1997 SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

Thank you for your participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are unaware of what that is, we acted like the PFHOF had its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the years up to 1996.

For “1997,” a Preliminary Vote with nearly 100 players whose playing career ended by 1990. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters were asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next week, they will choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

31 votes were cast, with the top 15 advancing.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals: 

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

We will post the Class of 1997 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project next Saturday.

Thank you to all who contributed. If you want to be part of this project, please let us know!

1997 PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Thank you to all who participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are still determining what that is, we treated the PFHOF as having its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the first 50 years.

For “1997,” a Preliminary Vote with over 100 players whose playing career ended by 1991. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, voters will be asked to select 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, then choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

Please note that a significant change occurred “years ago,” allowing voters to submit fewer than the allotted spots. 

31 Votes took place.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates they have been removed from future ballots

This is for the Senior Era

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

Next week, we will announce the Semi-Finalists for the 1997 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project.

1996 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 51st 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 1996:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1996.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1996.

About the 1996 Inductees:

Ozzie Newsome, TE, CLE 1978-90: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

At the time of his retirement, many felt that Ozzie Newsome was one of the most prolific Tight Ends in football history, and some say he still is.

Taken in the First Round (23^rd Overall) out of Alabama, Newsome brought his blocking and receiving skills to the Browns in 1978.  Known for his cerebral play, Newsome helped take the Browns to two AFC Championship Games, and he would have three 1,000-Yard seasons, which were excellent for a Tight End in the 1980s.  Newsome played his entire career with Cleveland, accumulating 7,980 Yards with 47 Touchdowns.

Newsome was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, his first year of eligibility, and was part of the first class of the Browns Ring of Honor in 2010.  As an executive, he orchestrated teams that won two Super Bowls when the franchise relocated to Baltimore.

Mike Webster, C, PIT 1974-88 & KAN 1989-90: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

After being drafted in the Fifth Round in 1974, Mike Webster worked on Special Teams, Center, and Guard in his first two seasons, contributing to the Steelers in little ways while helping them win their first two Super Bowls.  What followed was one of the greatest runs ever by an NFL Center.

Webster began the 1976 season as the Steelers’ starting Center, and he would do so for the next 150 Games.  He became an icon in Pittsburgh for his tenacity and ability to play through injuries, regardless of the severity.  The Steelers were mostly known for their defense, but Webster ran the line that won two more Super Bowls and kept Pittsburgh competitive through the 80s.

“Iron” Mike would win two more Super Bowls and was a perennial Pro Bowl Selection from 1978 to 1985, with another one in 1987. Five of those Pro Bowl years were also First Team All-Pro seasons, with four of them being consecutive (1978-81). He would later earn the honor of being named to the 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Team, and he was also chosen for the 75^th and 100th Anniversary Team.  Webster played for Pittsburgh until 1988, when he signed with Kansas City for two more years.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame called his name in 1997, and he was posthumously named to the Steelers Hall of Honor 20 years later. 

Webster's end was tragic.  The Center incurred substantial brain damage and was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that football players are now all aware of.  He died at the age of 50, following years of pain, dementia, and depression.

Kenny Easley, DB, SEA 1981-87.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 4th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

A star player with UCLA, Kenny Easley was the fourth overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 1981. 

Easley came in with high expectations, which he showed with a good rookie season as their starting Strong Safety.  That good start was followed by a four-year run during which he was considered the best, or among the best, Defensive Backs in the game of pro football.  Easley went to the Pro Bowl in four straight years (1982-85) with a fifth in 1987, and he was also a three-time First Team All-Pro (1983-85).  His best year was in 1984, when he was the Defensive Player of the Year, the first Seahawk to win the honor.  That year, he led the NFL in Interceptions with 10 and would finish his career with 32.

