2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

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

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, in which each voter selected 25 names as their semi-finalists and five names for the Senior Pool. 

We then asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee and one Senior inductee.

These are the results of the 56th official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 38 votes.

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

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 2001:

Player	Year of Eligibility	Vote Total
Jackie Slater T-G	1	25
Sterling Sharpe WR	2	22
Bob Griese QB	16	16
Art Monk WR	1	15
Lemar Parrish DB	14	13
Lester Hayes DB	10	13
Roger Craig RB	3	13
Cliff Harris DB	17	12
Billy “White Shoes” Johnson	8	12
Andy Russell LB	20	9
Ken Stabler QB	12	6
Ken Anderson QB	10	6
Todd Christensen TE	8	6
Rickey Jackson LB-DE	1	6
Drew Pearson WR	13	5
Ken Riley DB	13	5
Deron Cherry DB	5	3

This is for the “Senior Era.”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 2001.

Otis Taylor WR-FL	1	12
Floyd Little RB	1	11
Arch Ward CONTRIBUTOR	12	8
None of the Above	N/A	8

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors.”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 2001.

Eddie Kotal (Scout)	6	24
Tom Flores (Coach)	5	8
Ron Wolf (Executive)	3	3
None of the Above	N/A	4

About the 2001 Inductees:

Jackie Slater, T-G, RAM/STL 1976-95: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Jackie Slater enjoyed one of the most durable and decorated careers in NFL history, anchoring the Los Angeles Rams offensive line for 20 seasons. Drafted out of Jackson State University in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft, Slater did not become a permanent fixture in the starting lineup immediately, serving primarily as a backup and special teams contributor during his first three seasons. His breakthrough came in 1979, when he earned the starting right tackle position and helped propel the Rams to an appearance in Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Once established, Slater became a model of consistent dominance and the franchise’s emotional rock. Over the course of his two decades in the trenches, he played in 259 regular-season games, which stood as an NFL record for offensive linemen at the time of his retirement. His legendary work ethic and rigorous film study allowed him to maintain an elite level of play even as he faced younger, faster pass rushers. One of the defining highlights of his career came in the 1989 NFC Wild Card Game, when 35-year-old Slater famously neutralized Philadelphia Eagles legend Reggie White, holding the historic sack-master to zero sacks in a dominant Rams victory.

Slater's longevity meant he blocked for generations of talent, protecting 24 different quarterbacks and paving the way for 37 different running backs. He was an indispensable force out in front of seven different 1,000-yard rushers, most notably Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson. In 1983, Slater spearheaded an offensive front that gave up a league-low 23 sacks while driving Dickerson to a rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards. His unique career also achieved a rare geographical feat: because he played from 1976 through 1995, he became the only player in NFL history to play for the same franchise in three different home locations—Los Angeles, Anaheim, and St. Louis.

Slater earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year four times (1983, 1986, 1987, and 1989). Following his final season in 1995, the Rams retired his No. 78 jersey.  His son, Matthew, had a stellar NFL career, spending 16 years with the New England Patriots as a special teams icon.

Sterling Sharpe, WR, GNB 1988-94: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 2nd Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

Sterling Sharpe was a force of absolute nature for the Green Bay Packers, establishing a terrifyingly dominant peak that completely redefined the wide receiver position in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Selected seventh overall in the star-studded 1988 NFL Draft, Sharpe instantly became the focal point of the Packers' offense, combining the route-running precision of an elite wideout with the bruising, tackle-breaking physicality of a 207-pound running back. Over his brief seven-season tenure, he proved entirely unguardable, leading the NFL in receptions three separate times (1989, 1992, 1993) and building an almost telepathic chemistry with a young Brett Favre.

Sharpe’s explosive peak arrived during the legendary 1992 season, when he achieved the elusive NFL Wide Receiver Triple Crown. In a mesmerizing campaign, Sharpe paced the entire league by racking up 108 receptions, 1,461 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns, becoming a consensus First-Team All-Pro. Not content with merely holding the single-season reception record, he shattered his own historic mark the very next year by reeling in 112 catches. Even as opposing defenses explicitly game-planned to take him away, Sharpe remained entirely unstoppable, capping off his final healthy season in 1994 with a jaw-dropping, league-leading 18 receiving touchdowns.

Tragically, this blinding trajectory came to a sudden and heartbreaking halt in December 1994. During a Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Sharpe’s head violently snapped back while delivering a block, leaving him momentarily paralyzed on the turf. Miraculously, he walked off under his own power and—in a testament to his staggering toughness—returned the next week to torch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for three touchdowns while secretly battling severe cervical spine trauma. Post-season medical evaluations soon uncovered a catastrophic instability between his C1 and C2 vertebrae, requiring an extensive neck fusion surgery that instantly ended his football career at the mere age of 29.

For three decades, Sharpe’s career stood as one of the greatest "what-if" stories in professional sports history, his breathtaking 112-game statistical output frozen in time.  Despite this, Sharpe was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and, of course, our Revisited Project.

Bob Griese, QB, MIA 1967-80.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 16th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Bob Griese was the principal architect of the Miami Dolphins dynasty of the 1970s, leaving a legacy defined by exceptional situational intelligence and unwavering composure. Drafted fourth overall in the 1967 AFL Draft out of Purdue University, Griese immediately assumed leadership of an expansion franchise in only its second year of existence. He adapted quickly, passing for more than 2,000 yards as a rookie and earning AFL All-Star honors. Known as the "Thinking Man's Quarterback," Griese famously called his own plays at the line of scrimmage, applying astute analysis and precise decision-making to translate head coach Don Shula’s vision into effective on-field execution.

