1990 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.

This is the result of the 45th official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 31 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 1990:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1990.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1990.

About the 1990 Inductees:

Jack Lambert, LB, PIT 1974-84: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

The Steelers had already put together a powerful defensive corps before they used their Second Round Pick in 1974 to take Jack Lambert, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year two years before.

Lambert became the Steelers’ starting Middle Linebacker early in his rookie season, and he was so impressive that he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.  Lambert was arguably the final piece of the puzzle to create the Steelers dynasty, as Lambert, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and Franco Harris would win the Super Bowl that year.  As we know, that would be the first of four Super Bowls of the decade, and Lambert was at the heart of all of them. 

Lambert would become known as one of the hardest and most feared hitters in the National Football League.  Lambert won the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1976, and with all due respect to Greene, Lambert was now the top dog of the Steel Curtain.  The Linebacker was a perennial Pro Bowl Selection from 1975 to 1983, and in addition to his 1976 First Team All-Pro, he had five more from 1979 to 1983.

Had Lambert not suffered from severe turf toe in 1984 (causing him to retire that year), it is conceivable he could have continued to pile on accolades.  Lambert left the game with a sick rate of 136 Approximate Value to 146 Games, one of the best ratios of its kind at his position.

Jack Youngblood, DE, RAM 1971-84: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Jack Youngblood came from the University of Florida, and the 1st Round Pick would be asked to fill the shoes of possibly the most iconic defensive force in Rams history, Deacon Jones.  Considering the pressure he had to feel that he was under, it is more than safe to say that he did one hell of a job!

In his third season in the NFL (1973), Youngblood was named to his first of seven consecutive Pro Bowls, five of which earned him First Team All-Pro honors.  Although the Quarterback Sack was not an official statistic when he played, Youngblood is believed to have recorded 151.5 sacks over his career. 

In a tough sport, Youngblood was one of the toughest and most durable players, missing only one game in his 14 seasons, and is best remembered by Rams fans for playing with a broken fibula in both the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XIV against the Steelers.  Although the Rams lost, the legend of Jack Youngblood grew to even greater heights in those two games.

Ken Houston, DB, HOU 1967-72 & WAS 1973-80.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 5th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

From Prairie View A&M, Ken Houston was taken way back in the 9^th Round of the 1967 Draft, and it could have been the biggest steal of that year's draft.  Ironically, the Oilers would make the worst trade in franchise history when they sent him to Washington years later.

The Safety was a starter as a rookie, starting nine of his 14 Games, and he made the Pro Bowl the following year and again over the next four seasons.  Houston was easily one of the top Safeties in the AFL/AFC when he competed as an Oiler, and he picked off 25 passes, returning nine for Touchdowns.  

The Oilers had a superstar in their defensive back corps, but they made a tactical error; as though they were struggling, they traded him to Washington for five players.  None of the players that Houston acquired would be decent

Houston continued his streak of Pro Bowls, adding six more to have a twelve-year streak.  Unlike while wearing the oil derrick, Houston was a First Team All-Pro in two of his seasons (1975 & 1978), and he had 24 Interceptions as a Redskin.  Houston was also regarded as one of the game’s most punishing tacklers, and he was one of the fastest players on the field.  He retired after the 1980 season, the year after his run of consecutive Pro Bowls ended.

Bob Hayes, SE-WR, DAL 1965-74 & SFO 1975.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 10th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

A two-sport athlete at Florida A&M, “Bullet” Bob Hayes starred in the 1964 Olympics, winning two Gold Medals (100m and 4x100m relay).  The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the 7th Round, but he was not yet a refined football player, and it was widely assumed he would be a work in progress.  It did not take long to make it work!

Hayes’ explosive speed caused havoc for defenses and forced opponents to adopt zone schemes and bump-and-run to limit his advantage.  He led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions in his first two years, and later propelled the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl.

He compiled 7,414 Rushing Yards with 71 TDs, and is arguably the reason why General Managers look at 40-yard times! 

Franco Harris, RB, PIT 1972-83 & SEA 1984.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

With all due respect to the many great Running Backs that the Pittsburgh Steelers had, they are all in line behind Franco Harris, who is still the team’s all-time leading rusher.

Harris debuted in the professional ranks in 1972 for the Steelers, a team he didn’t have to travel far from, as he was a star at Penn State.  The Running Back won the Offensive Rookie of the Year, going to the Pro Bowl and rushing for 1,055 Yards and 10 Touchdowns.  This was the year Harris benefited from the "Immaculate Reception," a still-debated play in which the Steelers beat the Raiders in the playoffs.  Pittsburgh didn't win it all that year, but they had a Running Back in tow who could help them.

Harris was one of the best Running Backs of the decade, going to the Pro Bowl every season from 1972 to 1980.  Harris was a First Team All-Pro in 1977 (1,162 Rushing Yards and 11 TDs), but he arguably was better the season before with a league-leading 14 TDs and 1,128 Rushing Yards.  Harris helped propel the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles, earning MVP honors in the first.  Over 19 Playoff Games, Harris had 2,060 Yards From Scrimmage with 17 Touchdowns, an incredible number over intense situations.

Harris was with the Steelers until 1983, playing one final year in Seattle before retiring.  Overall, Harris would accumulate 14,234 Yards From Scrimmage with an even 100 Touchdowns. 

Gene Lipscomb, DT, RAM 1953-55, BAL 1956-60 & PIT 1961-62.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 3rd Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb enlisted in the military and played football at USMC Camp Pendleton, so if you think the teams of the NFL lightly recruited him, you would be right!

The 300-pound Lipscomb would, however, sign with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952 and would win the starting Right Defensive Tackle job in 1953, but went on to greater success when he was traded to the Baltimore Colts.  "Big Daddy" would help anchor the Colts to the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championships, and not so coincidentally, he was named a First Team All-Pro for his efforts.  Lipscomb went to Pittsburgh in 1961 and went to his third Pro Bowl in 1962, but that would be his final year in Pro Football, as sadly, his career ended when he died of a heroin overdose in May of 1963. 

Don Coryell, Coach, STL 1973-77 & SDG 1978-86.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1990 on his 2nd Coach/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Coryell was dubbed “Air Coryell” for placing a premium on the passing game and for creating a unique rhythm, forcing defenses to cover all parts of the field.  Tight Ends, Running Backs would go in motion, Receivers had no set start point, and the ball would be going to the target before the receiver would get there.  Coryell made deep routes a major part of his offense and changed how Tight Ends were played, making them a bigger part of the offensive target mix.  All of this is commonplace today, but it wasn’t happening before Coryell literally changed the way the game was played.

He would begin this revolution with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he would win two consecutive division titles, but it was in San Diego that he had the Quarterback he wanted (Dan Fouts), where he was really able to bring his vision to light.  His Chargers won the division three times and led the National Football League in passing for six consecutive seasons, a record that still stands today.

Coryell took his teams to the playoffs often, though he never made it to the Super Bowl; his offensive mindset changed the game.   That is a Hall of Fame worthy!

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.

It is nice to hear about someone getting IN TO the Hall of Fame for a change.

According to Raj Mathai, multiple sources have confirmed that former San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig will be chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.   

Craig played eleven seasons in the NFL (1983-90 with SF, 1991 with the Raiders, and 1992-93 with Minnesota), and rushed for 8,189 Yards and accumulated 4,991 Receiving Yards with 66 Touchdowns.  A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Craig played a huge role in three of San Francisco’s Super Bowl wins.  Craig made history in the 1985 season when he became the first player in league history to rush for 1,000 yards and receive another 1,000.   Three years later, Craig led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage and won the coveted Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Craig had been a Finalist twice before for the PFHOF in 2010 and 2020, and was ranked #15 on our list of those to consider for the Hall.  In March, we will remove Craig and the others chosen from the Notinhalloffame Football List and begin revising it.

We here at Notinhalloffame would like to congratulate Roger Craig for this incredible honor.

Wow (again).

A week after it was leaked that longtime New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick was not chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the owner of the dynasty, Robert Kraft, will also not be inducted.

Kraft, whose purchase of the Patriots saved the franchise from possible relocation, presided over the dynasty that won six Super Bowls, and like Belichick, was a Finalist for the first time, and many (including this writer) thought it likely that both would be inducted this year.   Now, it is neither.

With Kraft and Belichick passed over, we know for sure that at least one of the three Seniors, Roger Craig, Ken Anderson, and L.C. Greenwood, will be chosen.

This might be the most dramatic Pro Football Hall of Fame build-up ever, and the cries for reform have just gotten louder.

Wow.

According to an ESPN article, Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham reported that eight-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick was not selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Allegedly, Belichick was informed by a Hall representative last Friday that he was not chosen.  The 50 Hall of Fame voters met previously to present cases, debate, and cast a secret ballot, and many (including some of the Hall of Fame selectors) thought that Belichick was a lock.

His case was the most complete of any coach’s case this side of Vince Lombardi.  Belichick led the Pats to six Super Bowls and 31 playoff wins (records for a head coach, 301 regular season wins, and was lauded as a mastermind whose players bought into the “Patriot Way”.  He also owns two other Super Bowl rings as the New York Giants’ Defensive Coordinator.  Naturally, the news sent shockwaves throughout social media.

J.J. Watt: 

“I can’t be reading this right.  This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the actual NFL Hall of Fame.  There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick not be a First Ballot Hall of Famer.”

Patrick Mahomes: 

“Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible.”

Jimmy Johnson:

“What a shame.. jealous ignorant voters (a few that hide behind secret ballot) did not vote one of the greatest coaches of all time into HOF.”

Tom Brady:

“I don’t understand it.  I mean, I was with him every day.  If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is completely ridiculous.”

Julian Edelman:

“Smh.”

The news also shocked many of the Hall of Fame selectors.  In an unprecedented outburst, many of them openly stated (or strongly implied)that they voted for Belichick.  *This included Gary Myers, Tony Grossi, Mary Kay Cabot, Charean Williams, Mike Sando, Rich Cimini, Armando Salguero, Kent Somers, Dan Pompei, Paul Kuharsky, John McClain, Lindsay Jones, Vic Carucci, Jason Cole, Eric Williams, Jarrett Bell, Dave Birkett, Pete Douherty, Paul Domowitch, Gerry Dulac, Matt Maiocco, Calvin Watkins, Sal Paolntonio and Ira Kaufman.

To his credit, Vahe Gregorian openly said he did not and gave an articulate rationale for why.

The process seems broken.

So how is this possible?

1. Mathematics.

Two years ago, the Hall of Fame changed the process, which pooled the Seniors, Coaches, and Contributor Finalists.  The 50 selectors were tasked with voting for three of the five, who last year included Maxie Baughn, Ralph Hay, Mike Holmgren, Sterling Sharpe, and Jim Tyrer, and entrance to Canton was gained by obtaining 40 of the 50 votes, or, should no candidate make that threshold, the candidate with the highest amount would be selected. 