Easley was vocal during the 1987 strike, and some believe this was why he was traded to the Cardinals in the off-season.  The trade did not stick, as Easley flunked the physical, and it was learned that he had kidney problems, which forced him out of football.  He would later sue the Seahawks, claiming that the overuse of Advil prescribed due to an ankle issue led to his kidney problems.  After an out-of-court settlement, the two parties reconciled, and Easley was inducted into their Ring of Honor.

Ray Guy, P, OAK/RAI, 1973-86.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 5th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ray Guy made headlines when he became the first punter drafted in the first round.  Guy proved worthy of the trust the Raiders placed in him, as his booming, accurate kicks changed how special teams were thought of.  Guy’s punts were not just powerful; they had long hang time and could be deadly accurate when needed.  

Punters were never thought of as having the ability to win games, but there were occasions when Guy’s leg did just that for the Raiders.

Claude Humphrey, DE, ATL 1968-78 & PHI 1979-81.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 10th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

The Atlanta Falcons chose Humphrey with the Third Overall Pick in 1968, and despite his obvious talent, the Defensive End played his college ball at Tennessee State, and did not face the elite competition that other draftees did.  Anyone who was worried need not have been, as Humphrey won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and began a run of dominance in destroying Quarterbacks.

Humphrey had at least 10 Sacks in six of his first seven years, which was far more impressive considering that, beyond Tommy Nobis, there were no other Falcons defenders that offenses feared.  He went to five consecutive Pro Bowls (1970-74) that included two First Team All-Pros (1972 & 1973), and had there been an All-Half Decade Team, you can bet that Humphrey would be on it.

A knee injury prevented Humphrey from competing in 1975, but he returned at a high level, adding another Pro Bowl in 1977.  Humphrey joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979, played there for three years, and finally tasted the playoffs, which included an NFC Championship Game appearance. 

Humphrey had 130 (Unofficial) Sacks over his career, with at least 10 in nine of his seasons.

Gino Cappelletti FL-SE-DB-WR-PK, BOS 1960-70.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 1st Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The New England Patriots would have a lot of talent come wear their uniform, but only one of them would have the nickname of "Mr. Patriot."

The road to the pros was a long one for Cappalletti, as he went undrafted in 1955 after an excellent college career at the University of Minnesota and would play semi-pro for a few years.  The creation of the American Football League in 1960 would create opportunities, and Cappelletti signed with the Boston Patriots, where he was hired as a Kicker and Cornerback.  He would find a perfect home on the East Coast, and over the 1960s, he would be the team's permanent kicker and lead the AFL in field goals three times.  That, however, was not the only job that Cappalletti would have for the Pats.

Cappelletti moved away from the defensive side of the ball and would also play at Flanker and Split End, and over his 11 seasons in Boston, he would accrue 292 Receptions for 4,589 Yards and 42 Touchdowns.  Four of his seasons would see him finish in the top ten in Receiving Yards.

Scoring TDs, Field Goals, and Extra Points, Cappalletti would retire by far as the franchise leader in points, though Adam Vinatieri has since eclipsed that.  He is, however, the All-Time leader in Points Scored for the AFL, a record we feel certain anyone, Vinatieri included, can never touch.

Ralph Wilson, Owner, BUF 1960-2013.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1996 on his 5th Coach/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ralph Wilson was a businessman who founded the Buffalo Bills in 1959 as an original member of the American Football League (AFL). Serving as a key part of the "Foolish Club," he helped the upstart league challenge the established NFL before successfully negotiating its historic merger in 1970. Wilson's leadership early on brought Western New York two AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965.

Throughout his 54 years as owner, he became the NFL's "voice of reason," heavily advocating for league stability, revenue sharing, and keeping his franchise in its original market. His franchise saw its peak success in the 1990s, winning four consecutive AFC titles to make an unprecedented four straight Super Bowl appearances.

1996 SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

Thank you for your participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are unaware of what that is, we acted like the PFHOF had its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the years up to 1995.

For “1996,” a Preliminary Vote with nearly 100 players whose playing career ended by 1990. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters were asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next week, they will choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

31 votes were cast, with the top 15 advancing.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals: 

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

We will post the Class of 1996 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project next Saturday.