Griese’s career peaked during Miami's legendary 1972 season, which culminated in the NFL's only undefeated and untied 17-0 record. Although a fractured leg and dislocated ankle suffered in Week 5 sidelined him for much of the regular season, Griese's championship mettle was evident in how he completed the journey. Entering the AFC Championship Game in relief during the second half, he sparked a comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers before starting and winning Super Bowl VII against Washington. Griese returned the following year to lead a dominant title defense, guiding the Dolphins to a decisive victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII and securing consecutive world championships.

While contemporary critics sometimes mislabeled Griese as a mere "game manager" due to Miami’s historically dominant ground game, his efficiency when called upon was devastatingly lethal. In Super Bowl VIII, he threw the ball just seven times, yet completed six passes to effortlessly dismantle the Vikings' defense. When defenses clogged the running lanes, Griese unleashed his precise aerial attack, culminating in a spectacular 1977 campaign in which he earned First-Team All-Pro honors, won the Bert Bell Award, and led the NFL in both passing touchdowns (22) and passer rating (87.8). Over his 14-year career entirely spent in South Florida, he amassed 25,092 passing yards and 192 touchdowns while piloting the Dolphins to nine winning seasons.

A severe shoulder injury during the 1980 season ultimately forced Griese to retire at the age of 35, leaving him as the undisputed cornerstone of the franchise. His sustained excellence earned him six Pro Bowl selections and consecutive AFL All-Star nods, and the Dolphins permanently honored his leadership by retiring his No. 12 jersey.

Art Monk, WR, WAS 1980-93, NYJ 1994 & PHI 1995.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Art Monk was the understated force behind the Washington Redskins dynasty of the 1980s and early 1990s. His career stood out for remarkable consistency, physical toughness, and precise route running. Selected by the team in the first round as the 18th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft after playing at Syracuse University, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver embodied the physical prototype of the modern big wide receiver. He made an immediate impact, setting a franchise rookie record with 58 receptions and earning unanimous selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team. Under head coach Joe Gibbs, Monk’s fearlessness over the middle and exceptional blocking established him as an outstanding possession receiver, consistently moving the chains; nearly two-thirds of his receptions in Washington resulted in first downs.

Monk's statistical peak came in the historic 1984 season, when he set a then-NFL record with 106 receptions, totaling a career-high 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns. His achievement was particularly notable for its efficiency, preceding the pass-heavy rule changes of the 1990s and making him the only player of his era to record more than 100 receptions in a single season. He followed this performance with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, becoming the first player in franchise history to achieve three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. By 1989, Monk had joined Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders to form "The Posse," a formidable wide-receiver trio that challenged opposing defensive backfields and became the first trio in NFL history in which each member surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

Monk’s exceptional reliability was a cornerstone of Washington’s success during its golden era, making him an indispensable contributor to three Super Bowl championship teams (XVII, XXII, and XXVI). His career was distinguished by sustained excellence; he became the first player in NFL history to record a touchdown reception and at least 35 receptions in 15 consecutive seasons. His dependable hands helped him maintain a streak of 183 consecutive regular-season games with a reception. In 1992, Monk further solidified his legacy before the home crowd by catching his 820th career pass, officially surpassing Steve Largent's record to become the NFL’s all-time receptions leader. After 14 memorable seasons in Washington, Monk concluded his career with one-year stints with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, retiring with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. The Redskins also retired his number, 81.

Lemar Parrish, CB, CIN 1970-77, WAS 1978-81 & BUF 1982.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 14th Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Lemar Parrish, affectionately known as "Leapin' Lemar," was one of the NFL’s most dynamic and versatile playmakers of the 1970s. Selected by the Lincoln Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft as the 163rd overall pick, the 5-foot-11 cornerback quickly made a significant impact on the league. Combining exceptional coverage skills with remarkable speed, Parrish fit the modern shutdown cornerback profile while also excelling as a game-changing return specialist. During his rookie season with the Bengals, he made an immediate impression, recording five interceptions, averaging an impressive 30.1 yards per kickoff return, and scoring touchdowns on both a kickoff return and a blocked field goal return. His performance earned him the first of many Pro Bowl selections.

During his eight seasons in Cincinnati, Parrish became a cornerstone of Paul Brown's secondary. He became a major scoring threat whenever the ball was in his hands, setting numerous franchise records. In 1974, he established an NFL post-merger record with a league-leading punt return average of 18.8 yards, a historic single-season mark that remains unbroken. Parrish ultimately left Cincinnati as the franchise's highest-scoring defensive player, having recorded 25 interceptions and 13 return or recovery touchdowns: four on punt returns, four on interceptions, three on fumbles, one on a kickoff, and one on a blocked field goal. His distinctive clothing, confident on-field presence, and exceptional athletic quickness earned him six Pro Bowl selections with the Bengals.

Following a contract dispute, Parrish was traded to the Washington Redskins before the 1978 season, where his career reached another defensive peak. Although Washington’s coaching staff removed him from return duties to prioritize his lockdown coverage, the adjustment produced exceptional results. After exchanging his renowned Cincinnati No. 20 for Washington’s No. 24, Parrish became a prolific ball-hawk in the nation's capital. He recorded a career-high nine interceptions in 1979, followed by seven more in 1980. His dominant play in the secondary earned him consecutive First-Team All-Pro honors and brought his career total to eight Pro Bowl selections, demonstrating his exceptional longevity across two distinct franchises.

Parrish concluded his distinguished 13-year professional career in 1982, with his final season split between the Buffalo Bills and another team, leaving behind a record worthy of significant historical recognition. Across 166 career games, he recorded 47 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. Today, he is one of only six cornerbacks in NFL history to earn eight Pro Bowl selections. However, he remains the only member of that distinguished group who has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is, however, inducted here!

Lester Hayes, CB, OAK/RAI 1977-86.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 10th Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Lester Hayes was one of the NFL’s most feared, theatrical, and fiercely physical cornerbacks, bringing the Raiders’ renegade spirit to life on the field.