Very few people (including many of the selectors) gave the new rules much thought, but Chicago’s Sports Historian, Jack Silverstein, called it out, showing how mathematics would lead to the smallest class in years.  Quite simply, the math was going to math, and only Sharpe entered through this group; there was no reason to think it would be different this year.

Silverstein put together a group of historians (which included the owner of this site, along with actual past and present HOF selectors) to mimic the process, and sure enough, only one candidate met the 80%.  Ironically, that candidate was Belichick.

Going back to the actual selectors, it is possible that, with knowledge of last year’s results, some may have thought Belichick was entering for sure and cast their selections for others (namely, the Seniors) so that one of them might enter.  We can’t discount that some may feel Belichick is destined to be back on the ballot next year, and Anderson, Craig, and Greenwood might not.  The numbers were going to get more than one of these five legends, especially now that the three groups are competing with each other.

2. Spygate, etc.

“Every battle is won before it is fought.”  That quote is from Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”, which was displayed prominently in Belichick’s locker room.  Perhaps that puts his role in Spygate into perspective?   Belichick was fined $500,000 for his role in the scandal, which is believed to have lasted seven years.  Throw in “Deflategate” and you have what some have called a tainted legacy.  “Belicheat” did trend yesterday!   Based on what selector, Armando Salguero said on the Dan Patrick Show today that one voter outright stated, “I’m not voting for him because of Spygate.”   How many others thought the same?

3. Bill Polian.

This could be the most logical one.  According to another ESPN article, Polian allegedly told voters that Belichick should have to “wait a year” because of Spygate, though hours later, he denied any involvement, stating “That’s totally and categorically untrue” and that he voted for Bill.  Strangely, a day later, he was only 95% sure that he voted for Belichick.

Perhaps Polian should just stop talking.

Regardless of whether he voted for Belichick, two things are sure:

Polian’s clubs have taken the worst of Belichick’s teams, and Polian has a lot of influence.

4. Role in the dynasty and declining legacy

This is just us spitballing, but is it possible that some voters see the Patriots' return to prominence without Belichick, Brady winning a Super Bowl without him, Belichick’s failure at UNC, and the mockery of his personal life, and that they respect him a little less?  If so, we have seen sillier reasons not vote for a candidate.

Regardless of why or if some of the selectors omitted Belichick, we will go on record and say this:

You got this one wrong, and based on what the Hall just put out, they know it, too.

*Ollie Connolly @OllieConnolly put together a list on X of those who voted yes and no.

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

Here we go!!!

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the five names (one coach, one contributor, and three seniors) as the Finalists for the Class of 2026.

Moving forward, this group will be lumped together in the Final Round, with a candidate having to receive 80% of the vote from the 50 voters.

At most three can advance, with at least one.  Should none of the candidates receive 80%, the highest vote getter will advance.

The Coaching candidate:

Bill Belichick.  Beginning his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, Belichick joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role.  He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he posted a winning record in only one of his six years.  He received another chance as a Head Coach for New England, and the rest was history.  Belichick ushered in the Patriots' dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the most remarkable run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history.  Belichick had a career record of 333-178, a 31-13 playoff record, and also boasts three AP Coach of the Year Awards.  He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

The Semi-Finalists who did not advance were: Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert & Mike Shanahan.

The Contributor Candidate:

Robert Kraft.  In 1994, Robert Kraft purchased the New England Patriots, and the region has been blessed ever since.  The franchise became stable after it appeared to be St. Louis-bound, and under Kraft’s ownership, Gillette Stadium was financed, which gave the team a permanent home base.  Since Kraft took over, the Patriots have been to 10 Super Bowls and won 6.  He has also served on 17 owner committees. 

The Semi-Finalists who did not advance are Bud Adams, Roone Arledge, Ralph Hay, Bucko Kilroy, Art Rooney Jr., Clark Schaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff, and Buddy Young.

The Senior Candidates:

Ken Anderson: Quarterback, CIN 1971-86.  Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981, and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns.  He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and, historically, led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl.  Anderson was a Modern Finalist in 1996 and 1998.

We congratulate the candidates who have reached this stage.

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.

L.C. Greenwood:  Defensive End, PIT 1969-81.  Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls.  A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks and was a six-time modern Finalist (1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005 & 2006). 

The Semi-Finalists who did not advance are Henry Ellard, Joe Jacoby, Eddie Meador, Stanley Morgan, Steve Tasker, and Otis Taylor. 

We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the five Finalists.

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.

Weeks ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 162 Preliminary Senior Candidates for the Class of 2026, which they then reduced to 52.  The step after was a reduction to 32, and now, a week before the announcement of the Modern Semi-Finalists, we have the nine men who are the official Senior Semi-Finalists for the class of 2026.

The Semi-Finalists are:

Ken Anderson: Quarterback, CIN 1971-86.  Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981, and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns.  He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and, historically, led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl.  Anderson was a Modern Finalist in 1996 and 1998.  Ranked #8 on notinhalloffame.com. 

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.  Ranked #15 on notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Ellard: Wide Receiver, RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NWE 1998.  Ellard compiled 13,777 Yards and 65 Touchdowns in a career that included leading the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He is also a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ellard has never been a Finalist.  Ranked #64 on notinhalloffame.com.

L.C. Greenwood:  Defensive End, PIT 1969-81.  Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls.  A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks, and was a six-time modern Finalist (1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005 & 2006).  Ranked #5 on notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Jacoby: Offensive Lineman, WAS 1981-93.  A famed member of the Hogs, Jacoby was part of all three of Washington’s Super Bowl wins and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Jacoby is a three-time Finalist (2016, 2017 & 2018).  Ranked #33 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie Meador: RAM 1959-70.  Meador is one of the most prolific Defensive Backs in RMS history and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He amassed a franchise record of 46 Interceptions.  Meador has never been a Finalist.  Ranked #68 on notinhalloffame.com.

Stanley Morgan: NWE 1977-89 & IND 1990.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Stanley Morgan compiled 72 Touchdowns with 10,716 Receiving Yards.  He was also a three-time leader in Yards per Reception.  Morgan has never been a Finalist.  Ranked #266 on notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Tasker: HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97.  Tasker went to four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He has never been a Finalist.  Ranked #144 on notinhalloffame.com.

Otis Taylor: KAN 1965-75. Taylor won two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl with Kansas City, who had 60 TDs and 7,467 Yards From Scrimmage.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Taylor has never been a Finalist.  Ranked #32 on notinhalloffame.com.

The group of 32 who did not make it as Semi-Finalists were Dick Anderson (DB), Carl Banks (LB), Maxie Baughan (LB), Bobby Boyd (DB), Charlie Conerly (QB), Isaac Curtis (WR), Lavvie Dilweg (E), Chuck Foreman (RB), Roman Gabriel (QB), Larry Grantham (LB), Cecil Isbel (RB), Harold Jackson (WR),  Lee Roy Jordan (LB), Mike Kenn (OL),  Bob Kuechenberg (OL), Albert Lewis (DB), Jim Marshall (DL), Clay Matthews Jr. (LB),  Tommy Nobis (LB),  Lemar Parrish (DB), Art Powell (SE), Jim Tyrer (OL), Everson Alls (DB), Al Wistert (OL), & Paul “Tank” Younger (FB).

Of note, Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer were Finalists last year and were unable to break the Semis this year.  Also, all players who played before 1959 were cut.

We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the candidates who have reached this stage.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nine former Coaches who have advanced as Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2026.

The Blue Ribbon Committee will meet virtually on November 18 and select one Finalist.

*Denotes First Year of Eligibility.

*Bill Belichick.  With all due respect to this loaded group of candidates, no one can match the resume of Bill Belichick.  Beginning his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, Belichick joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role.  He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he posted a winning record in only one of his six years.  He received another chance as a Head Coach for New England, and the rest was history.  Belichick ushered in the Patriots' dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the most remarkable run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history.  Belichick had a career record of 333-178, a 31-13 playoff record, and also boasts three AP Coach of the Year Awards.  He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

Tom Coughlin:  Coughlin worked his way up the ranks and became the Head Coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.  He was their Head Coach for eight years, bringing them to two AFC Championship Games, the first of which was in the franchise’s second year.  After being fired, he joined the New York Giants, where the stoic leader led the G-Men to two Super Bowl wins (XLII & XLVI).  He retired with an overall record of 170-150 and is already a member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor and Pride of the Jaguars.

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.

Chuck Knox:  An Offensive Line Coach with the New York Jets (1963-66) and for Detroit (1967-72), Knox was elevated to the Head Coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 1973, where he won the AP Coach of the Year award in his first season in that role.  He later coached Buffalo (1978-82) and Seattle (1983-91), where he won Coach of the Year Awards for both clubs, and he concluded his career with three years back with the Rams.  He had an overall record of 186-147.

Buddy Parker:  Parker was left off this stage last year after failing to make the Hall as a Finalist in 2024, but he is back where he belongs: in Hall of Fame consideration.  An NFL Champion as a player for the Detroit Lions in 1935, Parker became their Head Coach in 1951, and promptly led them to back-to-back NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953.  He left to helm the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, where he brought them to respectability.  He had a 107-76-9 record.

Dan Reeves.  Reeves won a Super Bowl as an Assistant Coach in Dallas and was hired by Denver as their Head Coach in 1981.  He led the Broncos to three AFC Titles but could not punch their ticket to a Super Bowl win.  After he was let go by Denver, he signed with the Giants and won the 1993 AP Coach of the Year.  Later, he took over as Atlanta’s Head Coach, leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance —a loss to his former team (Denver) —and earning his second Coach of the Year award.  He had an overall record of 190-165-2 and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor.

Marty Schottenheimer.  Working his way through the Giants and Lions as the Linebackers Coach, Schottenheimer landed the Defensive Coordinator job in Cleveland in 1980 and was promoted to their Head Coach in 1984.  He brought Cleveland to the AFC Finals twice but left for Kansas City in 1989 with another (unsuccessful) trip to the AFC Championship Game (1993).  Schottenheimer took some time off and was lured back by Washington, but that lasted only one year.  He returned the following season for the San Diego Chargers, where he twice took them to the playoffs.  He had an overall record of 200-126-1 and is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.

George Seifert.  Seifert joined the San Francisco 49ers as their Defensive Backs Coach in 1980 and was elevated to Defensive Coordinator in 1983.  He won three Super Bowls as an assistant coach, and in 1989 he was again promoted to Head Coach. Here, he led the Niners to two more Super Bowl wins and to five NFC Championship Games overall.  He concluded his career with three years as Carolina’s Head Coach and had an overall record of 114-62.

Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan joined Denver as their Wide Receivers Coach in 1984, and a year later, he began a three-year stint as their Offensive Coordinator, where he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired him to replace Tom Flores.  That did not last long, and he was back in Denver but was let go due to a dispute between Quarterback John Elway and Dan Reeves.  He went to San Francisco, where he won Super Bowl XXIX as the Offensive Coordinator. He returned to Denver in 1995, leading the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl wins (XXXII & XXXIII) during a 14-year run.  He finished his career with three years at Washington, posting an overall record of 170-138.  He is also a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.

The three coaches who were cut were Bill Arnsberger, Alex Gibbs, and Clark Shaugnessy.

We congratulate the candidates who have reached this stage.

Weeks ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 162 Preliminary Senior Candidates for the Class of 2026, which they then reduced to 52.  Today, the PFHOF Blue Ribbon Seniors Committee has reduced this to 34. 

The next step will be a reduction to nine.

The remaining candidates are:

Quarterbacks (3): (Reduced from 5)

Ken Anderson: CIN 1971-86.  Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981, and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns.  He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and, historically, led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl.  Ranked #8 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Charlie Conerly: NYG 1948-61. Conerly was a 1956 New York Giants NFL Championship Team member, was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection, and accumulated 19,488 Yards and 173 TDs.  Ranked #50 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roman Gabriel: LAR 1962-72 & PHI 1973-77.  Gabriel was the league MVP in 1969, earning four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro, and he threw for 29,444 Yards and 201 TDs.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Quarterbacks who were cut were Jack Kemp and Don Meredith.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

There is no shock here, as Meredith was a long shot, and Kemp, as an AFL star, was expected to be dropped.  Nevertheless, if I had to cut this group to three, that is who I would have gone with.

Running Backs (4): (Reduced from 6)

Roger Craig:  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,  Ranked #15 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chuck Foreman:  MIN 1973-79 & NWE 1980.  Foreman went to the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons, and the 1973 Offensive Rookie of the Year was a two-time YFS TD leader.  He compiled 9,106 Yards from Scrimmage.  Ranked #79 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Cecil Isbell: GNB 1938-42.  Isbell only played five seasons, but was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time Touchdown leader, and a two-time leader in Passing Yards.  He also helped Green Bay win the NFL Championship in 1939 and was named to the 1930s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #72 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Paul “Tank” Younger: RAM 1949-57 & PIT 58.  Younger won an NFL Championship with the Los Angeles Rams and was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Younger rushed for 3,640 Yards and 34 Touchdowns and was also a potent Linebacker.  Ranked #196 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Running Backs who were cut were Ottis Anderson and Larry Brown.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

I would have loved to see Larry Brown advance, but I am happy that Cecil Isbell is through.   Bluntly, Roger Craig is my focus, as he should have been years ago.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (7): (Reduced from 9)

Isaac Curtis: CIN 1973-84. Curtis was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first four years and a three-time Second-Team All-Pro.  He had 7,101 Receiving Yards and 53 Touchdowns.

Lavvie Dilweg: MIL 1926 & GNB 1927-34.  Dilwag was a three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay and was chosen for the 1920s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #6 on notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Ellard: RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NEW 1998.  Ellard compiled 13,777 Yards and 65 Touchdowns in a career that included leading the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He is also a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #64 on notinhalloffame.com.

Harold Jackson: RAM 1968 & 1973-77, PHI 1969-72, BEW 1978-81, MIN 1982 & SEA 1983.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Jackson won two Receiving Yards Titles and compiled 10,372 Yards and 76 Touchdowns.  Ranked #49 on notinhalloffame.com.

Stanley Morgan: NWE 1977-89 & IND 1990.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Stanley Morgan compiled 72 Touchdowns with 10,716 Receiving Yards.  He was also a three-time leader in Yards per Reception.    Ranked #266 on notinhalloffame.com.

Art Powell: PHI 1959, NYT 1960-62, OAK 1963-66, BUF 1967 & MIN 1968.  Powell, who was a Finalist last year, was a two-time Receiving Yards leader in the AFL.  A four-time AFL-All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro, Powell had 8,046 Yards and 81 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on notinhalloffame.com.

Otis Taylor: KAN 1965-75. Taylor won two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl with Kansas City, who had 60 TDs and 7,467 Yards From Scrimmage.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #32 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Wide Receivers/Tight Ends who were cut were Mark Clayton and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

Of the two cuts, the side-eye goes to White Shoes, indicating that Special Teams need not apply.

Offensive Lineman (5): (Reduced from 11)

Joe Jacoby: WAS 1981-93.  A famed member of the Hogs, Jacoby was part of all three of Washington’s Super Bowl wins and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #33 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn: ATL 1978-94.  Kenn is one of the finest offensive linemen in Falcons history, and the Left Tackle would earn five Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros. Ranked #61 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Kuechenberg: MIA 1970-83.  The versatile Lineman was a significant component in Miami’s back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in the early 70s, and he was also named to six Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #30 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 #13 on notinhalloffame.com.

Al Wistert: PHI 1943-51.  Wistert was an All-Decade player of the 1940s who propelled Philadelphia to two NFL Championships.  He was also a four-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #31 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Offensive Linemen who were cut were Jay Hilgenberg, Chris Hinton, Marvin Powell, Dick Schafrath, Jerry Sisemore, and Walt Sweeney.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

The omission of Dick Schafrath and Walt Sweeney feels criminal to me, but this is the Senior abyss that is the reality of the Senior Pool.

Defensive Linemen (2): (Reduced from 4)

L.C. Greenwood:  PIT 1969-81.  Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls.  A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks.  Ranked #5 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Marshall: CLE 1960 & MIN 1961-78.  The ironman of his day, Marshall brought the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection along the way.  He had 130.5 lifetime Sacks.  Ranked #37 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Linemen who were cut were Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Harvey Martin.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

If two Defensive Linemen were going to advance, Greenwood and Marshall were the two.  Both have very solid Hall of Fame cases.

Linebackers (6): (Reduced from 8)

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Giants, Banks was a one-time All-Pro with 860 career Tackles. Ranked #234 in notinhalloffame.com.

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 was also a one-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Second Team All-Pro.  Ranked #14 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Grantham:  NYT 1960-62 & NYJ 1963-72.  Grantham was a five-time AFL All-Star and three-time First Team All-Pro, who was part of the historical Jets team that won Super Bowl III.  Ranked #60 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lee Roy Jordan: DAL 1963-76.  Playing his entire career with the Cowboys, Jordan patrolled the interior and was a five-time Pro Bowler in the process.  He also won a Super Bowl with Big D.  Ranked #46 on notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews Jr.: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.  Matthews Jr. was a three-time leader in Combined Tackles with 1,595 overall.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Matthews Jr. also had 82.5 Sacks and 16 Interceptions.  Ranked #100 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tommy Nobis: ATL 1966-78.  Nobis was the Rookie of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #36 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Linebackers who were cut were Mike Curtis and Matt Millen.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

Realistically, Baughan and Nobis should be the focus here.  In previous years, Maxie would have made the final round had he made it, but the numbers work against him (and really everyone on this list).

Defensive Backs (6): (Reduced from 8)

Dick Anderson:  MIA 1968-77.  Anderson was the 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year, the 1973 Defensive Player of the Year, and won two Super Bowls.  A two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl Selection, Anderson had 24 Interceptions.  Ranked #93 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Boyd:  BAL 1960-68.  Boyd won an NFL Championship with the Colts and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He led the league in Interceptions in 1965, with a total of 57.  Ranked #39 on notinhalloffame.com.

Albert Lewis:  KAN 1983-93, RAI 1994 & OAK 1995-98.  Lewis went to four straight Pro Bowls (1987-90), was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 42 Interceptions.  Ranked #104 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie Meador: RAM 1959-70.  Meador is one of the most prolific Defensive Backs in RMS history and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He amassed a franchise record of 46 Interceptions.  Ranked #68 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lemar Parrish: CIN 1970-77, WAS 1978-81 & BUF 1982.  Parrish went to eight Pro Bowls with a First Team All-Pro while recording 47 Interceptions.  Ranked #16 on notinhalloffame.com.

Everson Walls: DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93.  Walls had 57 Interceptions and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection with a Super Bowl ring with the Giants.  Ranked #87 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Backs who were cut were Pat Fischer and Lester Hayes.

The Chairman’s Gut Reaction:

HOW THE HELL IS LESTER HAYES NOT HERE!?!?!?!?

Bluntly, I am disgusted by this omission, and he had the resume to enter as a Modern candidate years ago.   Please explain this to me like I am five!

Special Teams (1)

Steve Tasker: HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97.  Tasker went to four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #144 on notinhalloffame.com.

Nothing changed.

This group will be cut next month.

We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the candidates 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.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced today that the Coaches Blue-Ribbon Committee has narrowed down a group of 15 candidates to 12. 

Following this, the members of the Coaches Blue-Ribbon Committee will receive an additional ballot, which will reduce this group to nine.  That will be announced in early November.

Here are the 12 Coaches who have made it to this stage.

*Denotes First Year of Eligibility.

**Denotes that they made it to this stage last year.

**Bill Arnsberger.  Arnsberger is one of the most heralded defensive minds in NFL history, having first worked for the Baltimore Colts (1964-69), where his defense brought the Team to Super Bowl III.  He would join his Cots Coach, Don Shula, in Miami, where his “No-Name Defense” led the Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.  He took a shot as a Head Coach with the New York Giants, but after that failed, he returned to Shula and built up another potent defense (The Killer B’s) that won another AFC Title.  Afterward, he went to LSU, then Florida, and returned to the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, where, as the Defensive Coordinator again, he helped the Bolts make their first Super Bowl.

*Bill Belichick.  With all due respect to this loaded group of candidates, there is nobody who brings a resume with the accomplishments of Bill Belichick.  Beginning his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, Belichick joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role.  He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he only achieved a winning record in one of his six years.  He received another chance as a Head Coach for New England, and the rest was history.  Belichick ushered in the Patriots dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the greatest run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history.  Belichick had a career record of 333-178, a 31-13 playoff record, and also boasts three AP Coach of the Year Awards.  He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

**Tom Coughlin:  Coughlin worked his way up the ranks and became the Head Coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.  He was their Head Coach for eight years, bringing them to two AFC Championship Games, the first of which was in the franchise’s second year.  After being fired, he joined the New York Giants, where the stoic leader led the G-Men to two Super Bowl wins (XLII & XLVI).  He retired with an overall record of 170-150 and is already a member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor and Pride of the Jaguars.

**Alex Gibbs.  An Assistant Head Coach and/or Offensive Line Coach for 27 years, working for Denver (1984-87, 1995-2003 & 2013), the Los Angeles Raiders (1988-89), San Diego (1990-91), Indianapolis (1992), Kansas City (1993-94), Atlanta (2004-05), Houston (2008-09) and Seattle (2010).  He won two Super Bowls with the Broncos.