Thank you to all who contributed. If you want to be part of this project, please let us know!

1996 PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Thank you to all who participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are still determining what that is, we treated the PFHOF as having its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the first 50 years.

For “1996,” a Preliminary Vote with over 100 players whose playing career ended by 1990. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, voters will be asked to select 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, then choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

Please note that a significant change occurred “years ago,” allowing voters to submit fewer than the allotted spots. 

32 Votes took place.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates they have been removed from future ballots

This is for the Senior Era

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

Next week, we will announce the Semi-Finalists for the 1996 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project.

1995 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 50th 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 1995:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1995.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1995.

About the 1995 Inductees:

Steve Largent, WR, SEA 1976-89: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

A member of the Seattle Seahawks for his entire career, Steve Largent is one of the most unlikely offensive superstars in history.

Largent fell to the fourth round after having a great college run at Tulsa, but the team that drafted him (Houston) didn’t see much in him and thought they got a good return on a future eighth round pick, considering they were going to cut him anyway.  This happened during his rookie pre-season, and Seattle arguably stole the player who would become their best Wide Receiver in franchise history. 

Never known for his speed, Largent was one of the most sure-handed receivers in the game.  He had 705 Receiving Yards as a rookie, and in 1978, he went to his first of what would be seven Pro Bowls.  In all of those Pro Bowl campaigns, Largent hit four digits in Receiving Yards, and he would also have the eighth one.  Largent would also lead all receivers in Yards twice (1979 & 1985), with the latter year earning him a First Team All-Pro.  It is also worth mentioning that Largent won the Walter Payton Man of the Year in his penultimate season.

At the time of his retirement, he was the league-leader in Receptions (819), Receiving Yards (13,089), and Receiving Touchdowns (100).

In 1992, Largent would become the first player to have his number retired by the team.  He was also named to the NFL 100^th Anniversary Team.

Mike Haynes, DB, NWE 1976-82 & RAI 1983-89: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

Mike Haynes is regarded as one of the greatest NFL cornerbacks, known for his speed, quickness, and man-to-man coverage. After a standout college career at Arizona State, he was drafted fifth overall by the Patriots in 1976. Haynes made an immediate impact, winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after intercepting eight passes and excelling as a punt returner. Over seven seasons, he earned six Pro Bowl selections and was the first in franchise history to return a punt for a touchdown.

In 1983, Haynes joined the Los Angeles Raiders, teaming up with Lester Hayes to become one of football's most dominant cornerback duos. Arriving mid-season, he helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII 38-9 over the Redskins. Over seven years, Haynes became a shutdown corner, earning three Pro Bowl selections and back-to-back first-team All-Pro honors in 1984 and 1985.

Haynes retired after the 1989 season with 46 career interceptions and a legacy of absolute defensive dominance. His career has been heavily decorated; he was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary Team. 

Jackie Smith, TE, STL 1963-77 & DAL 1978.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 12th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

The speed of Jackie Smith earned him a late round selection (10^th Round) in 1963 by St. Louis, who converted the Flanker into a Tight End.

Smith was an excellent blocker, but his receiving skills helped transform the position, and he amassed 7,918 Yards with 40 Touchdowns from the air.  He would also earn five consecutive Pro Bowl Selections (1966-70).

Notably, Smith also served as the Cardinals’ punter for his first three years.

Tommy Nobis, LB, ATL 1966-76.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 14th Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tommy Nobis, affectionately known as "Mr. Falcon," was a founding figure of the Atlanta Falcons franchise. As the first overall pick in the 1966 NFL Draft, he made an immediate and remarkable impact, initially with the expansion team. In his debut season, Nobis recorded an astonishing 294 combined tackles, a franchise record that still stands and is unofficially the highest single-season tackle total in NFL history. His fierce defensive play earned him the 1966 NFL Rookie of the Year award and the first of five Pro Bowl selections in his career.