Selected in the fifth round as the 126th overall pick of the 1977 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, Hayes played safety and linebacker in college before legendary head coach John Madden famously transitioned him to cornerback. This change created a formidable challenge for opposing quarterbacks. Standing 6 feet tall and adopting an exceptionally low pre-snap stance, Hayes mastered the aggressive bump-and-run coverage favored by Raiders owner Al Davis, using his strength and elite recovery speed to physically disrupt wide receivers at the line of scrimmage.

Hayes’s 1980 campaign remains one of the greatest individual defensive performances in NFL history. He effectively shut down his side of the field, recording an impressive 13 interceptions during the regular season—just one short of Dick "Night Train" Lane's single-season record. His dominant performance earned him the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and consensus First-Team All-Pro honors. Hayes continued his exceptional play in the postseason, recording five additional interceptions in four playoff games and helping anchor the Raiders' historic run to a Super Bowl XV victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Beyond his coverage skills, Hayes became closely associated with Stickum, a highly adhesive substance that he applied generously to his hands, wrists, and forearms to help secure anything resembling a football. His conspicuous use of the substance attracted intense league-wide scrutiny and directly prompted the NFL to adopt the infamous "Lester Hayes Rule" in 1981, permanently banning it. Although critics speculated that his performance would decline without this chemical advantage, Hayes demonstrated his elite ability by maintaining his dominant form without it. He earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1980 to 1984. After the franchise added fellow shutdown cornerback Mike Haynes in 1983, the pair formed what was arguably the greatest cornerback tandem in NFL history, leading the team to a decisive victory over Washington in Super Bowl XVIII. 

Hayes retired following the 1986 season after spending his entire 10-year career in Silver and Black. He stepped away with 39 career regular-season interceptions, which leaves him tied with Hall of Famer Willie Brown for the Raiders' all-time franchise record.

Roger Craig, RB, SFO 1983-90, RAI 1991 & MIN 1992-93.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 3rd Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

Roger Craig was a transformative force behind the San Francisco 49ers’ dynasty of the 1980s, redefining the running back position through his exceptional versatility and distinctive high-knee running style. Selected in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft after playing at the University of Nebraska, Craig combined downhill power with receiver-like route-running ability, making him an ideal centerpiece for Bill Walsh’s innovative West Coast offense. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, but his profile rose to national prominence during Super Bowl XIX. In the decisive victory over the Miami Dolphins, Craig made NFL history as the first player to score three touchdowns in a single Super Bowl, showcasing his ability to challenge defenses both on the ground and through the air.

Craig’s dual-threat dominance reached its height during the historic 1985 season, when he achieved a milestone many had considered impossible. In a remarkable display of athletic endurance, Craig became the first player in NFL history to record more than 1,000 rushing yards (1,050) and 1,016 receiving yards in the same season, while also leading the league with a career-high 92 receptions. This "1,000/1,000" club remained exclusive to Craig for more than a decade and has been matched only twice since. He demonstrated that his peak performance was no anomaly in 1988, transitioning smoothly from fullback to primary halfback and earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. He recorded a league-leading 2,036 yards from scrimmage and set a franchise record with 1,502 rushing yards, helping lead San Francisco to another world championship in Super Bowl XXIII.

Craig’s exceptional courage and willingness to withstand punishing hits across the middle of the field ultimately shortened his peak, as the sustained physical demands of his aggressive playing style began to take their toll. After winning a third Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl XXIV, persistent injuries diminished his renowned explosiveness. His tenure in San Francisco ended on a heartbreaking note when a late-game fumble in the 1990 NFC Championship Game helped derail the 49ers' bid for a historic third consecutive Super Bowl title. He concluded his distinguished 11-year career with brief veteran stints with the Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings, retiring after the 1993 season with 13,100 yards from scrimmage and 73 total touchdowns.

Otis Taylor, WR-FL, KAN 1965-75.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 1st Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Otis Taylor was a transformative presence for the Kansas City Chiefs and is widely regarded as a prototype for the modern NFL wide receiver. Legendary head coach Hank Stram famously remarked that he had been seeking a new dimension for his passing game and, upon seeing Taylor, knew he had found it. In an era dominated by powerful rushing attacks, Taylor fundamentally altered defensive coverage strategies, combining reliable hands with an exceptional ability to gain yards after the catch.

The most memorable moment of Taylor's career occurred on January 11, 1970, on the sport's grandest stage: Super Bowl IV. Facing the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings and their legendary "Purple People Eater" defense, Taylor caught a short hitch pass from quarterback Len Dawson, broke a tackle near the sideline, and completed a spectacular, high-stepping 46-yard sprint for a touchdown. The score secured a decisive 23-7 upset, firmly establishing Taylor’s place in championship history and bolstering the AFL's legitimacy shortly before the official league merger. This achievement capped a brilliant period during which he also helped lead the Chiefs to an appearance in the inaugural Super Bowl.

Taylor’s individual dominance reached its statistical peak during the 1971 season, when he proved exceptionally difficult to defend. He led the NFL with 1,110 receiving yards and averaged an impressive 19.5 yards per reception, earning consensus First-Team All-Pro honors and the UPI AFC Player of the Year award. Over his distinguished 11-season career, spent entirely in Kansas City, he recorded 410 receptions for 7,306 yards and 57 touchdowns. Although these statistics may appear modest by today's pass-oriented standards, they were exceptional for their era. Upon his retirement, he held the franchise record for career receptions.

Eddie Kotal, SCOUT, LAR 1946-41.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2001 on his 6th Coach/Contributor Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Talk about ahead of the times!

Before revolutionizing player personnel, Kotal built a diverse athletic career as a versatile 170-pound quarterback and halfback for the Green Bay Packers from 1925 to 1929, helping Curly Lambeau's team secure its first NFL championship in 1929. He later embarked on a highly successful multisport coaching career at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, leading teams to conference titles in football, basketball, track, and boxing. In 1942, Kotal returned to the professional ranks as a backfield coach and part-time scout for the Packers, laying the foundation for his groundbreaking career transition.

