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #29 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jordan Gross (T):  CAR 2003-13   Gross was a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro Selection at Tackler with the Panthers.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ryan Kalil (C):  CAR 2007-18 & NYJ 2019.  Kalil went to five Pro Bowls and was twice chosen as a First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #316 on notinhalloffame.com.

Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #125 on notinhalloffame.com.

Nick Mangold (C):  NYJ 2008-16. Mangold played his entire career with the Jets, where he went to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #85 on notinhalloffame.com.

Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #89 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-07.  Nalen won two Super Bowls with the Broncos, was chosen for five Pro Bowls, and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Ranked #123 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Maurkice Pouncey (C) PIT 2010-20.  Pouncey was one of the top Centers of the 2010s, who was a Pro Bowl Selection in nine of his ten seasons.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #24 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Saturday (C):  IND 1999-2011 & GNB 2012.  Jeff Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and he was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #78 on notinhalloffame.com.

Josh Sitton (G): GNB 2008-15, CHI 2016-17 & MIA 2018.  Sitton went to four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Green Bay.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Staley (T):  SFO 2007-19   Staley started all 181 Games as a Left Tackle with San Francisco, where he went to the Pro Bowls.  Ranked #126 on notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Waters (G):  KAN 2000-10, NWE 2011 & DAL 2013.  Waters would go to six Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #199 on notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #43 on notinhalloffame.com.

Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also twice named a First Team All-Pro.

Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #24 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #4 on notinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Linemen Added:  Ryan Clady, **David DeCastro, & **Maurkice Pouncey. Offensive Linemen Removed:  Bruce Armstrong (aged out), Travis Frederick, Lincoln Kennedy, T.J. Lang, Mark Schlereth, Chris Snee & Dave Szott.

Defensive Linemen: (13) (Down five from 18 Last Year)

John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #77 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Geno Atkins (DT):  CIN 2010-20   Atkins went to eight Pro Bowls, earned two First Team All-Pro with 75.5 Sacks and 100 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #80 on notinhalloffame.com.

**Jurrell Casey (DT):  TEN 2011-19 & DEN 2020.  Casey was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection who had 51 Sacks.  Ranked #244 on notinhalloffame.com.

Elvis Dumervil (DE):  DEN 2006-12, BAL 2013-16 & SFO 2017.  Dumervil went to five Pro Bowls, earned two First-Team All-Pro honors, and in 2009, he was third in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year, a year in which he led the league in Sacks.  He had 1055 career Sacks.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT):  OAK 1996, NOR 1997-2001, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.  Glover went to six straight Pro Bowls (2000-05), and in 2000, he would lead the NFL in Sacks (17.5), be second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and be a First Team All-Pro that year. He would have 83.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #219 on notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #112 on notinhalloffame.com.

Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #45 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jay Ratliff (DE):  DAL 2005-12 & CHI 2013-15.  Ratliff went to four straight Pro Bowls (2008-11) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #140 on notinhalloffame.com.

Justin Smith (DE):  CIN 2001-07 & SFO 2008-14.  Smith went to five consecutive Pro Bowls in San Francisco, and in 2011, he was third in DPOY voting.  He had a nice balance of 887 Tackles and 87 Sacks.  Ranked #106 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ted Washington (NT/DT):  SFO 1991-93, BUF 1995-2000, CHI 2001-02, NWE 2003, OAK 2004-05 & CLE. 2006-07.  Washington won a Super Bowl early in his career with San Francisco and later was named to four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #225 in notinhalloffame.com.

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while individually earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #136 on notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #26 on notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Lineman added: **Geno Atkins, **Jurrell Casey, Elvis Dumervil, Jay Ratliff, and Justin Smith.   Defensive Lineman removed: Jared Allen (Inducted), Casey Hampton, Chester McGlockton, Clyde Simmons (aged out), Neil Smith (aged out), Henry Thomas (aged out), Justin Tuck, Jamal Williams, and Pat Williams

Linebackers: (14) (Down six from 20 last year)

NaVorro Bowman:  SFO 2010-17 & OAK 2017.  Bowman was a four-time First Team All-Pro with 798 career Tackles and was the leading tackler of the 2015 campaign.  Ranked #265 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lance Briggs:  CHI 2003-14.  Briggs went to seven straight Pro Bowls (2005-11) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first year of that streak.  He had 1,181 career Combined Tackles, 16 Interceptions, and 15.0 Sacks.  Ranked #129 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi:  NWE 1996-2008.  Bruschi won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was a Pro Bowler in 2004.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Thomas Davis:  CAR 2005-18, LAC 2019 & WAS 2020.  Davis was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection who had 1,216 career Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

James Farrior:  NYJ 1997-2001 & PIT 2002-11.  Farrior had 1,440 Tackles and 35.5 Sacks over his long career, and he was also a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Steelers.  The two-time Pro Bowl Selection was the runner-up for the 2004 AP DPOY.  Ranked #278 on notinhalloffame.com.