Throughout his 11-year career with the Falcons, Nobis was celebrated as one of football's most formidable and intimidating middle linebackers. He led Atlanta in tackles in nine seasons, earned First-team All-Pro honors in 1967, and was included in the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team despite playing for a struggling expansion team. Remarkably, even after major knee surgeries, his legendary toughness enabled him to return to top form, earning his final Pro Bowl selection in 1972. Nobis retired after the 1976 season with 12 career interceptions, and his No. 60 jersey was the first ever retired by the Falcons organization.

Jan Stenerud, PK, KC 1967-79, GNB 1980-83 & MIN 1984-85.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 5th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

From Norway, Jan Stenerud arrived in the U.S. on a ski jumping scholarship at Montana State.  The Football Coach learned of Stenerud’s kicking abilities and offered him a tryout, which he made.  Stenerud would set a then-record 59 Yard Field Goal, and following college, he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he became one of the first dedicated Place Kickers in the game.

Stenerud’s soccer style of kicking took over the game, and he was consistently among one of the most accurate kickers for years.  A two-time AFL All-Star and four-time Pro Bowl Selection over three different decades. Stenerud helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV and remained with them until 1979, then spent four years with Green Bay before concluding his career with two years in Minnesota. 

Roger Brown DT, DET 1960-66 & RAM 1967-69.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 1st Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It is alleged that Roger Brown was the first legitimate 300-pounder in the National Football League. Nowadays, this is commonplace, but Brown proved that a much larger man could be very athletic. It is also amazing that someone so big could be forgotten so quickly.

Brown was good, but he played alongside other greats of the sport. As a Detroit Lion, he played with Alex Karras, who got all the headlines. Later, he became a Los Angeles Ram and was the fourth cog in the Rams’ Fearsome Foursome defense behind the big names of Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen. Roger Brown may not have become a household name, but his size and skill made him one of the most feared defensive linemen in the league, and his Pro Bowls were earned, not by riding the coattails of his more famous teammates.

What would Roger Brown’s legacy be if he had been the featured defensive star of his team? He was good enough to have been, but circumstances blessed him with the chance to play with the greats and cursed him to be in their shadows; nevertheless, he is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project.

Wellington Mara, Owner, NYG 1930-2004.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1995 on his 9th Coach/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

Wellington Mara had an 81-year career with the New York Giants, transforming the club from a startup to a key NFL franchise. Starting as a nine-year-old ball boy for his father's team, Mara and his brother Jack became co-owners in 1930 when he was 14. After graduating from Fordham and serving as a U.S. Navy officer during WWII, he returned to manage player personnel. His talent for spotting skilled players led to drafting legends like Frank Gifford and Roosevelt Brown and making key trades, building the dominant Giants teams of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He became team president in 1965, guiding the franchise through a rebuilding era that resulted in Super Bowl wins.

Beyond his dedication to New York, Mara was a key figure in the NFL, advocating for policies that promoted the sport's growth. He prioritized league interests over his own for fairness, supporting equal sharing of TV revenues, which helped small-market teams thrive. Mara also played a crucial role in league leadership, breaking a 1960 deadlock to elect Pete Rozelle as commissioner and serving as the National Football Conference president from 1984 until his death in 2005. Each official game ball bears his nickname, "The Duke,” honoring his systemic impact.

1995 SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

Thank you for your participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are unaware of what that is, we acted like the PFHOF had its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the years up to 1994.

For “1995,” a Preliminary Vote with nearly 100 players whose playing career ended by 1989. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters were asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next week, they will choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

31 votes were cast, with the top 15 advancing.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals: 

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

We will post the Class of 1995 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project next Saturday.

Thank you to all who contributed. If you want to be part of this project, please let us know!

1995 PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Thank you to all who participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are still determining what that is, we treated the PFHOF as having its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the first 49 years.