His lasting legacy began in October 1946, when Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves appointed Kotal as the league's first full-time head scout. When other NFL franchises prepared for the draft by casually browsing commercial football magazines such as Street & Smith, Kotal took a far more rigorous approach. He spent nine months each year on the road, driving more than 40,000 miles annually to visit college campuses, consult with coaches, and evaluate players in person. Kotal pioneered the organization of comprehensive player dossiers into library-like systems and introduced the revolutionary draft principle of selecting the "best player available.” This systematic approach laid the foundation for today's computerized personnel departments and established the Rams as a scouting powerhouse ahead of its time.

Beyond establishing standardized scouting protocols, Kotal played a pivotal role in social change and demonstrated foresight in identifying underrecognized talent. He was among the first NFL scouts to cultivate extensive relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Through these networks, Kotal signed Grambling's Paul "Tank" Younger in 1949, who became the first African-American player from an HBCU to play in the NFL. Kotal’s ability to identify promising prospects at small or unconventional schools also brought future Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Andy Robustelli of tiny Arnold College and Deacon Jones of South Carolina State to the Rams’ attention. He also anticipated cross-sport scouting by recommending that the Rams draft track stars such as Rafer Johnson and basketball standouts such as K.C. Jones, further establishing his reputation as one of the most astute evaluators of athletic talent in football history.

Can we say again, how much we love “Hall of Fame Season.”

Two weeks after the Baseball Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2025, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their class, but it was not without controversy.

This was the first year under the new system, whereby the 15 Modern Finalists was cut to 10, and then to 7.  From there , the Committee cast their ballots for five of the seven, with a candidate needing 80 percent of the vote to enter.  As we suspected, and even warned about, a scenario could emerge where you would have a minimum of three elected, and that is what happened as only Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates receiving the call.

In a new wrinkle, those who made it to the final seven and did not enter (Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri) will be automatic Finalists in 2026.  Notably, those who made the cut to 10 were Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda and Darren Woodson, meaning that the first five cut were Eli Manning, Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs, Fred Taylor and Reggie Wayne.

What occurred in the Seniors/Coaches/Contributors was worse.  Five names were put forth with Seniors Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer, Coach Mike Holmgren and Contributor Ralph Hay falling short.  Only Sterling was selected.

Four.

That’s it.

This is the smallest class in decades, and we will have more to say on that on our corresponding shows on Notinhalloffame.

Nevertheless, let’s celebrate the newest members of the Pro Football of Fame.

Inducted are:

Eric Allen, Cornerback.  Philadelphia 1988-94, New Orleans 1995-97, Oakland 1998-2001.  Allen enters on his 19th year of eligibility and the six-time Pro Bowl Selection recorded 54 Interceptions with eight returned for Touchdowns.  A First Team All-Pro in 1989, Allen was named the UPI Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.

Jared Allen, Defensive End.  Kansas City 2004-07, Minnesota 2008-2013, Chicago 2014-15, Carolina 2015.  Allen was a Finalist in all five years of his eligibility and is now headed to Canton.  A four-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl Selection, Allen twice led the league in Sacks and had 136 in total.  He also had 171 Tackles for Loss, and was named by the Sporting News as their 2011 Defensive Player of the Year.

Antonio Gates, Tight End.  San Diego/Los Angeles 2003-18.  Gates enters the Hall of his second year, though many thought he should have entered on his first year.  Gates went to eight consecutive Pro Bowls (2004-11), three First Team All-Pros (2004-06) and had 11,841 Yards and 116 Touchdowns.

Sterling Sharpe, Wide Receiver.  Green Bay 1998-94.  Sharpe joins his brother Shannon, making them the first set of brothers to achieve this honor.  While his career was cut short by injury, Sharpe’s career was explosive netting him five Pro Bowls, there First Team All-Pros.  He also led the NFL in Receptions three times, Receiving Touchdowns twice and Receiving Yards once.

We will begin revisions on our notinhalloffame.com Football list of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As we are also revising our Baseball list, please be patient!

Thank you all for your continued support.

It is a massive day for us at Notinhalloffame.com, as “Hall of Fame Season” continues with the announcement of five Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ralph Hay (contributor), Mike Holmgren (coach), Maxie Baughan (senior), Sterling Sharpe (senior), and Jim Tyrer (senior) are moving forward in the selection process.

This year, the PFHOF has undergone a new rule where all the Coach/Contributors/Seniors will compete against each other.  The Committee will vote for three of the five, with all candidates receiving 80% automatically gaining induction.  Should none of the names fail to make 80%, the candidate with the highest percentage will enter the Hall.

About the Finalists:

Contributor:

Ralph Hay:  Hay owned the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1922 and catalyzed the National Football League in 1920 when he organized multiple clubs to meet at his car dealership in Canton, Ohio.  While his time was brief, his foresight catalyzed the most popular sports league in the United States.

Hay beat out Bud Adams, Buck Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Art Rooney Jr., Seymour Siwoff, Doug Williams, and John Wooten.

Coach:

Mike Holmgren.  Holmgren won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, first as a Quarterbacks Coach and then as their Offensive Coordinator, and it propelled him to the Head Coaching job at Green Bay in 1992.  He led the Packers to a Super Bowl win at SBXXXI.  Holmgren accepted the Seattle Seahawks coaching job and took them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005.  A member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor, Holmgren had a career record of 161-111.

Holmgren beat out Bill Arnsparger, Tom Coughlin, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Mike Shanahan and Clark Shaughnessy.