London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later on in his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #58 on notinhalloffame.com.

James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on notinhalloffame.com.

A.J. Hawk:  GNB 2006-14, CIN 2015 & ATL 2016.  Hawk was a Pro Bowl Selection once and had 946 Tackles.   Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly was a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #3 on notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews III:  GNB 2009-2018 & LAR 2019.  A six-time Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Champion with Green Bay, Matthews III was the runner-up for the 2010 AP DPOY, and he won the PFWA and the Sporting News DPOY that year.   He had 91.5 Sacks with 130 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #225 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dat Ngyuen:  DAL 1999-05.   Ngyuen had 515 Tackles over his career.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Takeo Spikes:  CIN 1998-2003, BUF 2002-06, PHI 2007, SFO 2008-10 & SDG 2011-12.  Spikes was chosen for two Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 2004.  He was also one Interceptor shy of the 20-20 club and accumulated 1,431 combined career tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a significant part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, having won a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #10 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lee Woodall:  SFO 1994-99, CAR 2000 & DEN 2001.  Woodall won a Super Bowl with the 49ers and was also a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Linebackers added: **Thomas Davis, A.J. Hawk. Clay Matthews III, and Dat Ngyuen.  Linebackers removed:  Jessie Armstead, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Cornelius Bennett (aged out), Keith Brooking, Donnie Edwards, Willie McGinest, Ken Norton Jr., Julian Peterson, Bill Romanowski, Jessie Tuggle (aged out), and Mike Vrabel.

Defensive Backs: (15) (Down three from 18 Last Year)

Eric Berry (DB): KAN 2010-18.  Berry was a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro Safety with 14 Interceptions and 445 Tackles.  Ranked #172 on notinhalloffame.com.

Kam Chancellor (S):  SEA 2010-17.  Chancellor won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks while going to do four Pro Bowls over his career.  He compiled 12 Interceptions with 607 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Nick Collins (S):  GNB 2005-11.  Collins won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and was a Pro Bowler three times. He led the NFL in Interception Return Yards in 2008 and had 21 career Interceptions.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

DeAngelo Hall (CB):  ATL 2004-07, OAK 2008 & WAS 2008-17.  Hall was a three-time Pro Bowler, recording 43 career Interceptions and 814 Combined Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #159 on notinhalloffame.com.

James Hasty (CB):  NYJ 1988-94, KAN 1995-00 & OAK 2001.  Hasty had 45 career Interceptions and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Carnell Lake (DB):  PIT 1989-98, JAX 1999 & BAL 2001.  Lake was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection who was fifth in DPOY voting in 1997.  He had 16 Interceptions and 25 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #221 on notinhalloffame.com.

Allen Rossum (CB):  PHI 1998-99, GNB 2000-01, ATL 2002-06, PIT 2007, SFO 2008-09 & DAL 2009.  Rossum is listed as a Cornerback but was more of a Returner.  He was a Pro Bowler in 2004 and had 15,046 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Asante Samuel (CB):  NWE 2003-07, PHI 2008-11 & ATL 2012-13.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection and one-time First Team All-Pro, Samuel led the NFL in Interceptions twice and has 51 in total.  He also won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.  Ranked #190 on notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Surtain (CB):  MIA 1998-04 & KAN 2005-08.  Surtain went to three straight Pro Bowls as a Dolphin (2002-04) and had 37 Interceptions.

*Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Tillman (CB):  CHI 2004-14 & CAR 2015.  Tillman is in his first year of eligibility and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would have 38 career Interceptions and 44 Forced Fumbles with 930 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #222 on notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002, he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #260 on notinhalloffame.com.

Adrian Wilson (S):  ARI 2001-12.  Wilson played his entire career in Arizona, where he was a five-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  He had 27 Interceptions and 903 Tackles.  Unranked on Notionalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early '90s, a five-time Pro Bowl, and a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #65 on notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs added: James Hasty, Carnell Lake, Asante Samuel, Patrick Surtain, and Adrian Wilson.  Defensive Backs removed: Eric Allen (Inducted), Antoine Bethea, Dre Bly, Antonio Cromartie, Eugene Robinson (aged out), Samari Rolle, Bob Sanders, and Aqib Talib.

Place Kickers: (5) (Down three from 8 Last Year)

David Akers:  WAS 1998, PHI 1999-2010, SFO 2011-12 & DET 2013.  Akers was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  He was also a two-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made.  Ranked #290 on notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Anderson:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #209 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jason Hanson:  DET 1992-12.  The longest-tenured Lion in franchise history, Hanson went to two Pro Bowls and is fourth All-Time in Points Scored.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Kasay:  SEA, 1991-94,  CAR 1995-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kasay was a 19-year veteran who went to one Pro Bowl.  Kasay kicked 461 Field Goals over his career and is ninth all-time in Points Scored.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #88 on notinhalloffame.com.