**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.

**Chuck Knox:  An Offensive Line Coach with the New York Jets (1963-66) and for Detroit (1967-72), Knox was elevated to the Head Coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 1973, where he won the AP Coach of the Year award in his first season in that role.  He later coached Buffalo (1978-82) and Seattle (1983-91), where he won Coach of the Year Awards for both clubs, and he concluded his career with three years back with the Rams.  He had an overall record of 186-147.

Buddy Parker:  Parker was left off this stage last year after failing to make the Hall as a Finalist in 2024, but he is back where he belongs: in Hall of Fame consideration.  An NFL Champion as a player for the Detroit Lions in 1935, Parker became their Head Coach in 1951, and promptly led them to back-to-back NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953.  He left to helm the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, where he brought them to respectability.  He had a 107-76-9 record.

**Dan Reeves.  Reeves won a Super Bowl as an Assistant Coach in Dallas and was hired by Denver as their Head Coach in 1981.  He led the Broncos to three AFC Titles but could not punch their ticket to a Super Bowl win.  After he was let go by Denver, he signed with the Giants and won the 1993 AP Coach of the Year.  Later, he took over as Atlanta’s Head Coach, leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance, a loss to his former team (Denver), though he did win his second Coach of the Year.  He had an overall record of 190-165-2 and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor.

**Marty Schottenheimer.  Working his way through the Giants and Lions as the Linebackers Coach, Schottenheimer landed the Defensive Coordinator job in Cleveland in 1980 and was promoted to their Head Coach in 1984.  He brought Cleveland to the AFC Finals twice but left for Kansas City in 1989 with another (unsuccessful) trip to the AFC Championship Game (1993).  Schottenheimer took some time off and was lured back by Washington, but that lasted only one year.  He returned the following season for the San Diego Chargers, where he twice took them to the playoffs.  He had an overall record of 200-126-1 and is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.

**George Seifert.  Seifert joined the San Francisco 49ers as their Defensive Backs Coach in 1980 and was elevated to Defensive Coordinator in 1983.  He won three Super Bowls as an assistant, and in 1989, he was again promoted to Head Coach. Here, he led the Niners to two more Super Bowl wins and to five NFC Championship Games overall.  He concluded his career with three years as Carolina’s Head Coach and had an overall record of 114-62.

**Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan joined Denver as their Wide Receivers Coach in 1984, and a year later, he began a three-year stint as their Offensive Coordinator, where he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired him to replace Tom Flores.  That did not last long, and he was back in Denver but was let go due to a dispute between Quarterback John Elway and Dan Reeves.  He went to San Francisco, where he won Super Bowl XXIX as their Offensive Coordinator. He returned to Denver in 1995, leading the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl wins (XXXII & XXXIII) during a 14-year run.  He finished his career with three years at Washington and had an overall record of 170-138.  He is also a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.

**Clark Shaughnessy.  Arguably one of the first great Assistant Coaches in NFL history, Shaughnessy was a very successful college coach (150-117-17) and became the Washington Redskins Advisor in 1944.  He later served as the Head Coach for the Rams for two years and as Chicago’s Defensive Coordinator from 1951 to 1962.

Of note, those who were here last year, who did not return to this stage were Jeff Fisher and Richie Petitbon.

We congratulate the candidates who have made it to this stage.

Weeks ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 162 Preliminary Senior Candidates for the Class of 2026.  This has now been reduced to 52.

The remaining candidates are:

Quarterbacks (5):

Ken Anderson: CIN 1971-86.  Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981 and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns.  He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and historically brought the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl.  Ranked #8 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Charlie Conerly: NYG 1948-61. Conerly was a 1956 New York Giants NFL Championship Team member, was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection, and accumulated 19,488 Yards and 173 TDs.  Ranked #50 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roman Gabriel: LAR 1962-72 & PHI 1973-77.  Gabriel was the league MVP in 1969, earning four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro, and he threw for 29,444 Yards and 201 TDs.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Kemp:  PIT 1957, LAC/SD 1960-62 & BUF 1962-69.  A seven-time AFL All-Star, Kemp led the Bills to two AFL Championships, where he was the MVP in both games.  He is also a former AFL MVP.  Ranked #118 on notinhalloffame.com.

Don Meredith:  DAL 1960-1968. “Dandy Don” went to three Pro Bowls and won the 1966 Bert Bell Award.  He threw for 135 Touchdowns and 17,199 Yards.

The Quarterbacks who were cut were John Hadl, Earl Morrall, Jim Plunkett & Doug Williams.

Running Backs (6):

Ottis Anderson: STL 1979-86 & NYG 1986-92.  Anderson had a monster rookie campaign for St. Louis and would later win two Super Bowls with New York, where he was named a Super Bowl MVP.  He had 10,273 Rushing Yards, 3,063 Receiving Yards, and 86 Touchdowns from Scrimmage.  Ranked #69 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Brown: WAS 1969-76.  Brown won the 1972 AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and was also a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Running Back.  He had 8,360 Yards from Scrimmage with 55 TDs.  Ranked #109 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roger Craig:  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,  Ranked #15 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chuck Foreman:  MIN 1973-79 & NWE 1980.  Foreman went to the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons, and the 1973 Offensive Rookie of the Year was a two-time YFS TD leader.  He compiled 9,106 Yards from Scrimmage.  Ranked #79 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Cecil Isbell: GNB 1938-42.  Isbell only played five seasons, but was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time Touchdown leader, and a two-time leader in Passing Yards.  He also helped Green Bay win the NFL Championship in 1939 and was named to the 1930s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #72 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Paul “Tank” Younger: RAM 1949-57 & PIT 58.  Younger won an NFL Championship with the Los Angeles Rams and was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Younger rushed for 3,640 Yards and 34 Touchdowns and was also a potent Linebacker.  Ranked #196 on notinhalloffame.com.

The ten Running Backs who were cut were Alan Ameche, Earnest Byner, John David Crow, Verne Lewellen, Jack Manders, Mercury Morris, Don Perkins, Billy Sims, Herschel Walker, and Byron “Whizzer” White.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (9):

Mark Clayton: MIA 1983-92 & GNB 1993.  Clayton was Dan Marino’s best weapon and had two years where he led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions.  He had 84 TDs and 8,974 Yards.  Ranked #269 on notinhalloffame.com.

Isaac Curtis: CIN 1973-84. Curtis was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first four years and a three-time Second-Team All-Pro.  He had 7,101 Receiving Yards and 53 Touchdowns.

Lavvie Dilweg: MIL 1926 & GNB 1927-34.  Dilwag was a three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay and was chosen for the 1920s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #6 on notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Ellard: RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NEW 1998.  Ellard compiled 13,777 Yards and 65 Touchdowns in a career where he once led the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He is also a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #64 on notinhalloffame.com.

Harold Jackson: RAM 1968 & 1973-77, PHI 1969-72, BEW 1978-81, MIN 1982 & SEA 1983.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Jackson won two Receiving Yards Titles and compiled 10,372 Yards and 76 Touchdowns.  Ranked #49 on notinhalloffame.com.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson:  HOU 1974-80, ATL 1982-87 & WAS 1988.  One of the most prolific Returners in football history, Johnson had 10,795 All-Purpose Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection. Ranked #114 on notinhalloffame.com.

Stanley Morgan: NWE 1977-89 & IND 1990.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Stanley Morgan compiled 72 Touchdowns with 10,716 Receiving Yards.  He was also a three-time leader in Yards per Reception.    Ranked #266 on notinhalloffame.com.

Art Powell: PHI 1959, NYT 1960-62, OAK 1963-66, BUF 1967 & MIN 1968.  Powell, who was a Finalist last year, was a two-time Receiving Yards leader in the AFL.  A four-time AFL-All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro, Powell had 8,046 Yards and 81 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on notinhalloffame.com.

Otis Taylor: KAN 1965-75. Taylor won two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl with Kansas City, who had 60 TDs and 7,467 Yards From Scrimmage.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #32 on notinhalloffame.com.

The twenty-one Wide Receivers/Tight Ends who were cut were Fred Arbanas, Todd Christensen, Gary Collins, Caroll Dale, Boyd Dowler, Mark Duper, Jimmy Giles, Charley Hennigan, Billy Howton, Keith Jackson, Brent Jones, Homer Jones, Steve Jordan, Eric Martin, Jay Novacek, Del Shofner, John Taylor, Lionel Taylor, Rick Upchurch, Bobby Walston, and Billy Wilson.

Offensive Lineman (11):

Jay Hilgenberg: CHI 1981-91, CLE 1992 & NOR 1993.  Hilgenberg was the Center for the Super Bowl Shuffle-winning team, and the two-time First Team All-Pro also had a seven-year run of Pro Bowls from 1985 to 1991.  Ranked #67 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton: BAL 1984, IND 1984-89, ATL 1990-1993 & MIN 1994-95. Hinton went to six Pro Bowls, five of which were as a Colt.  Ranked #166 on notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Jacoby: WAS 1981-93.  A famed member of the Hogs, Jacoby was part of all three of Washington’s Super Bowl wins and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #33 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn: ATL 1978-94.  Kenn is one of the finest offensive linemen in Falcons history, and the Left Tackle would earn five Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros. Ranked #61 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Kuechenberg: MIA 1970-83.  The versatile Lineman was a significant component in Miami’s back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in the early 70s, and he was also named to six Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #30 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Marvin Powell: NYJ 1977-85 & TAM 1986-87.  Powell went to five straight Pro Bowls (1979-83) with a First Team All-Pro Selection in three of them.  Ranked #213 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dick Schafrath: CLE 1959-71.  A Cleveland Brown for the entirety of his career, Schafrath was a six-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro at Left Tackle.  He is also a former NFL Champion.  Ranked #27 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jerry Sisemore: PHI 1973-84.  Sisemore went to two Pro Bowls and helped the Philadelphia Eagles reach their first Super Bowl.

Walt Sweeney: SDG 1963-73 & WAS 1974-75.  Sweeney won an AFL Championship with San Diego, and the Guard was chosen for nine consecutive AFL All-Stars/NFL Pro Bowls (1963-72).  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #55 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 #13 on notinhalloffame.com.

Al Wistert: PHI 1943-51.  Wistert was an All-Decade player of the 1940s who propelled Philadelphia to two NFL Championships.  He was also a four-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #31 on notinhalloffame.com.

The twenty-four Offensive Linemen who were cut were Hunk Anderson, Bruce Armstrong, Stew Barber, Dick Barwegan, Ed Budde, Ox Emerson, Gale Gillingham, Buckets Goldenberg, Dennis Harrah, George Kunz, Riley Matheson, Max Montoya, Jon Morris, Ralph Nelly, John Niland, Bart Oates, Duane Putnam, Doug Smith, Bob Talamini, Fuzzy Thurston, Bob Vogel, Ed White, and Ray Wietcha.