For “1995,” a Preliminary Vote with over 100 players whose playing career ended by 1989. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, voters will be asked to select 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, then choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

Please note that a significant change occurred “years ago,” allowing voters to submit fewer than the allotted spots. 

30 Votes took place.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates they have been removed from future ballots

This is for the Senior Era

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates that they will be removed from the ballot permanently.

Next week, we will announce the Semi-Finalists for the 1995 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project.

1994 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 49th official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 32 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 1994:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1994.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1994.

About the 1994 Inductees:

Randy White, DT, DAL 1975-88: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Randy White was a superstar at the University of Maryland, where in 1974 he won the Lombardi Trophy and was the ACC Player of the Year.  The Cowboys took notice, and they would select him with the second overall pick.

White was eased into greatness as a backup Linebacker, but in his third year he became the starting Right Defensive Tackle, which was his natural fit.  That was the year that White broke out and established himself among the best in the game.  White went on a 10-year Pro-Bowl streak, with seven of those years seeing him ascend to First Team All-Pro honors.  It was also especially sweet, as in that first year, White would win Super Bowl XII, sharing the game MVP with a fellow defensive teammate, Harvey Martin.

White was an exceptional pass rusher who had only 52 official Sacks (the stat was not recorded until 1982).  He missed only one game, and he was one of the most popular players in team history.  White would be named to the 1980s All-Decade Team and the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1994.

Tony Dorsett, RB, DAL 1977-87 & DEN 1988: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

A stud Running Back at the University of Pittsburgh, Tony Dorsett had an immediate impact with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him second overall in the 1977 Draft.  That year, Dorsett won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award with 1,007 Rushing Yards and four postseason touchdowns on the way to a Super Bowl win.  Not a bad rookie year!

Dorsett never won another Super Bowl, but he remained a superstar and one of the elite rushers over the next eight seasons.  He had eight 1,000-yard years, with all of those seasons seeing him finish in the top nine in that category.  He was a dual threat in that era with his receiving skills and was also perennially in the top nine in Yards from Scrimmage, appearing on that list from 1977 to 1985.

After the 1987 season, the Running Back would sign with the Denver Broncos for one final season. Dorsett would have 12,739 Rushing Yards, 3,554 Receiving Yards, and 90 Touchdowns. 

Joe DeLamielleure, G, BUF 1973-79 & 1985 & CLE 1980-84.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 4th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Joe DaLamielleure had the best years of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and was adept at opening holes for O.J. Simpson to plow through.  DeLamielleure had five of his six Pro Bowls as a Bill and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  It was also noted how well the Offensive Guard handled Pittsburgh Steeler Defensive End, Joe Greene, one of the few players who got the better of “Mean Joe”.

DeLamielleure spent the second half of his career with the Cleveland Browns, though he returned for a final season with Buffalo in 1985.  In 2003, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Six years prior, DeLamielleure was chosen for the Bills Wall of Fame.  His run with the Cleveland Browns was also stellar.

John Riggins, RB, NYJ 1971-75 & WAS 1976-79 & 1981-85.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 4th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

While everyone (and rightfully so) thinks of John Riggins in a Redskins uniform.  That wasn’t where he started, as the former Kansas Jayhawk was a New York Jet for the first five years of his career.  While wearing the green, the 1971 First Rounder was a Pro Bowl Selection and cracked over 1,000 Yards rushing in 1975, which was his last season with the Jets.

Riggins signed with Washington as a Free Agent afterward, but his first two seasons were poor, and a knee injury marred his second year. He powered back in 1978 with 1,014 Rushing Yards, and 1,153 in 1979.  Riggins was finally the Running Back they needed, but they would not have him in 1980, as a contract dispute kept him out for the entire year.  