Place Kickers added:  None.  Place Kickers removed: Jason Elam, Matt Stover & Mike Vanderjadt.

Punters: (2) (Down five from 7 last year)

Sean Landeta:  NYG 1985-93, RAM 1993-94, STL 1995-9 & 2003-046, TAM 1997, GNB 1998 & PHI 2000-01 & 05.  Landeta won two Super Bowls with the Giants and was chosen for three First Team All-Pros.  He is currently third all-time in Punting Yards.  Ranked #211 on notinhalloffame.com.

Shane Lechler:  OAK 2000-12 & HOU 2013-17.  Lechler went to seven Pro Bowls and was an All-Decade Selection in the 2000s and 2010s.  He is also a four-time leader in Punting Yards and a five-time leader in Yards per Punt.  Ranked #110 on notinhalloffame.com.

Punters added: None.  Punters removed: Darren Bennett, Jeff Feagles, Pat McAfee, Brian Moorman, and Matt Turk.

Special Teams (2): (No Change from last year)

Josh Cribbs (Also WR):  CLE 2005-12, NYJ 2013 & IND 2014.  Cribbs was a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro, collecting 15,453 All-Purpose Yards.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #160 on notinhalloffame.com.

With all due respect to many of these candidates, several of these Preliminary Nominees have no realistic chance of being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it is a phenomenal process to test the waters overall on a player’s career.

This group will be screened down to 50 Names, which will be announced in mid-October.

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who made it to this stage.

As we continue to work on our new projects at Notinhalloffame.com, we never forget about our core lists. We are therefore happy to announce that we have revised our list of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The players we rank are determined by traditional statistics, advanced statistics (where applicable), playoff accomplishments, and accolades, but are adjusted annually based on your input and comments.   It's a fun process for us, made even better by all of you!

The entire list can be found here, but traditionally, whenever we announce a major list revision, we give you the top ten:

At #1 is Drew Brees.   Brees enters the ballot for the first time and should easily cruise into Canton.  The former Quarterback led the Saints to their only Super Bowl win, and is a 13-time Pro Bowl and two-time Offensive Player of the Year.  He also threw for a staggering 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns.

#2 is Larry Fitzgerald.  The longtime Wide Receiver is also in his first year of eligibility and is likely to receive the necessary support for immediate induction.  He compiled 17,492 Yards with 121 Touchdowns, and was chosen for 11 Pro Bowls.   Fitzgerald is also a former Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner.

#3 is Luke Kuechly.  Playing his entire career with the Carolina Panthers, Kuechly was a Finalist last year and likely fell off due to the small class.  Entering year two of his candidacy, the former Defensive Player of the Year is our top-ranked defensive player.

#4 is Marshal Yanda.  Like Kuechly, Yanda is in his second year of eligibility and was a Finalist last year.  The former Offensive Lineman was an eight-time Pro Bowl Selection and owns a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens.

#5 is L.C. Greenwood.  A member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ four Super Bowl teams from the 1970s, Greenwood was also a two-time First Team All-Pro, All-Decade Selection, and six-time Pro Bowler.

#6 is Lavvie Dilweg.  We go way back on this one, as Dilweg, who last played in 1931.  Nominated in 2020 as part of the Centennial Class, the End was a three-time NFL Champion with the Green Bay Packers and was a five-time First Team All-Pro.

#7 is Jason Witten.  We have a third new entrant in Witten, who had 11 Pro Bowls, 13,046 Yards, and 74 Touchdowns.  He is the highest-ranked Tight End.

#8 is Ken Anderson.  Anderson won all versions of the MVP in 1981 and was also a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He has been gaining traction in recent years among senior voters.

#9 is Torry Holt.  The celebrated Wide Receiver and Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams has been a Finalist the last six years.  He has 920 Receptions, 13,439 Yards, and 71 Touchdowns and was chosen for seven Pro Bowls.

#10 is Terrell Suggs.  Suggs was first eligible last year and made it to the Finals, boding well for an impending induction.  He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, was the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, has 139 Sacks, and is the all-time leader in Tackles for Loss (202).

Notably, the other first-time eligibles are Frank Gore (#19), Philip Rivers (#21), Maurkice Pouncey (#50), Geno Atkins (#80), LeSean McCoy (#110), David DeCastro (#198), Jurell Casey (#244), and Mitchell Schwartz (#294).

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 have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 New Orleans Saints.

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 Saints had a winning record (9-8) but were unable to make the playoffs.  The veteran team had one new entrant and multiple elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw a change:

1. Drew Brees
2. Jahri Evans
3. Rickey Jackson
4. Cameron Jordan
5. Willie Roaf

You can find the entire list here.