Defensive Linemen (4):

L.C. Greenwood:  PIT 1969-81.  Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls.  A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks.  Ranked #5 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ed “Too Tall” Jones:  DAL 1974-78 & 1980-89.  Jones had 106 Sacks over his career that netted him three Pro Bowls, a First Team All-Pro, and a Super Bowl ring.  Ranked #283 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Marshall: CLE 1960 & MIN 1961-78.  The ironman of his day, Marshall brought the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection along the way.  He had 130.5 lifetime Sacks.  Ranked #37 on notinhalloffame.com.

Harvey Martin: DAL 1973-83.  Martin won the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1977 and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection who won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.  He had 114 career Sacks.  Ranked #119 on notinhalloffame.com.

The eleven Defensive Linemen who were cut were Houston Antwine, Gene Brito, Roger Brown, Earl Faison, Mark Gastineau, Leonard Marshall, Jerry Mays, Tom Sestak, Fred Smerlas, Neil Smith, and Bill Stanfill.

Linebackers (8):

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Giants, Banks was a one-time All-Pro with 860 career Tackles. Ranked #234 in notinhalloffame.com.

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 was also a one-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Second Team All-Pro.  Ranked #14 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Curtis: BAL 1965-75, SEA 1976 & WAS 1977-78.  Curtis helped Baltimore win Super Bowl V and, individually, was a one-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl recipient.  Ranked #183 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Grantham:  NYT 1960-62 & NYJ 1963-72.  Grantham was a five-time AFL All-Star and three-time First Team All-Pro, who was part of the historical Jets team that won Super Bowl III.  Ranked #60 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lee Roy Jordan: DAL 1963-76.  Playing his entire career with the Cowboys, Jordan patrolled the interior and was a five-time Pro Bowler in the process.  He also won a Super Bowl with Big D.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews Jr.: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.  Matthews Jr. was a three-time leader in Combined Tackles with 1,595 overall.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Matthews Jr. also had 82.5 Sacks and 16 Interceptions.  Ranked #100 on notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Millen: OAK 1980-81, RAI 1982-88, SFO 1989-90 & WAS 1991.  The one-time Pro Bowler won four Super Bowls over his career.

Tommy Nobis: ATL 1966-78.  Nobis was the Rookie of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #36 on notinhalloffame.com.

The thirteen Linebackers who were cut were Bill Bergey, Matt Blair, Joe Fortunato, Tim Harris, E.J. Holub, Vaughn Johnson, Seth Joyner, Greg Lloyd, Wilber Marshall, Rod Martin, Bud McFadin, Karl Mecklenberg, Isiah Robertson, Pat Swilling, Darryl Talley, and Keena Turner.

Defensive Backs (8):

Dick Anderson:  MIA 1968-77.  Anderson was the 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year, the 1973 Defensive Player of the Year, and won two Super Bowls.  A two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl Selection, Anderson had 24 Interceptions.  Ranked #93 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Boyd:  BAL 1960-68.  Boyd won an NFL Championship with the Colts and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He led the league in Interceptions in 1965, with a total of 57.  Ranked #39 on notinhalloffame.com.

Pat Fischer:  STL 1961-67 & WAS 1968-77.  Fischer recorded 56 Interceptions (29 with St. Louis & 27 with Washington) and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.  Ranked #132 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lester Hayes: OAK 1977-81 & RAI 1982-86.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, Hayes was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year in 1980.  The Cornerback was a one-time First Team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowl Selection, and had 39 picks over his career.  Ranked #17 on notinhalloffame.com.

Albert Lewis:  KAN 1983-93, RAI 1994 & OAK 1995-98.  Lewis went to four straight Pro Bowls (1987-90), was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 42 Interceptions.  Ranked #104 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie Meador: RAM 1959-70.  Meador is one of the most prolific Defensive Backs in RMS history and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He amassed a franchise record of 46 Interceptions.  Ranked #68 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lemar Parrish: CIN 1970-77, WAS 1978-81 & BUF 1982.  Parrish went to eight Pro Bowls with a First Team All-Pro while recording 47 Interceptions.  Ranked #16 on notinhalloffame.com.

Everson Walls: DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93.  Walls had 57 Interceptions and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection with a Super Bowl ring with the Giants.  Ranked #87 on notinhalloffame.com.

The nineteen Defensive Backs who were cut were Dave Brown, Joey Browner, Butch Byrd, Thom Darden, Don Doll, Goose Gonsoulin, Dave Grayson, Cornell Green, Merton Hanks, Warren Lahr, Tim McDonald, Jimmy Patton, Eugene Robinson, George Saimes, Jake Scott, Dennis Smith, Jack Tatum, Charlie Waters, Abe Woodson, and Louis Wright.

Punters/Kickers (0)

All three Kickers were cut.  Those players were Jim Bakken, Jim Breech, and Nick Lowery.

Special Teams (1)

Steve Tasker: HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97.  Tasker went to four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #144 on notinhalloffame.com.

Only Mel Gray was cut.

This group will be cut to 25 next month.

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.

For the second year in a row, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the preliminary names for the Senior Ballot.  Last year, there were 182 Preliminary nominees, which has been dropped to 162 this year.

This group will be pared down to 50 names in the upcoming weeks.

The 162 nominees are:

*Denotes that he was not a preliminary candidate last year.

Quarterbacks (9):

Ken Anderson: CIN 1971-86.  Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981 and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns.  He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and historically brought the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl.  Ranked #8 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Charlie Conerly: NYG 1948-61. Conerly was a 1956 New York Giants NFL Championship Team member, was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection, and accumulated 19,488 Yards and 173 TDs.  Ranked #50 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roman Gabriel: LAR 1962-72 & PHI 1973-77.  Gabriel was the league MVP in 1969, earning four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro, and he threw for 29,444 Yards and 201 TDs.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

*John Hadl:  SDG 1962-72, LAR 1973-74, GNB 1974-75 & HOU 1976-77.  Hadl was a top gunslinger of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who was the runner-up for the 1972 MVP.  He went to the Pr Bowl six times, led the NFL in Passing Yards three times, and compiled 33,503 Yards with 268 Touchdowns.  Ranked #105 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Kemp:  PIT 1957, LAC/SD 1960-62 & BUF 1962-69.  A seven-time AFL All-Star, Kemp led the Bills to two AFL Championships, where he was the MVP in both games.  He is also a former AFL MVP.  Ranked #118 on notinhalloffame.com.

Don Meredith:  DAL 1960-1968. “Dandy Don” went to three Pro Bowls and won the 1966 Bert Bell Award.  He threw for 135 Touchdowns and 17,199 Yards.

*Earl Morrall: SFO 1956, PIT 1957-58, DET 1958-64, NYG 1965-67, BAL 1968-71 & IA 1972-76.  Morrall played 21 seasons in the NFL, where he proved his value in his second half as a veteran presence.  The surprise MVP of 1968 when he took over for the injured Johnny Unitas, Morrall brought the Colts to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the upstart New York Jets.  He was the MVP runner-up in 1972 as a Dolphin, where he was lost to injury during the season, leaving Bob Griese to take the Fins to an undefeated Super Bowl year.  He had 20,809 Yards with 161 Touchdowns.

Jim Plunkett: NWE 1971-75, SFO 1976-77, OAK 1979-81 & RAI 1982-86.  Plunkett won two Super Bowls with the Raiders, where he was the MVP in Super Bowl XV.  He compiled 164 Touchdown Passes and 25,882 Passing Yards.  Ranked #250 on notinhalloffame.com.

Doug Williams:  TB 1978-82 & WAS 1986-89.  Williams made history as the first African-American Quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he led Washington to victory while winning the Super Bowl MVP in the process.  He overall threw for 16,988 Yards and 100 Touchdowns.

The Quarterbacks who did not return from last year are Boomer Esiason, James “Shack” Harris, Bobby Hebert, Jeff Hostetler, Ron Jaworski, Daryle Lamonica, Phil Simms, and Joe Theismann.  John Hadl and Earl Morrall were added.

Running Backs (16):

Alan Ameche: BAL 1955-60.  Ameche was the UPI Rookie of the Year and the league’s leading rusher that year.  A two-time NFL Champion, Ameche was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro who compiled 4,045 Rushing Yards and 44 Touchdowns from Scrimmage. Ranked #71 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ottis Anderson: STL 1979-86 & NYG 1986-92.  Anderson had a monster rookie campaign for St. Louis and would later win two Super Bowls with New York, where he was named a Super Bowl MVP.  He had 10,273 Rushing Yards, 3,063 Receiving Yards, and 86 Touchdowns from Scrimmage.  Ranked #69 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Brown: WAS 1969-76.  Brown won the 1972 AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and was also a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Running Back.  He had 8,360 Yards from Scrimmage with 55 TDs.  Ranked #109 on notinhalloffame.com.

Earnest Byner:  CLE 1984-88 & 1994-95, WAS 1990-93 & BAL 1996-97.  Byner won two Super Bowls and amassed 12,866 Yards from Scrimmage and 71 Touchdowns.  He was also a two-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.

Roger Craig:  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,  Ranked #15 on notinhalloffame.com.

John David Crow: CRD 1968-59, STL 1960-64 & SFO 1965-68.  Crow had 71 TDs and 8,692 Yards from Scrimmage.  He was also a four-time Pro Bowl Selection and one-time leader in YFS.  Ranked #167 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chuck Foreman:  MIN 1973-79 & NWE 1980.  Foreman went to the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons, and the 1973 Offensive Rookie of the Year was a two-time YFS TD leader.  He compiled 9,106 Yards from Scrimmage.  Ranked #79 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Cecil Isbell: GNB 1938-42.  Isbell only played five seasons but was a four-time Pro Bowl, two-time Touchdown leader, and two-time leader in Passing Yards.  He also helped Green Bay win the NFL Championship in 1939 and was named to the 1930s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #72 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Verne Lewellen: GNB 1924-32 & NYY 1927.  Lewellen was a First Team All-Pro four times and helped lead Green Bay to three NFL Championships.  Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jack Manders: CHI 1933-40.  Manders helped the Chicago Bears win two NFL Championships, and he was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  

*Mercury Morris: MIA 1969-75 & SDG 1976.  Morris was a popular member of Miami’s undefeated Super Bowl Championship Team, who was also a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  

*Don Perkins:  DAL 1961-68.  A Dallas Cowboy for his entire career, Perkins was a Pro Bowl Selection in six of his eight years, proving himself as one of Dallas’s top offensive stars in their first decade.  Ranked #201 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Billy Sims:  DET 1980-84.  For a brief time in the early 1980s, Billy Sims was the toast of the early 1980s, with his flashy style and personality.  He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1980, but only played five years. 

Herschel Walker: DAL 1986-89 & 1996-97, MIN 1989-1991, PHI 1992-94 & NYG 1985.  Walker began his career in the USFL, where he was hands down their best player.  He later had two Pro Bowls in the NFL and led the league in YFS once.  Ranked #99 on notinhalloffame.com.