Seniors:

Maxie Baughan: PHI 1960-65, RAM 1966-70 & WAS 1974.  Baughan was an NFL Champion with Philadelphia and was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He also was a one-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Second Team All-Pro.  Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sterling Sharpe: GNB 1988-94.  Sharpe led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 1992, was a three-time First Team All-Pro, had five Pro Bowls, and compiled 65 Touchdowns and 8,134 Yards in only seven seasons.  Had injuries not taken him down early, Sharpe would already be in.  Ranked #26 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Tyrer: DTX 1961-62, KAN 1963-73 & WAS 1974.  A three-time AFL Champion with the Texans/Chiefs, the Left Tackle was a six-time First Team All-Pro and nine-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.

They beat out Ken Anderson, Lester Hayes, Bob Kuechenberg, Albert Lewis, Stanley Morgan, and Al Wistert.

15 Modern Finalists will join these five Finalists.

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

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

The new 21 to 30:

21. Steve Wisniewski
22. Jim Marshall
23. Charlie Conerly
24. Steve Smith
25. Kevin Williams
26. Sterling Sharpe
27. Louis Wright
28. Roman Gabriel
29. Randall Cunningham
30. Tommy Nobis

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

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

Today, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 12 Finalists in both the Senior and Coach/Contributor categories. The Senior Players were reduced from 31 Semi-Finalists and 29 in the Coach/Contributor category.

The Senior Finalists are:

Ken Anderson: Quarterback, CIN 1971-86: Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com. Anderson is a Finalist once again, and seeks to become the third Bengal to gain enshrinement. He brought the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance and was the consensus MVP in 1981. Anderson went to four Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and also won the coveted Walter Payton Man of the Year. Statistically, he threw for 32,838 Yards, 197 Touchdowns, led the NFL in Passing Yards twice, and Pass Completion Percentage three times.

Maxie Baughan: Linebacker, PHI 1960-65, LAR 1966-70 & WAS 1972. Ranked #14 on Notinhalloffame.com. Baughan went to nine out of 10 Pro Bowls throughout the 1960s, and was also chosen for one First Team All-Pro and five Second Team All-Pros.

Roger Craig: Running Back, SF 1983-90, RAI 1991 & MIN 1992-93: Ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com. A three-time Super Bowl Champion with San Francisco, Craig made history as the game’s first player to obtain for 1,000 Rushing Yards and 1,000 Receiving Yards in the same season. He is a four-time Pro Bowl, one-time First Team All-Pro and was the 1988 Offensive Player of the Year.

Randy Gradishar: Linebacker, DEN 1974-83. Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com. Gradishar was the 1978 Defensive Player of the Year and would collect seven Pro Bowls. He is also a two-time First Tea All-Pro.

Joe Jacoby: Offensive Lineman, WAS 1981-93: Ranked #41 on Notinhalloffame.com. Jacoby won three Super Bowls and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.

Albert Lewis: Cornerback, KAN 1983-93 & RAI/OAK 1994-98: Ranked #129 on Notinhalloffame.com. Lewis was a Finalist for the first time in his last year on the modern ballot, and is here on his first Senior ballot. The Defensive Back had 42 Interceptions, four Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.

Steve McMichael: Defensive Tackle & Nose Tackle, NWE 1980, CHI 1981-93 & GNB 1994: Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. McMichael is a surprise here, as he was not a Semi-Finalist last year. He won a Super Bowl with Chicago and was a two-time Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro.

Eddie Meador: Cornerback & Safety, RAM 1959-70. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com. Meador recorded 46 Interceptions and went to six Pro Bowls in the 1960s along with obtaining two First Team All-Pros.

Art Powell: Split End, Defensive Back & Wide Receiver, PHI 1959, NYT 1960-62, OAK 1963-66, BUF 1967 & MIN 1968: Ranked #171 on Notinhalloffame.com. Twice leading the AFL in rushing, Powell was a five-time AFL All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro.

Sterling Sharpe: Wide Receiver, GNB 1988-94: Ranked #28 on Notinhalloffame.com. Sharpe’s career was cut short due to injury, but still managed five Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and twice led the NFL in Receptions. He also once led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions.

Otis Taylor: Wide Receiver & Flanker, KAN 1965-75: Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com. Taylor is a Super Bowl Champion with the Chiefs and he has an AFL All-Star and two Pro Bowls on his ledger. He was also the NFL’s leading receiver in Yards in 1971.

Al Wistert: Tackle, Guard & Defensive End, 1943-51: Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com. Wistert won two NFL Championships with the Eagles and was honored with four First Team All-Pro Selections.

This means that the following did not advance:

Ottis Anderson: Running Back, STL 1979-86 & NYG 1986-92. Ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Carl Banks: Linebacker, NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993, CLE 1994-95. Ranked #253 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Brown: Running Back, WAS 1969-76. Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Clayton: Wide Receiver, MIA 1983-92 & GNB 1993: Ranked #222 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Conerly: Quarterback, NYG 1948-61: Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Ellard: Wide Receiver, RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NWE 1998: Ranked #71 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lester Hayes: Cornerback, OAK/RAI 1977-86. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton: Offensive Lineman, BAL/IND 1983-89, ATL 1990-03 & MIN 1994-95. Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Cecil Isbell: Tailback, GNB 1938-42: Ranked #59 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson: Wide Receiver & Returner, HOU 1974-80, ATL 1982-87 & WAS 1988: Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com

Mike Kenn: Offensive Lineman, ATL 1978-94. Ranked #85 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Kuechenberg: Offensive Lineman, MIA 1970-83: Ranked #35 on Notinhalloffame.com.

George Kunz: Offensive Lineman, ATL 1969-74 & BAL 1975-80: Ranked #98 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Marshall: Defensive End, MIN 1960-79: Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews Jr.: Linebacker, CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96: Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Stanley Morgan: Wide Receiver, NWE 1977-89 & NO 1990: Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Tommy Nobis: Linebacker, ATL 1966-76, Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Tasker: Special Teams, HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97: Ranked #112 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Everson Walls: Cornerback, DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93: Ranked #88 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Coach/Contributor Finalists are:

Tom Coughlin: Coughlin won a Super Bowl with the Giants as an Assistant Coach, and was later Jacksonville’s first Head Coach. After taking the Jaguars to two AFC Championship Games, he would become the Giants Head Coach in 2004, and would win two Super Bowls. He had an overall coaching record of 170-150.