Jordan overtook Roaf for the #4 spot.

Running Back Alvin Kamara had a solid year but was unable to move ahead of his #8 rank.

Wide Receiver Michael Thomas moved up only one spot to #11.

Linebacker DeMario Davis had a huge jump, going from #33 to #15.

Right Tackle Ryan Ramczyk climbed to #26 from #34.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore went up five spots to #37.

Left Guard Andrus Peat, now with Las Vegas, went up one spot to #40.

The lone new entry is Taysom Hill.  He debuts at #45.

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

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will look at how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that Drew Brees and Doug Moreau to their franchise Hall of Fame.

Drew Brees played the first four years of his career with the San Diego Chargers, but after they drafted Philip Rivers, Brees became expendable.  Brees was also coming off shoulder surgery, and many teams were a little gun shy about signing the former Purdue Boilermaker.  He did, however, have offers, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints before the 2006 season.  That decision turned out to be the best for both parties. 

We are entering 2020, and Drew Brees is still the Saints Quarterback, and what he has done for the Saints and the city of New Orleans is impossible to quantify.  He shed any immediate fear about his shoulder in his first year there, with a Pro Bowl and a first-place finish in Passing Yards.  These stats were especially impressive considering New Orleans was suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and it was their first year back as they were unable to play in Louisiana during the '05 season. Brees was not just a Saint but was the face of the city and a community leader. 

Since the time he has been a Saint, Brees has always been considered among the top five in NFL Quarterbacks.  In the Big Easy, Brees has been to the Pro Bowl twelve times, has been a First Team All-Pro once, a Second Team All-Pro four times, led the league in Passing Yards seven times and Passing Touchdowns four times.  More importantly, Brees took New Orleans to a win at Super Bowl XLIV, a feat even more impressive considering that the Saints were almost at the point of relocation.   It is not unrealistic to state that had Brees not signed with the Saints, and we might be calling them a completely different team right now. 

Injuries would take their toll on Brees in 2019 and 2020, and while he was still a productive player, he hung up the cleats after the 2020 season.  At the time of his writing, Brees was the all-time leader in Passing Yards, and was second in Touchdown Passes, most of which was accomplished as a Saint.

Moreau enters the Hall for his vast contributions to the team, including entering his 27^th year as their press box announcer and 52^nd as public address announcer.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Drew Brees and Doug Moreau for this impending honor.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 New Orleans Saints.

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 not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Saints were unable to make the NFL playoffs, but there was more activity on this list than any of other NFL franchises that we revised this summer.

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Drew Brees

2. Jahri Evans

3. Rickey Jackson

4. Willie Roaf

5. Cameron Jordan

You can find the entire list here.

The Top Five did not change, but should it have? We seriously considered propelling Jordan over Roaf for the four hole, and if he has another Pro Bowl caliber year, it will be difficult to not pull the trigger in 2024.

Running Back, Alvin Kamara, continues his upward climb, inching up one spot to #8. The six-year veteran missed the Pro Bowl for the first-time last year and enters 2023 with 8,888 Yards From Scrimmage.

Another Running Back, Mark Ingram, also went up by one spot, and is at #21. He is New Orleans’ all-time leading rusher, but retired in the off-season.

Linebacker, DeMario Davis, advances to #33 from #40. Last year, he became an AP All-Pro for the fourth straight year,

Right behind Davis, is Right Tackle, Ryan Ramczyk. He went up two to #34.

It is notable that active Saints, Offensive Guard, Andrus Peat and Cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, remained in their ranks at #41 and #42 respectively.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021 revision of our top 50 New Orleans Saints Team of all-time.

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 NFL. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

This is our first revision after our inaugural unveiling, only one new entry.

There are two new additions to our top fifty, and a couple of significant climbs.  As always, we present our top five here.

1. Drew Brees

2. JahrI Evans

3. Rickey Jackson

4. Willie Roaf

5. Pat Swilling

You can find the entire list here.

Running Back, Alvin Kamara, rocketed up from #30 to #20.  

Offensive Lineman, Terron Armstead climbed from #38 to #35.

The two new entries are both new, and both likely should have been included last year in our first Top 50 list.

Right Tackle, Ryan Ramczyk, enters the list at #37.

Left Guard, Andrus Peat, makes his first appearance at #40.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

As always, it is onward and upwards for us at Notinhalloffame.com.

As Pro Football players often delay their retirement, hoping to latch on to another team, it leads to staggering additions to our Notinhalloffame.com Football Futures List.

As such, we have new add-ons in the 2025 Section, and are pleased to unveil our 2026 Section.

Here are the add-ons of former players eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025:

Antoine Bethea:  Bethea was a Super Bowl champion as a rookie with the Indianapolis Colts, and the Cornerback went on to be a three-time Pro Bowler.

Brynden Trawick:  Trawick was a Pro Bowler in 2017 when he was with Tennessee.