Byron “Whizzer” White: PIT 1938 & DET 1940-41.  White only played three years in the NFL and was the Rushing Leader in two.  He is also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #171 on notinhalloffame.com.

Paul “Tank” Younger: RAM 1949-57 & PIT 58.  Younger won an NFL Championship with the Los Angeles Rams and was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Younger rushed for 3,640 Yards and 34 Touchdowns and was also a potent Linebacker.  Ranked #196 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Running Backs who did not return from last year are Jon Arnett, Timmy Brown, Clem Daniels, Hewritt Dixon, Willie Gallimore, Pat Harder, Marv Hubbard, Daryl Johnston, Christian Okoye, Bill Osmanski, Glenn Presnell, Mark van Eaghen, and Sammy Winder.    Added were Jack Manders, Mercury Morris, and Don Perkins.

Ends/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (30):

*Fred Arbanas: DTX/KAN 1962-70.  In his first six seasons, Arbanas was a five-time All-AFL Star and five-time All-AFL All-Pro.  Arbanas helped Kansas City win three Titles and was easily one of the AFL’s best receivers in the early 1960s.  Ranked #301 on notinhalloffame.com.

Todd Christensen: NYG 1979-80 & OAK/RAI 1980-88.  The quintessential Tight End of the 1980s, Todd Christensen, won two Super Bowls with the Raiders.  He had 41 Touchdowns and 5,872 Yards.  Ranked #63 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Mark Clayton: MIA 1983-92 & GNB 1993.  Clayton was Dan Marino’s best weapon and had two years where he led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions.  He had 84 TDs and 8,974 Yards.  Ranked #269 on notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Collins: CLE 1962-71.  Collins had a dual role as a Wide Receiver and Punter and accrued 70 Touchdowns from the air,  Ranked #147 on notinhalloffame.com.

Isaac Curtis: CIN 1973-84. Curtis was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first four years and a three-time Second-Team All-Pro.  He had 7,101 Receiving Yards and 53 Touchdowns.

Carroll Dale: RAM 1960-64, GNB 1965-72 & MIN 1973.  A two-time Super Bowl and three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay, Dale had an impressive 8,277 Yards with 52 Touchdowns.

Lavvie Dilweg: MIL 1926 & GNB 1927-34.  Dilwag was a three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay and was chosen for the 1920s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #6 on notinhalloffame.com.

Boyd Dowler: GNB 1959-69 & WAS 1971.  Five-time NFL Champion and two-time Super Bowl winner, Boyd Dowler was also a two-time Pro Bowl recipient who had 7,270 Yards and 40 TDs.  Ranked #168 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Duper: MIA 1982-92.  A key weapon for Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins, Duper went to three Pro Bowls and amassed 59 Touchdowns and 8,869 Yards.

Henry Ellard: RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NEW 1998.  Ellard compiled 13,777 Yards and 65 Touchdowns in a career where he once led the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He is also a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #64 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmie Giles: HOU 1977, TAM 1978-86, DET 1986-87, PHI 1987-89.  A four-time Pro Bowl Tight End as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Giles had 5,084 Yards with 41 Touchdowns over his career.

*Charley Hennigan: HOU 1960-67.  A two-time AFL Champion with the Houston Oilers, Hennigan was an AFL All-Star in five of his eight seasons.  He was also a three-time First Team All-Pro, and he was a two-time league-leader in Receiving Yards and Yards From Scrimmage.  Hennigan had 51 TDs and 6,823 Yards.

Billie Howton: GNB 1952-58, CLE 1959 & DAL 1960-62.  Howton was a four-time Pro Bowl at End who twice led the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro who amassed 8,459 Yards with 61 Touchdowns.  Ranked #52 on notinhalloffame.com.

Harold Jackson: RAM 1968 & 1973-77, PHI 1969-72, BEW 1978-81, MIN 1982 & SEA 1983.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Jackson won two Receiving Yards Titles and compiled 10,372 Yards and 76 Touchdowns.  Ranked #49 on notinhalloffame.com.

Keith Jackson: PHI 1988-91, MIA 1992-94 & GNB 1995-96.  Jackson was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection who was a First Team All-Pro Tight End in his first three seasons.  A Super Bowl winner in his final season in Green Bay, Jackson had 49 Touchdowns with 5,283 Yards.  Ranked #90 on notinhalloffame.com.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson:  HOU 1974-80, ATL 1982-87 & WAS 1988.  One of the most prolific Returners in football history, Johnson had 10,795 All-Purpose Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection. Ranked #114 on notinhalloffame.com.

Brent Jones: SFO 1987-97.  A four-time Pro Bowl at Tight End, Jones won three Super Bowls with the 49ers while catching 33 Touchdowns and 5,195 Yards.

Homer Jones: NYG 1964-69 & CLE 1970.  Jones was twice named to the Pro Bowl, and over his career, he accrued 4,986 Yards and 36 Touchdowns.  In 1967, he led the NFL in Touchdowns from Scrimmage (14).

*Steve Jordan: MIN 1982-94.  Jordan went to six consecutive Pro Bowls, and the Tight End had 6,307 Yards with 28 TDs.

*Eric Martin: NO 1985-93 & KAN 1994.  Martin was a Pro Bowl Selection once and had 49 TDs with 8,161 Yards.

Stanley Morgan: NWE 1977-89 & IND 1990.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Stanley Morgan compiled 72 Touchdowns with 10,716 Receiving Yards.  He was also a three-time leader in Yards per Reception.    Ranked #278 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jay Novacek: STL/PHO 1985-89 & DAL 1990-95.  Novacek was a Pro Bowler in his final five seasons (all with Dallas), where he helped them capture three Super Bowls.  The Tight End had 4,630 Yards with 30 Touchdowns.  Ranked #133 on notinhalloffame.com.

Art Powell: PHI 1959, NYT 1960-62, OAK 1963-66, BUF 1967 & MIN 1968.  Powell, who was a Finalist last year, was a two-time Receiving Yards leader in the AFL.  A four-time AFL-All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro, Powell had 8,046 Yards and 81 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on notinhalloffame.com.

Del Shofner: RAM 1957-60 & NYG 1961-67.  Shofner went to five Pro Bowls and was selected to the First Team All-Pro in all of them.  He accumulated 6,470 Yards and 51 Touchdowns over his career.  Ranked #12 on notinhalloffame.com.

John Taylor: SFO 1987-95.  Taylor played his entire career with San Francisco, where he won three Super Bowls.  He accumulated 5,598 Receiving Yards, 43 Touchdowns, and two Pro Bowls.

Lionel Taylor: CHI 1959, DEN 1960-66 & HOU 1967-68.  Taylor blossomed in Denver, where he was a five-time AFL leader in Receptions and a three-time First Team All-Star and three-time AFL All-Star.  He compiled 45 Touchdowns and 7,195 Yards.  Ranked #148 on notinhalloffame.com.

Otis Taylor: KAN 1965-75. Taylor won two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl with Kansas City who had 60 TDs and 7,467 Yards From Scrimmage.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #32 on notinhalloffame.com.

Rick Upchurch: DEN 1975-83.  Upchurch amassed 4,369 Receiving Yards with 24 TD, but the three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl player had more production in returns with 5,363 Yards and 8 TDs.  Ranked #226 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Bobby Walston: PHI 1951-62.  Walston won an NFL Championship with the Eagles and compiled 5,363 Yards with 46 TDs from the air.

Billy Wilson: SFO 1951-60.  Wilson played his entire career with the 49ers where he was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls (1954-59).  He was also a one-time First-Team All-Pro, a three-time leader in receptions, and compiled 49 Touchdowns and 5,902 Receiving Yards.  Ranked #176 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Ends/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends who did not return from last year are Mark Bavaro,  Gino Cappalletti, Raymond Chester, Ken Kavanaugh, Mike Quick, Bob Scarpitto, Sterling Sharpe (Inducted), and Pat Studstill.  Added were Fred Arbanas, Charley Hennigan, Steve Jordan, Eric Martin, and Jay Novacek.

Offensive Lineman (35):

*Hunk Anderson:  CHI 1922-25 & CLI 1923.  Anderson only played four years but was named retroactively to the 1920s All-Decade Team.

*Bruce Armstrong: NWE 1987-2000.  Armstrong started all of his 212 Games for New England and went to six Pro Bowls.  Ranked #212 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Stew Barber: BUF 1961-69.  Barber helped Buffalo win two AFL Championships, was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and a five-time AFL All-Star.

Dick Barwegan: NYY 1947, BCL 1948-49, CHI 1950-52 & BAL 1953-54.  Barwegen was named to the 1950s All-Decade Team and was a four-time First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #174 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ed Budde: KAN 1963-76.  Budde was a seven-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl who helped the Kansas City Chiefs win two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl.  Ranked #56 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ox Emerson:  PRT 1931-33, DET 1933-37 & BKN 1938.  Emerson was selected for the 1930s All-Decade Team and five First Team All-Pros.  He also helped the Detroit Lions to an NFL Championship.  Ranked #28 on notinhalloffame.com.

Gale Gillingham: GNB 1996-74 & 1976.  Gillingham was a Guard on Green Bay’s first two Super Bowl-winning teams, and he was also a five-time Pro Bowl with three First-Team All-Pros.  Ranked #122 on notinhalloffame.com.

Charles “Buckets” Goldenberg: GNB 1933-45.  Goldenberg was a three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay and is a member of the 1930s All-Decade Team and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.  Ranked #241 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Dennis Harrah: RAM 1975-87.  A Los Angeles Ram for his entire career, Harrah had a pair of three-year streaks as a Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #242 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jay Hilgenberg: CHI 1981-91, CLE 1992 & NOR 1993.  Hilgenberg was the Center for the Super Bowl Shuffle-winning team, and the two-time First Team All-Pro also had a seven-year run of Pro Bowls from 11985 to 1991.  Ranked #67 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton: BAL 1984, IND 1984-89, ATL 1990-1993 & MIN 1994-95. Hinton went to six Pro Bowls, five of which were as a Colt.  Ranked #166 on notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Jacoby: WAS 1981-93.  A famed member of the Hogs, Jacoby was part of all three of Washington’s Super Bowl wins and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #33 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn: ATL 1978-94.  Kenn is one of the finest offensive linemen in Falcons history, and the Left Tackle would earn five Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros. Ranked #61 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Kuechenberg: MIA 1970-83.  The versatile Lineman was a significant component in Miami’s back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in the early 70s, and he was also named to six Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #30 on notinhalloffame.com. 

George Kunz: ATL 1869-74 & BAL 1975-78 & 80.  Kunz was a seven-time Pro Bowl Tackle and would add a First Team All-Pro in his first year as a Colt.  Ranked #103 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Riley Matheson: RAM 1939-42 & 1944-47, DET 1943 & SFO 1948 .  An NFL Champion with the Rams in 1945, Matheson was a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #152 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Max Montoya: CIN 1979-87 & RAI 1990-94.  Montoya was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.