Mike Holmgren: Holmgren coached the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998 and would lead them to a Super Bowl Championship. He later served as Seattle’s Head Coach from 1999 to 2008 and lead them to a Super Bowl Appearance. Holmgren also has two Super Bowl Rings as an Assistant Coach and has an overall record of 151-111.

Bucko Kilroy: Kilroy won three Super Bowls as an executive with New England, and before that he was a scout in the 1960s, helping Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas find talent.

Robert Kraft: Kraft is the long-time owner of the New England Patriots, having bought the team in 1994. Since his acquisition, the Patriots became one of the most successful franchises in Football, winning six Super Bowls.

Buddy Parker: Parker was Detroit’s Head Coach from 1951 to 1955, where he led them to two NFL Championships. He was also Pittsburgh’s Head Coach from 1957 to 1964 and had an overall record of 104-75-9.

Dan Reeves: Reeves was the Head Coach for Denver from 1981 to 1992, and brought them to three Super Bowls, though they were unable to defeat their NFC opponents. He was later the Giants Head Coach (1993-96) and then took over in Atlanta (1997-03) and brought them to their first Super Bowl, though he lost to his former team, Denver. His overall record was 190-165-2.

Art Rooney Jr.: A member of the legendary Rooney family that has always owned the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rooney Jr. is the current Vice President and former Personnel Director.

Marty Schottenheimer: Schottenheimer was the Head Coach for four different teams (Cleveland 1984-88, Kansas City 1989-96, Washington 2001 & San Diego (2002-06), and had an overall record of 200-126-1.

Mike Shanahan: Shanahan was Denver’s Head Coach from 1995 to 2006, and it was under his watch that the Broncos won their first two Super Bowls. He also has a Super Bowl Ring as an Assistant Coach with San Francisco. His overall record was 170-138.

Clark Shaughnessy: Shaughnessy had a long career in both College and the pro ranks, the latter where he was an Assistant Coach and Consultant for Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Lloyd Wells: Wells was football’s first full-time African-American Scout and he focused on HBCUs in a career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

John Wooten: Wooten won two Super Bowls; one with Dallas and one with Baltimore, for his roles as a scouting executive.

This means that Bud Adams Jr., Roone Arledge, C.O. Brocato, Alex Gibbs, Ralph Hay, Eddie Kotal, Elmer Layden, Jerry Markbreit, Virginia McCaskey, Rich McKay, John McVay, Art Modell, Carl Peterson, Jerry Seeman, George Seifert, Seymour Siwoff and Jim Tunney did not advance.

The respective committees will meet next month, and announce their Finalists at a date to be determined.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate all the Finalists for the 2024 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Season has begun as they have announced the Semi-Finalists for the Senior and Coaches/Contributor categories for the Class of 2024.

The 12-Person Senior Committee named 31 Semi-Finalists.

The 12-Person Coach/Contributor Committee named 29 Semi-Finalists.

The results of these committees will be revealed on July 27.

Here are the nominees:

Senior Committee Nominees:

Ken Anderson: Quarterback, CIN 1971-86: Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ottis Anderson: Running Back, STL 1979-86 & NYG 1986-92. Ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Carl Banks: Linebacker, NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993, CLE 1994-95. Ranked #253 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Maxie Baughan: Linebacker, PHI 1960-65, LAR 1966-70 & WAS 1972. Ranked #14 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Brown: Running Back, WAS 1969-76. Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Clayton: Wide Receiver, MIA 1983-92 & GNB 1993: Ranked #222 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Conerly: Quarterback, NYG 1948-61: Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roger Craig: Running Back, SF 1983-90, RAI 1991 & MIN 1992-93: Ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Ellard: Wide Receiver, RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NWE 1998: Ranked #71 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randy Gradishar: Linebacker, DEN 1974-83. Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lester Hayes: Cornerback, OAK/RAI 1977-86. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton: Offensive Lineman, BAL/IND 1983-89, ATL 1990-03 & MIN 1994-95. Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Cecil Isbell: Tailback, GNB 1938-42: Ranked #59 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Jacoby: Offensive Lineman, WAS 1981-93: Ranked #41 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson: Wide Receiver & Returner, HOU 1974-80, ATL 1982-87 & WAS 1988: Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com

Mike Kenn: Offensive Lineman, ATL 1978-94. Ranked #85 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Kuechenberg: Offensive Lineman, MIA 1970-83: Ranked #35 on Notinhalloffame.com.

George Kunz: Offensive Lineman, ATL 1969-74 & BAL 1975-80: Ranked #98 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Albert Lewis: Cornerback, KAN 1983-93 & RAI/OAK 1994-98: Ranked #129 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Marshall: Defensive End, MIN 1960-79: Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews Jr.: Linebacker, CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96: Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McMichael: Defensive Tackle & Nose Tackle, NWE 1980, CHI 1981-93 & GNB 1994: Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Eddie Meador: Cornerback & Safety, RAM 1959-70. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Stanley Morgan: Wide Receiver, NWE 1977-89 & NO 1990: Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Tommy Nobis: Linebacker, ATL 1966-76, Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Art Powell: Split End, Defensive Back & Wide Receiver, PHI 1959, NYT 1960-62, OAK 1963-66, BUF 1967 & MIN 1968: Ranked #171 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sterling Sharpe: Wide Receiver, GNB 1988-94: Ranked #28 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Tasker: Special Teams, HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97: Ranked #112 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Otis Taylor: Wide Receiver & Flanker, KAN 1965-75: Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Everson Walls: Cornerback, DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93: Ranked #88 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Al Wistert: Tackle, Guard & Defensive End, 1943-51: Ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Coach/Contributor Finalists are:

Bud Adams Jr.