Cameron Wake:  Wake went to five Pro Bowls after a late start considering he had to begin his pro career in Canada.  The Linebacker had 100.5 career Sacks.

C.J. Anderson:  Anderson was a Pro Bowl Running Back who helped Denver win Super Bowl 50.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie:  Rodgers-Cromarte was a 12-year vet at Cornerback who was twice a Pro Bowl, once with Arizona (2009) and once with the Giants (2015).

Donald Penn:  Penn was a three-time Pro Bowl at Offensive Tackle.

Matt Bryant:  Bryant was a Kicker best known for his time in Atlanta.  He was a Pro Bowler in 2016.

Mike Pouncey:  Pouncey played most of his career at Center, going to three Pro Bowls as a Dolphin and one as a Charger.

Patrick Chung:  Chung played his entire pro career with the Patriots where he the Safety won three Super Bowls.

Patrick DiMarco:  DiMarco was an undrafted Fullback who went to the 2015 Pro Bowl as a Falcon.

The entire 2025 list of eligible candidates can be found here.

The 2026 list of eligible candidates that have been profiled are:

Alex Smith:  Smith had over 35,000 Passing Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He played for San Francisco, Kansas City and Washington.

Anthony Costanzo:  Costanzo played ten seasons in the NFL, where the Offensive Lineman played exclusively with the Colts.

Anthony Sherman:  Sherman was an excellent blocking Fullback who was a member of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV winning team.  He went to the Pro Bowl in 2018.

Drew Brees:  Brees is currently the all-time leader in Passing Yards (80,358) and is second in Touchdown Passes (571).  The former Offensive Player of the Year led the Saints to a win at Super Bowl XLIV.

Greg Olson:  Olson was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection who was best known for his tenure in Carolina.  The Tight End accumulated 8,683 Yards and 60 Touchdowns.

Jason Witten:  Witten played most of his career with Dallas, and is one of the most successful Tight Ends ever.  The 11-time Pro Bowler had 13,046 Yards and 74 Touchdowns.

Jordan Reed:  Reed was a Pro Bowl in 2016 who played for San Francisco and Washington.

Julian Edelman:  Edelman played his entire pro career for New England and the Wide Receiver helped them win three Super Bowls.  He is second all-time in playoff Receiving Yards.

Matt Schaub:  Schaub was a Pro Bowl Quarterback in 2009, but was a backup more years than not.

Maurkice Pouncey:  Pouncey played at Center his entire pro career with the Steelers, where he was a nine-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.

Mike Iupati:  Iupati went to four straight Pro Bowls (2012-15), and was a First Team All-Pro in 2012.  The Offensive Linemen played for San Francisco, Arizona and Seattle.

Philip Rivers:  Rivers played all but his final year with the Chargers, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowler who threw for 63,440 Yards and 421 Touchdowns.

Sean Lee:  Lee played his entire career with the Cowboys, and the Linebacker went to two Pro Bowls (2015 & 2016).

Thomas Davis:  Davis played his best years in Carolina, and was a three-time Pro Bowler at Linebacker.

We will continue to add players as they retire.

You know what we want you to do!

Cast your vote, and give us your comments.

As always, we thank you for your support.

A star at Purdue, Brees was drafted early in the Second Round of the 2001 Draft by the San Diego Chargers, and would take over as the starter in 2002.  A Pro Bowl Selection in 2004, Brees saw the writing on the wall, as San Diego had Philip Rivers waiting in the midst, who they planned to make the starter going forward.  Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2006, and what he accomplished as a Saint has been nothing short of spectacular.

Brees became a fixture in the fabric of the city of New Orleans, improving his game under new Head Coach, Sean Payton.  Brees led the NFL in Passing Yards in his first year with the Saints, and he was a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl Selection.  

Brees emerged as one of the top pivots in the NFL, and his decision making and accuracy had few peers.  He would lead the NFL in Passing Yards six more times, was a four-time leader in Passing Touchdowns and in 2008 and 2011 was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.  Brees would lead the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win in the 2009 season, where he was the MVP of the big game.  That might have been Brees’ only trip to the Super Bowl, but the Saints were contenders for over a decade, and could have been champions again had a few plays gone a different way.

His humanitarian work in New Orleans became legendary, and it can be argued that Brees’ dedication to the city might have kept the team in Louisiana as there were whispers of the team relocating.  His ascendence and Super Bowl championship after the heels of Hurricane Katrina will never be forgotten in New Orleans, and nor should it ever.  The NFL rewarded him with the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2006.

At the time of his retirement, Brees was first in Pass Completions (7,142), Passing Yards (80,358) and second in Passing Touchdowns (571).

What has been long expected has finally come to fruition.  

New Orleans Quarterback, Drew Brees, announced that he is retiring from the NFL, fifteen years to the day that he signed with the New Orleans Saints.