*Jon Morris: BOS/NWE 1964-74, DET 1975-77 & CHI 1978.  Morris was an AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, and the Center was a First Team All-Pro once.  Ranked #261 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ralph Neely: DAL 1965-77.  Neely won two Super Bowls with Dallas and was a three-time First Team All-Pro at Right Tackle.  Ranked #218 on notinhalloffame.com.  

John Niland: DAL 1966-74 & PHI 1975.  Niland went to the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons (1968-73) and was chosen for three First Team All-Pros.  The Guard also won a Super Bowl with Dallas.  Ranked #213 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bart Oates: NYG 1985-95.  A five-time Pro Bowl at Center, Oates anchored the New York Giants to three Super Bowls.  Ranked #293 on notinhalloffame.com.

Marvin Powell: NYJ 1977-85 & TAM 1986-87.  Powell went to five straight Pro Bowls (1979-83) with a First Team All-Pro Selection in three of them.  Ranked #213 on notinhalloffame.com.

Duane Putnam: RAM 1952-59 & 1962, DAL 1960 & CLE 1961.  Like Powell above, Putnam went to five straight Pro Bowls (1954-58) with a First Team All-Pro Selection in three of them.  Ranked #229 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dick Schafrath: CLE 1959-71.  A Cleveland Brown for the entirety of his career, Schafrath was a six-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro at Left Tackle.  He is also a former NFL Champion.  Ranked #27 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jerry Sisemore: PHI 1973-84.  Sisemore went to two Pro Bowls and helped the Philadelphia Eagles reach their first Super Bowl.

*Doug Smith: RAM 1978-91.  Smith had a six-year streak of Pro Bowl Selections at Center (1984-89).

Walt Sweeney: SDG 1963-73 & WAS 1974-75.  Sweeney won an AFL Championship with San Diego, and the Guard was chosen for nine consecutive AFL All-Stars/NFL Pro Bowls (1963-72).  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #55 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Bob Talamini: HOU 1960-67 & NYJ 1968.  Talamini was chosen for six straight AFL All-Stars (1962-67) and helped the Oilers win three AFL Championships.  The three-time First Team All-Pro played his final season with the New York Jets, where he aided the Jets in their first Super Bowl win.  Ranked #324 on notinhalloffame.com.

Fuzzy Thurston: BAL 1958 & GNB 1959-67.  The highly decorated Guard won six NFL Championships (one with Baltimore and five with Green Bay) and was a member of the Packers’ first two Super Bowl teams.  He is also a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #264 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 #13 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Bob Vogel: BAL 1963-72.  Vogel helped the Colts win their first Super Bowl, and he was also a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.

Ed White: MIN 1969-77 & SDG 1978-85.  White had a long career split between the Vikings and Chargers, and the Guard went to four Pro Bowls.

*Ray Wietcha: NYG 1953-62.  The four-time Pro Bowl Center helped the Giants win the 1956 Championship.  Ranked #291 on notinhalloffame.com.

Al Wistert: PHI 1943-51.  Wistert was an All-Decade player of the 1940s who propelled Philadelphia to two NFL Championships.  He was also a four-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #31 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Offensive Linemen who did not return from last year are Harris Barton, Randy Cross, Ray Donaldson, Bill Fralic, Kevin Glover, Wayne Hawkins, Don Mosebar, Nate Newton, and Luis Sharpe.  Added were Hunk Anderson, Bruce Armstrong, Stew Barber, Dennis Harrah, Riley Matheson, Max Montoya, Jon Morris, Bart Oates, Marvin Powell, Duane Putnam, Bob Talamini, Bob Vogel, and Ray Wietcha.

Defensive Linemen (15):

*Houston Antwine: BOS/NWE 1961-71 & PHI 1972.  Antwine was named to six consecutive AFL All-Stars (1963-68).  A one-time First Team All-Pro, Antwine recorded 38 unofficial Sacks.  Ranked #216 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Gene Brito: WAS 1951-53 & 1955-60.  Brito played his entire career with the Washington Redskins and was a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  Ranked #158 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roger Brown: DET 1960-66 & RAM 1967-69.  Brown went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (1962-67) and was twice named a First Team All-Pro.   Ranked #164 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Earl Faison: SDG 1961-66 & MIA 1966.  In Faison’s first five seasons, he was chosen to be an AFL All-Star and was a First Team All-Pro in four of them.  He had 31 unofficial Sacks in his career.  Ranked #238 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Gastineau:  NYJ 1979-88.  Named the UPI Defensive Player of the Year in 1984, Gastineau was a two-time Sack leader, a three-time First Team All-Pro, and a five-time Pro Bowler.  He had 107 career Sacks and four top ten AP Defensive Player of the Year finishes.  Ranked #56 on notinhalloffame.com.

L.C. Greenwood:  PIT 1969-81.  Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls.  A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks.  Ranked #5 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ed “Too Tall” Jones:  DAL 1974-78 & 1980-89.  Jones had 106 Sacks over his career that netted him three Pro Bowls, a First Team All-Pro, and a Super Bowl ring.  Ranked #283 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Marshall: CLE 1960 & MIN 1961-78.  The ironman of his day, Marshall brought the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection along the way.  He had 130.5 lifetime Sacks.  Ranked #37 on notinhalloffame.com.

Leonard Marshall: NYG 1983-92, NYJ 1993 & WAS 1994.  Marshall had 83.5 Sacks and 714 Tackles over his career and won two Super Bowls with the Giants.  He also went to two Pro Bowls.

Harvey Martin: DAL 1973-83.  Martin won the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1977 and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection who won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.  He had 114 career Sacks.  Ranked #119 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jerry Mays: DTX/KAN 1961-70.  Mays played his entire career with the Texans/Chiefs, where he was a seven-time AFL All-Star, a two-time First Team All-Pro, a three-time AFL Champion, and a one-time Super Bowl winner.  He had 65.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #54 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Sestak:  BUF 1962-68.  Buffalo’s Right Defensive Tackle for seven seasons, Sestak anchored the Bills to two AFL Championships while earning three consecutive First Team All-Pros (1963-65) and four AFL All-Stars (1962-65).  He was also the AFL’s leader in Sacks in 1964 (15.5) and had 52 overall.  Ranked #191 on notinhalloffame.com.

Fred Smerlas:  BUF 1979-89, SFO 1990 & NWE 1991-92.  The Nose Tackle was a five-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro during his time in Buffalo.  Ranked #232 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Neil Smith: KAN 1988-71, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  A two-time Super Bowl winner with Denver, Smith is best known for his time in Kansas City where he was a First Time All-Pro once, and earned five of his six Pro Bowls.  The Defensive end finished in the top five in Defensive Player of the Year twice and overall had 104.5 Sacks.  Ranked #40 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Stanfill:  MIA 1969-76.  Stanfill was Miami’s Right Defensive End for eight years, where he won two Super Bowls and was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He compiled 69.5 Sacks and was the league-leader in that stat in 1973.  Ranked #303 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Linemen who did not return from last year are Lyle Alzado, George Andrie, Al “Bubba” Baker, Ray Childress, Ben Davidson, Bill Glass, Rosey Grier, Rich Jackson, Sean Jones, Tom Keating, Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb, Leslie O’Neal, Michael Dean Perry, Lou Rymkus, Otis Sistrunk, Bubba Smith, and Greg Townsend.  Added were Houston Antwine, Gene Brito, Earl Faison, Jerry Mays, and Neil Smith

Linebackers (25):

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Giants, Banks was a one-time All-Pro with 860 career Tackles. Ranked #234 in notinhalloffame.com.

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 was also a one-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Second Team All-Pro.  Ranked #14 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Bergey: CIN 1969-73 & PHI 1974-80.  Bergey was the 1969 Defensive Rookie of the Year and was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year in 1974.  He was a two-time First Team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #154 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Matt Blair: MIN 1974-84.  Blair went to six straight Pro Bowls (1977-82) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro in a career spent entirely in Minnesota.  He had 16 Interceptions, 20 Fumble Recoveries, and 23 Sacks.  Ranked #185 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Curtis: BAL 1965-75, SEA 1976 & WAS 1977-78.  Curtis helped Baltimore win Super Bowl V and, individually, was a one-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl recipient.  Ranked #183 on notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Fortunato:  CHI 1955-66.  Fortunato played his entire career with the Bears, where he won an NFL Championship and earned three consecutive First Team All-Pros (1963-65).  Ranked #94 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Grantham:  NYT 1960-62 & NYJ 1963-72.  Grantham was a five-time AFL All-Star and three-time First Team All-Pro, who was part of the historical Jets team that won Super Bowl III.  Ranked #60 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tim Harris:  GNB 1986-90, SFO 1991-92 & 1994-95 & PHI 1993.   Harris won a Super Bowl with San Francisco, and in 1989, as a Packer, he was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  He recorded 81 Sacks.

E.J. Holub (also OL): DTX/KAN 1961-70.  A five-time AFL All-Star, Holub was a two-time First Team All-Pro who helped Kansas City win three AFL Championships and a Super Bowl.  Ranked #315 on notinhalloffame.com.

Vaughn Johnson: NOR 1986-93 & PHI 1994.  Johnson went to four Pro Bowls and was third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 1990.

Lee Roy Jordan: DAL 1963-76.  Playing his entire career with the Cowboys, Jordan patrolled the interior and was a five-time Pro Bowler in the process.  He also won a Super Bowl with Big D.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

Seth Joyner: PHI 1986-93, ARI 1994-96, GNB 1997 & DEN 98.  Joyner won a Super Bowl late in his career with Denver but was at his best with Philadelphia, where he had two of his three Pro Bowls and was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year in 1991.  He had 1,123 Tackles and 52 Sacks.  Ranked #285 on notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Lloyd: PIT 1988-97 & CAR 1998.  Lloyd was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection who earned three straight First Team All-Pros (1993-95).  He finished in the top three in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice, was a two-time league-leader in Forced Fumbles, and had 54.5 Sacks.  Ranked #70 on notinhalloffame.com.

Wilber Marshall: CHI 1984-87, WAS 1988-92, HOU 1993, ARI 1994 & NYJ 1995.  Marshall won two Super Bowls (one with Chicago and one with Washington), and the three-time Pro Bowl Selection had 23 Interceptions, 45 Sacks, and 1,043 Tackles.  Ranked #116 on notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Martin: OAK 1977-81 & RAI 1983-88.  Martin played his entire career with the Raiders, winning two Super Bowls and earning two Pro Bowls.  He had 14 Interceptions and 56.5 Sacks.