Roone Arledge

C.O. Brocato

Tom Coughlin

Alex Gibbs

Ralph Hay

Mike Holmgren

Bucko Kilroy

Eddie Kotal

Robert Kraft

Elmer Layden

Jerry Markbreit

Virginia McCaskey

Rich McKay

John McVay

Art Modell

Buddy Parker

Carl Peterson

Dan Reeves

Art Rooney Jr.

Marty Schoenheimer

Jerry Seeman

George Seifert

Mike Shanahan

Clark Shaughnessy

Seymour Siwoff

Jim Tunney

Lloyd Wells

John Wooten

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have always been fond of the fact that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has preliminary nominees; so much so that we incorporated that in both our Fictitious Athlete and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As such, we are pleased to bring to you the preliminary nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

All of the first year candidates will be underlined, and the returning Finalists will have an asterisk.

Let’s take a look shall we?

Quarterbacks:

Randall Cunningham: PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001. Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rich Gannon: MIN 1987-92, WAS 1993, KC 1995-98 & OAK 1993-04.

Donovan McNabb: PHI 1999-09, WAS 2010 & MIN 2011. Ranked #35 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair: HOU/TEN 1995-05 & BAL 2006-07. Ranked #87 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Phil Simms: NYG 1979-93. Ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs:

Tiki Barber: NYG (1997-06). Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Earnest Byner: CLE 1984-88, WAS 1989-93 & CLE/BAL 1996-97.

Roger Craig: SF 1983-90, LAR 1991 & MIN 1992-93. Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Corey Dillon: CIN 1997-03 & NE 2004-08.

Eddie George: HOU/TEN 1996-03 & DAL 2004.

Edgerrin James: IND 1999-05, AZ 2006-08 & SEA 2009. Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lorenzo Neal: NO 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TB 1998, TEN 1999-00, CIN 2001-02, SD 2003-07 & BAL 2008.

Fred Taylor: JAX 1998-08 & NE 2009-10.

Herschel Walker: DAL 1986-89, MIN 1989-91, PHI 1992-94, NYG 1995 & DAL 1996-97. Ranked #40 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SF 1991-94, PHI 1995-97 & SEA 1998-01. Ranked #49 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers:

*Isaac Bruce: LAR/STL 1994-07 & SF 2008-09. Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Donald Driver: GB 1999-12.

Henry Ellard: LAR 1983-93, WAS 1994-97, NE 1998 & WAS 1998. Ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt: STL 1998-08, JAX 2009. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Johnson: CIN 2001-10, NE 2011. Ranked #44 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randy Moss: MIN 1998-04, OAK 2005-06, NE 2007-10, TEN 2010 & SF 2012. Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Owens: SF 1996-03, PHI 2004-05, DAL 2006-08, BUF 2009 & CIN 2010. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sterling Sharpe: GB 1988-94. Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith: DAL 1992-93 & JAX 1995-05. Ranked #96 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith: DEN 1995-07. Ranked #59 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith: NYG 2007-10, PHI 2011 & STL 2012.

John Taylor: SF 1987-95.

Hines Ward: PIT 1998-11. Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends:

Mark Bavaro: NYG 1985-90, CLE 1992 & PHI 1993-94.

Ben Coates: NE 1994-99 & BAL 2000. Ranked #79 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ferrell Edmunds: MIA 1988-92 & SEA 1993-94.

Jay Novacek: STL/PHX 1985-89 & DAL 1990-96. Ranked #89 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Linemen:

Willie Anderson (T): CIN 1996-07 & BAL 2008.

Matt Birk (C): MIN 1998-08 & BAL 2009-12. Ranked #67 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli (T): JAX 1995-01 & HOU 2002. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95, AZ 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TB 2002.

Ruben Brown (G): BUF 1995-03 & CHI 2004-07.

Ray Donaldson (C): BAL/IND 1980-92, SEA 1993-94 & DAL 1995-96.

Alan Faneca (G): PIT 1998-07, NYJ 2008-09 & AZ 2010. Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Fralic (G/T): ATL 1985-92.

Jay Hilgenberg (C): CHI 1981-91, CLE 1992 & NO 1993. Ranked #71 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton (G/T): BAL/IND 1983-93, ATL 1990-92 & MIN 1994-95. Ranked #104 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kent Hull (C): BUF 1986-96.

Steve Hutchinson (G): SEA 2001-05, MIN 2006-11 & TEN 2012. Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Joe Jacoby (T): WAS 1981-93. Ranked #52 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn (T): ATL 1978-94. Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Kevin Mawae (C/G): SEA 1994-97, NYJ 1998-05 & TEN 2006-09. Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-08.

Nate Newton (G): DAL 1986-98 & CAR 1999.

Bart Oates (C): NYG 1985-93 & SF 1994-95.

Jeff Saturday (C): IND 1999-11 & GB 2012. Ranked #76 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T): MIA 1999-00 & CIN 2001-02.

Steve Wisniewski (G): LAR/OAK 1989-01. Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen:

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT): NO 1997-01, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.

Leonard Marshall (DE/DT): NYG 1983-92, NYJ 1993 & WAS 1994.

Keith Millard (DT/NT/DE): MIN 1985-91, SEA 1992, GB 1992 & PHI 1993.

Leslie O’Neal (DE): SD 1986-95, STL 1996-97 & KC 1998-99.

Michael Dean Perry (DT/DE): CLE 1989-94, DEN 1995-97 & KC 1997.

Simeon Rice (DE): AZ 1996-00, TB 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.

Richard Seymour (DT): NE 2001-08 & OAK 2009-12. Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith (DE): KC 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SD 2000.

Greg Townsend (DE/NT/LB): LAR 1983-93, PHI 1994 & OAK 1997.

Kyle Vanden Bosch (DE): AZ 2001-04, TEN 2005-09 & DET 2010-12.