A star at Purdue, Brees was drafted early in the Second Round of the 2001 Draft by the San Diego Chargers, and would take over as the starter in 2002.  A Pro Bowl Selection in 2004, Brees saw the writing on the wall, as San Diego had Philip Rivers waiting in the midst, who they planned to make the starter going forward.  Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2006, and what he accomplished as a Saint has been nothing short of spectacular.

Brees became a fixture in the fabric of the city of New Orleans, improving his game under new Head Coach, Sean Payton. Brees led the NFL in Passing Yards in his first year with the Saints, and he was a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl Selection.  

Brees emerged as one of the top pivots in the NFL, and his decision making and accuracy had few peers. He would lead the NFL in Passing Yards six more times, was a four-time leader in Passing Touchdowns and in 2008 and 2011 was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.  Brees would lead the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win in the 2009 season, where he was the MVP of the big game.

His humanitarian work in New Orleans became legendary, and it can be argued that Brees’ dedication to the city might have kept the team in Louisiana as there were whispers of the team relocating.  His ascendence and Super Bowl championship after the heels of Hurricane Katrina will never be forgotten in New Orleans, and nor should it ever.  The NFL rewarded him with the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2006.

At present, Brees is first in Pass Completions (7,142), Passing Yards (80,358) and second in Passing Touchdowns (571).

He is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, and is a lock to enter in his first year of eligibility. Going into the 2020 Season, we had Brees behind only Tom Brady in our Hall of Fame rank of active players.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Drew Brees the best in his post-playing career and we thank him for the on-field memories.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the New Orleans Saints. 

The New Orleans Saints first came to fruition in 1967, bringing the city their first major professional sports team.  The Saints were awful for their first 20 years of existence, only having two .500 years in that timeframe, and it took until 2000 for the team to record their first playoff win.

Hurricane Katrina forced the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, and for a time it looked like they might relocate.  It didn’t happen, and with Quarterback, Drew Brees, they went to their first Super Bowl and won it (Super Bowl XLIV).  

The Saints have fielded many competitive teams since, but have yet to return to the Super Bowl.

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 NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2019 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always, we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Drew Brees

2. Rickey Jackson

3. Jahri Evans

4. Willie Roaf

5. Pat Swilling

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for our more material coming soon!

As always we thank you for your support.

Drew Brees played the first four years of his career with the San Diego Chargers, but after they drafted Philip Rivers, Brees became expendable.  Brees was also coming off shoulder surgery, and many teams were a little gun shy about signing the former Purdue Boilermaker.  He did, however, have offers, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints before the 2006 season.  That decision turned out to be the best for both parties. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award of the NBA.  This time we look at its Football counterpart, the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award originated in 1970, and is given to the player honoring a player’s volunteer and charity work.  It was originally named the Man of the Year, and it was renamed in the honor of former winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Walter Payton, after he died in 1999.

While this is generally given to star players, we will not dissect the season in question as the award is not meant to be defined by stat lines and on field accomplishments.  

So how many Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 1970                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs 1972                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs 1973                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

George Blanda, Oakland Raiders 1974                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.

Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers 1976                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Walter Payton, Chicago Bears 1977                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys 1978                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers 1979                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles 1980                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers 1980                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dwight Stephenson, Miami Dolphins 1985                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks 1988                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Warren Moon, Houston Oilers 1989                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears 1990                             

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati Bengals 1991                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

John Elway, Denver Broncos 1992                                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs 1993                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers 1994                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Darrell Green, Washington Redskins 1996                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys 1997                               

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins 1998                                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings 1999                              

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000 (co-winner)

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers 2001                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 2005                      

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers 2007            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins 2008                               

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals 2009                             

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

John Hadl, San Diego Chargers 1971                             

Eligible Since 1983.  Ranked #103 on Notinhalloffame.com

Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals 1975                        

Eligible Since 1992.  Ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com

Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins 1982                  

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Chargers 1983                    

Eligible Since 1991.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Marty Lyons, New York Jets 1984                                  

Eligible Since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals 1986                     

Eligible Since 1995.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Duerson, Chicago Bears 1987                                

Eligible Since 1997.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals 1995                     

Eligible Since 2003.  Ranked #82 on Notinhalloffame.com

Jim Flanigan, Chicago Bears 2000 (co-winner)               

Eligible Since 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles 2002                         

Eligible Since 2012.  Ranked #275 on Notinhalloffame.com

Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons 2004                              

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Waters, Kansas City Chiefs 2009                          

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #156 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Madieu Williams, Minnesota Vikings 2010                     

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens 2011                                 

Eligible Since 2014.  Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?        

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in the NFL who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears 2013

Eligible in 2021.

Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers 2015

Eligible in 2022.

Eli Manning, New York Giants 2016 co-winner

Eligible in 2025.