The Redskins saw Riggins return, and while the 1981 and 1982 regular seasons were average, his '82 playoffs were phenomenal.  Riggins rushed for 166 Yards (a then-record) in Washington's Super Bowl XVII Championship, and he also had 610 Rushing Yards overall in the playoffs.  The Running Back was on a roll, and in 1983, Riggins had rushed for 1,347 Yards and a league-leading 24 Touchdowns.  Riggins was a First Team All-Pro and the Bert Bell Award winner that season, and he again led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns with 14 the season after.  Without his run from '82 to '84, there was no way that Riggins would get into Canton!

He played one more year before retiring, and he accumulated 13,442 Yards From Scrimmage with 116 Touchdowns.

Lynn Swann, WR, PIT 1974-82.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 7th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

One of the most recognized players of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl era in the 1970s, Lynn Swann, was part of all four of their titles during their dynastic run.

Swann was the player with whom Pittsburgh used their First Round Pick in 1974 (24^th overall), and in his rookie season, he was mostly used as a Punt Returner, where he excelled, leading the NFL in Punt Return Yards.  Swann and the Steelers won their first Super Bowl that year, and the following season, he was a far more integral cog in the Pittsburgh offense. 

Swann's 1975 season would see him lead the NFL in Receiving Touchdowns (11), and in Super Bowl X, Swann had 161 Receiving Yards and a TD, impressive considering he was not expected to play due to injury.  Arguably, this was the performance that earned him a spot in Canton.

The Wide Receiver, who was a Pro Bowl in 1975, would be again in 1977 and 1978, with the latter season earning a First Team All-Pro.  Swann helped them win two more Super Bowls, and in the 16 postseason games he played, he had 907 yards and 9 TDs.  

Swann would later be inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in 2017.

Pete Retzlaff, TE-E-FL, PHI 1956-66.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 20th Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In this era of sports specialization, it is hard to imagine that football players used to change positions regularly.  Pete Retzlaff played various offensive positions, but he could always be counted on to catch the ball. 

On five different occasions, Pete Retzlaff had seasons of 50 or more receptions.  Considering the era in which he played, that tally becomes even more impressive.  His best offensive seasons occurred after he moved to Tight End, where he was one of the few at that position who were sure-handed.  He continued to post impressive stats and received the Bert Bell Award in 1965.

Retzlaff was not the best blocker, which may limit his overall performance in the Tight End slot.  Still, with the numbers he could put up at a time when it was not common, the fact that he was not the League’s best blocker could be forgiven somewhat.

Chuck Noll, Head Coach, PIT 1969-91.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1994 on his 1st Coach/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Chuck Noll played seven years in the NFL, all for Cleveland under Paul Brown.  Much like Brown, Noll would become an iconic figure in a blue-collar town and achieve similar success.

After establishing himself as a Defensive Coordinator with the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Colts, Noll was named Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, inheriting a team that had never won anything of note.  Under Noll, the Steelers became a league juggernaut, winning four Super Bowls in the 1970s.  He kept the team as contenders throughout his 22 Years in that capacity, and under him, the culture completely changed to where Pittsburgh remains one of the most high-profile teams in the NFL.

Noll retired after the 1991 Season with a record of 194-148-1.

As a Coach, Noll would be named to the 1970s All-Decade Team, the 1980s All-Decade Team, and the 100^th Anniversary Team.

1994 SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

Thank you for your participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are unaware of what that is, we acted like the PFHOF had its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the years up to 1993.

For “1994,” a Preliminary Vote with nearly 100 players whose playing career ended by 1988. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters were asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next week, they will choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

32 votes were cast, with the top 15 advancing.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals: 

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

We will post the Class of 1994 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project next Saturday.

Thank you to all who contributed. If you want to be part of this project, please let us know!

1994 PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Thank you to all who participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are still determining what that is, we treated the PFHOF as having its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the first 48 years.

For “1994,” a Preliminary Vote with over 100 players whose playing career ended by 1988. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, voters will be asked to select 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, then choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

Please note that a significant change occurred “years ago,” allowing voters to submit fewer than the allotted spots. 

30 Votes took place.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

*Indicates they have been removed from future ballots