Bryant Young (DT): SF 1994-07

Linebackers:

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.

Cornelius Bennett: BUF 1987-95, ATL 1996-98 & IND 1999-00.

Tedy Bruschi: NE 1996-08.

Seth Joyner: PHI 1986-93, AZ 1994-96, GB 1997 & DEN 1998.

Ray Lewis: BAL 1996-12. Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Lloyd: PIT 1988-97 & CAR 1998. Ranked #88 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wilber Marshall: CHI 1984-87, WAS 1988-92, HOU 1993, AZ 1994 & NYJ 1995.

Clay Matthews: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.

Willie McGinest: NE 1994-05 & CLE 2006-08.

Karl Mecklenburg: DEN 1983-94. Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills: NO 1986-94 & CAR 1995-97. Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joey Porter: PIT 199-06, MIA 2007-09 & AZ 2010-11. Ranked #98 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darryl Talley: BUF 1983-94, ATL 1995 & MIN 1996.

Zach Thomas: MIA 1996-2007 & DAL 2008.

Brian Urlacher: CHI 2000-12. Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs:

Eric Allen (CB): PHI 1988-94, NO 1995-97 & OAK 1998-01. Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Atwater (S): DEN 1989-98 & NYJ 1999. Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber (CB/S): TB 1997-12. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler (S): GB 1990-01. Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brian Dawkins (SS): PHI 1996-08 & DEN 2009-11. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison (S): SD 1994-02 & NE 2003-08.

*Ty Law (CB): NE 1995-04, NYJ 2005, KC 2006-07, NYJ 2008 & DEN 2009. Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Albert Lewis (CB): KC 1983-93 & LAR/OAK 1994-98.

*John Lynch (S): TB 1993-03 & DEN 2004-07. Ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dennis Smith (S): DEN 1981-94.

Everson Walls (CB): DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93

Darren Woodson (S): DAL 1992-03..

Place Kickers/Punters:

Gary Anderson (K): PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-96, SF 1997, MIN 1998-02 & TEN 2003-04

Sean Landeta (P): NYG 1985-93, LAR/STL 1993-96, TB 1997, GB 1998, PHI 1999-02, STL 2003-04, PHI 2005 & NYG 2006.

Nick Lowery (K): NE 1978, KC 1980-93 & NYJ 1994-96.

Special Teams:

Brian Mitchell (KR/PR): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02 & NYG 2003.

Steve Tasker (ST): HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97. Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Coaches:

*Don Coryell: STL 1973-77 & SD 1978-86.

Bill Cowher: PIT 1992-06.

Tom Flores: OAK/LAR 1979-87 & SEA 1992-94.

Mike Holmgren: GB 1992-98 & SEA 1999-08.

Jimmy Johnson: DAL 1989-93 & MIA 1996-99.

Chuck Knox: LAR 1973-77, BUF 1978-82, SEA 1983-91 & LAR 1992-94.

Buddy Parker: DET 1951-56 & PIT 1957-64.

Richie Petitbon: WAS 1981-93.

Dan Reeves: DEN 1981-92, NYG 1993-96 & ATL 1997-03

Marty Schottenheimer: CLE 1984-89, KC 1989-98 & WAS 2001.

Clark Shaugnessy: LAR 1978-49 & CHI 1951--62

Dick Vermeil: PHI 1976-82, STL 1997-99 & KC 2001-05.

Please note that we don not rank coaches.

Mild surprise omissions at this stage include Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Running Back, Shaun Alexander.

Perhaps the biggest head scratcher is that Steve Smith was chosen. We have to wonder if they thought they were voting for the recently retired Steve Smith Sr., who is eligible for Canton in 2022 and has over 14,000 Receiving Yards. This Steve Smith played five years and has 2,641 Receiving Yards.

We are guessing that Smith won’t make the next round.

Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile have already advanced as Senior Finalists. Bobby Beathard has been announced as the Contributor Finalist

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate those who made it this far and we will be eagerly anticipating those who will advance to the Semi-Finals.

Arriving in Green Bay as the seventh overall selection in the 1988 NFL Draft, Sterling Sharpe hit the ground running out of South Carolina and spent the next seven years putting on an absolute clinic at receiver. Combining a running back's frame with soft hands and crisp route running, he bullied defensive backs across the middle and punished secondaries for attempting to tackle him in space.

Sharpe’s run in Titletown was defined by historically unprecedented high-volume production. He captured his first reception title in 1989 with 90 catches, but his dominance reached historic heights once paired with quarterback Brett Favre in 1992. That season, Sharpe achieved the rare wide receiver "Triple Crown" by leading the NFL in receptions (108), receiving yards (1,461), and receiving touchdowns (13). He broke his own single-season catch record the following year in 1993 with 112 receptions, becoming the first player in NFL history to record back-to-back 100-catch seasons.

When the stakes were highest, Sharpe was virtually uncovered. In Green Bay's 1993 Wild Card victory over Detroit—the franchise's first playoff win in over a decade—he hauled in three touchdown passes from Favre, including a legendary 40-yard strike in the final minute to secure the win. He followed that up in 1994 by setting a career-high with 18 receiving touchdowns, continuing to dominate despite facing constant double coverage and specialized defensive game plans designed solely to slow him down.

Tragically, Sharpe’s brilliant trajectory was cut short at the absolute apex of his powers. During the penultimate game of the 1994 regular season against Atlanta, he suffered a severe neck injury that required spinal fusion surgery, prematurely ending his career at just 29 years old. Despite playing only seven seasons, his enduring greatness left a permanent mark on the sport. After his induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2002, the long-awaited ultimate honor arrived when Sharpe was selected by the Senior Committee and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. Presented by his brother Shannon, the duo made history as the first pair of brothers enshrined in Canton.

Sharpe compiled 595 receptions, 8,134 receiving yards, 65 receiving touchdowns, and 72 rushing yards over his career.