Chris Long, Philadelphia Eagles 2018

Eligible in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the Walter Payton Man of the Year who are still active.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints 2006

41 Years Old,Playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Jason Witten, New Orleans Saints 2013

38 Years Old,Playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers 2014

37 Years Old,Playing for the Washington Football Team.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals 2016 co-winner

37 Years Old,Playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans 2017

31 Years Old,Playing for the Houston Texans.

Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars 2019

34 Years Old,Playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

This is an award based more on character, and will likely continue to yield winners all over the ability spectrum, but let’s be honest; it is a lot easier to be philanthropic when you are a star name!

…and yes we know Peyton is not inducted yet, but come on!

So, what is up next?

We return to the NHL with a similar award to this one, the King Clancy Memorial Award.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Our focus now shifts towards the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award in the NFL.  Relatively speaking, this is a new award, so there won’t be too many players to dissect here.  How many of these winners made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

None.

The following are the players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL who are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Doug Flutie, Buffalo Bills, Quarterback (1998)

The first winner of this award did not come back from injury.  He came back from Canada.  Doug Flutie was the hero whose Hail Mary won the Orange Bowl for Boston College against Miami.  The Quarterback was considered too short for the NFL and he would play in the USFL and Canada, though he would have stints in the NFL with Chicago and New England, though his run with the Patriots ended in 1989.  A decade later, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills and at age 36, he would play in 13 Games and throw for 2,711 Yards, 20 Touchdowns and go to the Pro Bowl.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Bryant Young, San Francisco 49ers, Defensive Tackle (1999)

Bryant Young suffered a severe broken leg late in 1998 and a metal rod had to be placed to assist his healing.  Young would return in 1999 with an 11.0 Sack season and a selection to the Pro Bowl.  He would play until 2007 and would record 89.5 Sacks in total.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Johnson, New Orleans Saints, Defensive End(2000)

Joe Johnson was a Pro Bowler for the Saints in 1998, but a knee injury kept him out of the entire 1999 Season.  The Defensive End would come back in 2000 with his second (and final) Pro Bowl Selection and he would have a career-high 12.0 Sacks this year.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Garrison Hearst, San Francisco 49ers, Running Back (2001)

Garrison Hearst rushed for over 1,500 Yards in 1998, but he had to sit out two years due to Avascular Necrosis.  Many thought Hearst was done for good, but he returned in 2001 to the Niners and would rush for 1,206 Yards and go to his second (and final) Pro Bowl.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Tommy Maddox, Pittsburgh Steelers, Quarterback(2002)

Tommy Maddox played in the NFL from 1992 to 1995 with three different teams but the backup saw limited action and actually left football.  He came back in the Arena League in 2000, and then would be the MVP in the lone season of the XFL.  That was enough to make him desirable to the NFL again and he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as their backup.  He would become their starter in 2002 and threw for 2,836 Yards and 20 TDs.  He would play until 2005.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Jon Kitna, Cincinnati Bengals, Quarterback (2003)

Jon Kitna was not coming back from injury or another league, but rather had one of the best years of his career.  He would throw for 3,591 Yards and a career-high 26 Touchdowns.  He played until 2011 and would overall throw for 29,745 Yards.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi, New England Patriots, Linebacker(2005)

In 2004, Tedy Bruschi went to his first (and only) Pro Bowl.  Shortly after the Pro Bowl Game, Bruschi suffered a minor stroke and partial paralysis. He announced that he would miss the 2005 season, but that wouldn’t be the case.  The Linebacker returned in October and played nine Games for the Patriots that year.  He would co-win this award Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Pennington, New York Jets, Quarterback (2006)

In 2005, Chad Pennington suffered multiple injuries and was only able to play in three Games.  2006 was a much different season as he started all 16 Games for the Jets and would throw for 3,352 Yards and 17 Touchdowns.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Ellis, Dallas Cowboys, Linebacker (2007)

A ruptured Achilles ended Ellis’ 2006 Season after nine games, and he would return in 2007 with his best year ever. Ellis would go to the Pro Bowl for the only time and he had a career-high 12.5 Sacks.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins, Quarterback (2) (2008)

After winning this award in 2006, Pennington had a bad 2007 beset with injuries and poor play.  He was released by the Jets (who had signed Brett Favre) and Pennington would join the Miami Dolphins as a Free Agent.  He would take Miami to the Playoffs and would throw for a career-high of 3,653 Passing Yards.  Sure enough, he would suffer shoulder problems and would only play four more games in his career.  To date, Pennington is the only repeat winner of this award.  Unrankedon Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award in the National Football League who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers, Wide Receiver (2005)