Clay Matthews Jr.: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.  Matthews Jr. was a three-time leader in Combined Tackles with 1,595 overall.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Matthews Jr. also had 82.5 Sacks and 16 Interceptions.  Ranked #100 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bud McFadin: RAM 1952-56, DEN 1960-63 & HOU 1964-65.  McFadin was a two-time Pro Bowl recipient, a three-time AFL All-Star, and a three-time First Team All-Pro who is one of the few players who had success in both leagues.  Ranked #277 on notinhalloffame.com.

Karl Mecklenberg: DEN 1983-94.  Mecklenburg was a beast in the interior, compiling three First Team All-Pros, six Pro Bowls, 79 Sacks, and 1,118 Tackles.  Ranked #81 on notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Millen: OAK 1980-81, RAI 1982-88, SFO 1989-90 & WAS 1991.  The one-time Pro Bowler won four Super Bowls over his career.

Tommy Nobis: ATL 1966-78.  Nobis was the Rookie of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #36 on notinhalloffame.com.

Isiah Robertson: RAM 1971-78 & BUF 1979-82.  The 1971 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year went to six Pro Bowls, was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and in 1973 was second in DPOY voting.  The multi-faceted Linebacker had 25 Interceptions and 24.5 Sacks.  Ranked #137 on notinhalloffame.com.

Pat Swilling: NOR 1986-92, DET 1993-94 & OAK 1995-96 & 1998.   Swilling was named the 1991 AP Defensive Player of the Year and the five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, accumulated 107.5 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #72 on notinhalloffame.com.

Darryl Talley: BUF 1983-94, ATL 1995 & MIN 1996.  Talley went to two Pro Bowls and was part of the Buffalo squad that went to four straight Super Bowls.  He compiled 1,252 Tackles and 38.5 Sacks.

Keena Turner: SFO 1980-90.  Turner went to one Pro Bowl and was a key part of four Super Bowl Championships in San Francisco.

The Linebackers who did not return from last year are Dan Connors, Tom Jackson, Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, Andy Russell, and Phil Villapiano.  Added were Matt Blair, Tim Harris, E.J. Holub, Bud McFadin, Isiah Robertson, and Keena Turner.

Defensive Backs (27):

Dick Anderson:  MIA 1968-77.  Anderson was the 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year, the 1973 Defensive Player of the Year, and won two Super Bowls.  A two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl Selection, Anderson had 24 Interceptions.  Ranked #93 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Boyd:  BAL 1960-68.  Boyd won an NFL Championship with the Colts and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He led the league in Interceptions in 1965 and had 57 in total.  Ranked #39 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Brown:  PIT 1975, SEA 1976-86 & GNB 1987-89.  Brown compiled an impressive 62 Interceptions over his career, returning five for Touchdowns.  He went to the Pro Bowl once.

Joey Browner:  MIN 1983-91 & TAM 1992.   Browner went to six consecutive Pro Bowls as a Strong Safety and was a First-Team All-Pro in three of those years.  He recorded 37 interceptions over his career.  Ranked #135 on notinhalloffame.com.

Butch Byrd:  BUF 1964-70 & DEN 1971.  Byrd helped Buffalo win two AFL Championships, and individually was a three-time First Team All-Pro with five AFL All-Stars.  He also had 40 picks over his eight seasons.  Ranked #205 on notinhalloffame.com.

Thom Darden:  CLE 1972-81.  Darden led the NFL in Interceptions once, went to one Pro Bowl, and was a three-time Second Team All-Pro.

Don Doll:  DET 1949-52, WAS 1953 & RAM 1954.  Doll helped the Lions win the 1952 NFL Championship, was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection, and is part of the Lions All-Time Team.

Pat Fischer:  STL 1961-67 & WAS 1968-77.  Fischer recorded 56 Interceptions (29 with St. Louis & 27 with Washington) and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.  Ranked #132 on notinhalloffame.com.

Goose Gonsoullin: DEN 1960-66 & SFO 1967.  Gonsoulin was Denver’s first great Safety, recording 43 of his 46 Interceptions for the Broncos.  He was a five-time AFL All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #230 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Grayson: DTX 1961-62, KAN 1963-84 & OAK 1965-70.  Grayson won two AFL Titles (one with Dallas and one with Oakland) and the DB was a three-time First Team All-Pro and six-time AFL All-Star.  He led the AFL in Interceptions in 1968 and had 48 in total.  Ranked #98 on notinhalloffame.com.

Cornell Green: DAL 1962-74.  Another career Dallas Cowboy, Green was twice named a First Team All-Pro and five Pro Bowls and helped them win their first Super Bowl.  He had 34 career Interceptions.  Ranked #184 on notinhalloffame.com.

Merton Hanks: SFO 1991-98 & SEA 1999.  Hanks was a 49er for all but his final season, and in San Francisco, the Free Safety was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  He also won a Super Bowl there and had 33 career Interceptions.

Lester Hayes: OAK 1977-81 & RAI 1982-86.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, Hayes was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year in 1980.  The Cornerback was a one-time First Team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowl Selection, and had 39 picks over his career.  Ranked #17 on notinhalloffame.com.

Warren Lahr:  CLE 1949-59.  Lahr had 44 Interceptions in a career spent entirely in Cleveland, where he won an AAFC Championship, an NFL Championship, and went to the Pro Bowl once.

Albert Lewis:  KAN 1983-93, RAI 1994 & OAK 1995-98.  Lewis went to four straight Pro Bowls (1987-90), was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 42 Interceptions.  Ranked #104 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tim McDonald: STL-PHO 1987-92 & SFO 1993-99.  McDonald split his career nearly evenly with two teams as he had three Pro Bowls, Second Team All-Pros, and 20 TDs each with both the 49ers and Cardinals.  Ranked #188 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie Meador: RAM 1959-70.  Meador is one of the most prolific Defensive Backs in RMS history and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He amassed a franchise record of 46 Interceptions.  Ranked #68 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lemar Parrish: CIN 1970-77, WAS 1978-81 & BUF 1982.  Parrish went to eight Pro Bowls with a First Team All-Pro while recording 47 Interceptions.  Ranked #16 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Patton:  NYG 1955-66.  From 1958 to 1962, Patton went to the Pro Bowl and was a First Team All-Pro.  The long-time Safety had 51 Interceptions and was an NFL Champion in 1956.  Ranked #34 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Eugene Robinson:  SEA 1985-95, GNB 1996-97, ATL 1998-99 & CAR 2000.   Robinson went to three Pro Bowls and was a Super Bowl Champion with the Green Bay Packers.  He compiled 57 Interceptions and 1,413 Tackles over his career.  Ranked #231 on notinhalloffame.com.

George Saimes:  BUF 1963-68 & DEN 1970-72.  Saimes was selected to five straight AFL All-Stars (1964-68) and, over his career, earned three First Team All-Pro honors, two AFL Championships, and recorded 22 Interceptions.  Ranked #247 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Scott: MIA 1970-75 & WAS 1976-78.  Scott won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins, winning an MVP in one of them, and the Safety was also a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He had 47 career Interceptions.  Ranked #53 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dennis Smith:  DEN 1981-94.  Smith earned six Pro Bowls and had 15 Sacks, 30 Interceptions, and 1,158 Tackles in a career spent entirely in Denver.   Ranked #289 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Tatum: OAK 1971-79 & HOU 1980.  The feared Safety went to three straight Pro Bowls (1973-75), won a Super Bowl with Oakland, and had 37 Interceptions.

Everson Walls: DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93.  Walls had 57 Interceptions and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection with a Super Bowl ring with the Giants.  Ranked #87 on notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Waters: DAL 1970-78 & 1980-81.  Waters played in both of Dallas’ two Super Bowl Championships in the 1970s and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He had 41 Interceptions. 

Abe Woodson: SFO 1958-64 & STL 1965-66.  A multi-faceted performer, Woodson went to five straight Pro Bowls (1959-63) and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Defensively, Woodson had 19 Interceptions, and he compiled over 6,500 Return Yards with seven Touchdowns.  Ranked #186 on notinhalloffame.com.

Louis Wright: DEN 1975-86.  Wright played all 12 of his NFL seasons with Denver, where he went to five Pro Bowls and earned two First Team All-Pros.  He had 26 career Interceptions.  Ranked #28 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Backs who did not return were Deron Cherry, Nolan Cromwell, Terry McDaniel, Roosevelt Taylor, Mike Wagner, Dave Whitsell, and Fred Williamson.  Added were Dave Brown, Goose Gonsoulin, Warren Lahr, Eugene Robinson, George Saimes, Charlie Waters, and Abe Woodson.

Punters/Kickers (3)

Jim Bakken: STL 1962-78.  Bakken was a four-time Pro Bowl Kicker and two-time First-Team All-Pro. He scored 1,380 career Points.

Jim Breech: CIN 1979-92.  Breech played fourteen seasons over his career and scored 1,246 Points.

Nick Lowery: NWE 1978, KAN 1980-93 & NYJ 1994-96.  Lowery went to four Pro Bowls and was a three-time Field Goal Percentage leader.  He had 1,711 over his career.

The only one who did not return from last year was Norm Johnson, with Jim Breech taking his spot.

Special Teams (2)

Mel Gray: NOR 1986-88, DET 1989-94, HOU 1995-96, TEN 1997, & PHI 1997.  Gray was an All-Decade Returner who was chosen for four Pro Bowls and three First Team All-Pros.  He had 13,279 All-Purpose Yards.

Steve Tasker: HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97.  Tasker went to four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #144 on notinhalloffame.com.

These were the same two Special Teams players from last year.

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).

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.

Days before the end of 2024, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the 15 Finalists who have advanced for possible Hall of Fame induction in 2025.

The class will be announced on February 6 as part of the NFL honors show

*Means they were a Finalist last year

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

The Finalists are:

Quarterbacks (1):

**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.  

It is no shock to see Manning here as the lone Quarterback, but his candidacy has some flaws.  Manning was never considered among the best three at QB in any year, and his overall record is .500.  Despite this, he is gaining the most attention of any candidate.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs (1):

*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 and is the only Running Back to make the finals, and he is now a two-time Finalist.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers (3)

**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 is now a six-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 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 is a Finalist for the first time.  Ranked #24 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, and like Holt, he is a Finalist for the sixth time.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends (1)

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in 2024.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Lineman (3):

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 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 and is now a two-time Finalist.  Ranked #33 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.  Like Manning, he is a Finalist in his first year on the ballot.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen (1)

**Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  A five-time Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years, Allen had been a Finalist in all five of his years of eligibility.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Linebackers: (2)

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is 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.  Kuechly is also a first-time Finalist in year one.  Ranked #2 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 huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Like Kuechly, he is a Finalist in his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs: (2)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 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 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 #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Special Teams: (1)

**Adam Vinatieri PK: 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).  He is also a Finalist in his first year on the ballot. Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Failing to advance:  

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.   Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Steve Wisniewski (G):  RAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  Robert Mathis (DE, Also LB):  IND 2003-16.  Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.

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.