In the first game of the 2004 Season, Smith would break his leg and would be out for the season.  He would return in 2005 and put forth the best season of his career with an NFL leading 103 Receptions, 1,563 Receiving Yards, and 12 Receiving Touchdowns.  He would be named a First Team All-Pro this year.  Smith was the co-winner of this award with Tedy Bruschi of the New England Patriots.  Smith is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2022.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, Quarterback (2010)

Due to his involvement in a dog fighting ring, Michael Vick was suspended for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, most of which was spent while incarcerated.  The Quarterback would return in 2009 to the Philadelphia Eagles as Donovan McNabb’s backup and in 2010 he began the year backing up Kevin Kolb.  Vick won the starting job after Kolb was knocked out with a concussion and he would go on to have an excellent season.  He would throw for 3,018 Yards with 21 Touchdowns and would rush for another 676 Yards and 9 Touchdowns.  He would go to his fourth Pro Bowl and was also named the Bert Bell Award winner.  Vick is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, Quarterback (2012)

Who else could it be?  Peyton Manning missed the entire 2011 campaign due to neck surgery and the Colts gad drafted Andrew Luck to replace him.  Manning would sign with the Denver Broncos and picked up right where he left off.  Named a First Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, Manning threw for 4,659 Yards and 37 Touchdowns.  He is the first player to be named a First Team All-Pro while winning the AP Comeback Player of the Year.  Manning is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Rob Gronkowski, Denver Broncos, Tight End (2014)

Ron Gronkowski was the first Tight End to win he AP Comeback Player of the Year Award and the New England Patriot recovered incredibly from a torn ACL and MCL from December of the year previous.  “Gronk” would be named a First Team All-Pro, win the Super Bowl and would secure 82 catches for 1,124 Yards and 12 Touchdowns. Gronkowski is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2024.

Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers, Wide Receiver(2016)

Jordy Nelson was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2014 but would have to sit out 2015 due to a torn ACL.  Nelson returned in 2016 to record 1,257 Receiving Yards and an NFL leading 14 Touchdown Receptions.  Nelson is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2024.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback (2018)

Andrew Luck had to sit out the entire 2017 season due to issues with his throwing shoulder and he returned in 2018 to secure his fourth Pro Bowl.  He would throw for 4,593 Yards and 39 Touchdowns  Luck would shockingly retire during the 2019 training camp.  Nelson is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2024.

The following are the players who have won the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award who are still active.

Drew Brees, San Diego Chargers, Quarterback (2004)

It is hard to believe now, but Drew Brees was struggling to keep his starting Quarterback job in 2003 when he was with the San Diego Chargers.  This was his rebound year as he was holding off the 1^stRound Pick, Philip Rivers from taking his job.  In 2003, Brees would throw for 3,159 Yards and 27 Touchdowns.  He would be named to his first Pro Bowl.  40 Years Old, Playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Quarterback (2009)

Tom Brady only played in one game in 2008 due to a torn ACL and MCL.  He returned to the exact form you would expect throwing for 4,398 Yards and 28 Touchdowns and going to his fifth Pro Bowl.  42 Years Old, Playing for the New England Patriots.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, Quarterback (2011)

An injured shoulder limited Matthew Stafford to only three games in 2010, but he returned in 2011 and threw for 5,038 Yards and 41 Touchdowns, both of which are career-highs as of this writing.  31 Years Old, Playing for the Detroit Lions.

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers, Quarterback (2013)

Philip Rivers performed well in 2012 but the perception was not that it was not good enough.  In 2013, he did better than the year before with an NFL leading 69.5 Completion Percentage.  He would also throw for 4,478 Yards and 32 Touchdowns.  38 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs, Strong Safety (2015)

Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014 after having been named to the Pro Bowl three times.  Berry returned as a First Team All-Pro and recorded 77 Tackles for the Chiefs in 2015.  31 Years Old, Currently a Free Agent.

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers, Wide Receiver (2017)

In the 2016 season opener, Keenan Allen suffered a torn ACL and would miss the rest of the year.  The Wide Receiver would return to have what is his best year to date. Allen would made his first Pro Bowl and post a career-high 1,393 Receiving Yards.  27 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.

For the first time we have an award that has generated NO Hall of Famers, but this won’t always be the case with Manning, Brees and Brady as Hall of Fame locks.

We are going to back to the NHL and look at the Bill Masterton Award.

As always, we thank you for that support and look for that soon!

We are excited here at Notinhalloffame.com that we are unveiling a new section, which looks at the top active players in the big four of sports and how they are positioned at the start of each seasons in regards to Hall of Fame credentials.

We are beginning with Pro Football, and how perfect is that considering the seasons kicks off this week.  Rather than list everyone directly, we have isolated them based on their position and with the exception of Special Teams, we have created a new stat based on the last five modern players (not senior inductees) of their respective position and how the current player compares with that.

This will be updated annually, so this 100 was finalized this week. We will not be updating again until the end of the season.

The new section begins here

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank you all for your continued support and we hope that you enjoy this new section!