The long and winding road to the 2025 Hall of Fame

Gandolf

Gandolf

Leader of the Van Buren Boys
The semi-finalist process has been completed for all four categories that the HOF considers: Modern-era players, senior players, coaches and contributors. Next is a trimming down to 20 finalists. The breakdown and eligibles are as follows:

Modern era players: 26 semi-finalists get trimmed to 15. I'll list them grouped by position:

OFFENSE (17)
  • Quarterback (3): Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.
  • Running back (2): Frank Gore, Fred Taylor.
  • Wide receiver (5): Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne.
  • Tight end (1): Jason Witten.
  • Offensive line (6): Willie Anderson, Lomas Brown, Jahri Evans, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Marshal Yanda.
DEFENSE (8)
  • Defensive back (3): Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Darren Woodson.
  • Linebacker (2): Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs (also DE).
  • Defensive line (3): Robert Mathis (also LB), Vince Wilfork, Kevin Williams..
SPECIAL TEAMS – 1
  • Place kicker (1): Adam Vinatieri.
The stone cold locks for induction are Brees and Fitzgerald. Likely moving on as finalists: Eli, Holt, Wayne, Witten, Anderson, Kuechly, Suggs, Vinateri and five others.

There are nine players in the Senior category that will be cut down to three finalists:
Ken Anderson (quarterback, 1971-1986): A four-time pro-bowler who started at quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1971-1986. League MVP for the 1981 season. Finished career with 32,838 passing yards and 197 passing touchdowns.

Roger Craig (running back, 1983-1993): First NFL player to total 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season and won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. Spent eight seasons with the 49ers (1983-1990), one with the Los Angeles Raiders (1991) and two with the Minnesota Vikings (1992-93). Totaled 13,100 yards from scrimmage and scored 73 touchdowns.

Henry Ellard (wide receiver, 1983-1998): In 228 career games, primarily with the Rams, totaled 814 receptions for 13,777 yards and 65 touchdowns. Yardage total still ranks 15th in NFL history. Surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a season seven times, with a league-leading 1,414 yards in 1988.

L.C. Greenwood (defensive end, 1969-1981): Four-time Super Bowl winner as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense. First-team All-Pro twice and six-time Pro Bowl honoree. A 10th-round draft pick, he recorded 78 career sacks (unofficially, as the statistic wasn’t recognized until 1982).

Joe Jacoby (offensive lineman, 1981-1993): During his 13-year career, all with the Washington Redskins, Jacoby won three Super Bowls, twice earned first-team All-Pro honors and was named to the Pro Bowl four consecutive seasons (1983-86).

Eddie Meador (cornerback, 1959-1970): Meador played his entire career with the Los Angeles Rams, where he earned two first-team All-Pro selections and six Pro Bowl invitations. He is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s who finished his career with 46 interceptions, which remains a Rams franchise record.

Stanley Morgan (wide receiver, 1977-1990): Posted the most yards per reception (19.2) in NFL history among players with more than 500 career receptions and made four Pro Bowls with the New England Patriots. He is still New England’s all-time leader in receiving yards (10,352). He played his final NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts.

Steve Tasker (special teams/wide receiver, 1985-1997): Elected to seven Pro Bowls, six consecutively (1990-95), as a special teams phenom for the Buffalo Bills during their run to four Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s. Spot contributor at wide receiver and in return game but known best for kick and punt coverage on special teams.

Otis Taylor (wide receiver, 1965-1975): Taylor won a Super Bowl IV ring with the Kansas City Chiefs, earned two Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, an AFL All-Star selection and won two AFL championships during his 10-year career. He led the AFL in touchdown receptions in 1967 and the NFL in receiving yards in 1971.

My vote would be Craig, Tasker and Taylor. Wouldn't argue with Anderson or Jacoby.

The nine coaches get trimmed to one finalist:
  • Bill Belichick: NFL coach from 1975-2023 with head coaching jobs with Cleveland Browns (1991-95) and New England Patriots (2000-2023). Career record: 333-178 (including playoffs) with six Super Bowl titles.
  • Tom Coughlin: Spent 20 years as an NFL head coach with Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2002) and New York Giants (2004-2015). Including playoffs, posted a 182-157 record and led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles.
  • Mike Holmgren: Head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98 and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999-2008. Won a Super Bowl ring with Packers and appeared in another as head coach of Seahawks. Career record: 174-122 (including postseason).
  • Chuck Knox: NFL Coach of the Year in 1973, 1980 and 1984. He went 193-158-1 during 22 seasons (including playoffs) as head coach of the Rams, Bills and Seahawks.
  • Buddy Parker: Head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1949, Detroit Lions from 1951-56 and Pittsburgh Steelers from 1957-1964. Two-time NFL champion with Lions who posted a career record, including playoffs, of 107-76-9.
  • Dan Reeves: Head coach of the Denver Broncos from 1981-1992, New York Giants from 1993-96 and Atlanta Falcons from 1997-2003. Career record: 201-174-2 (including postseason).
  • Marty Schottenheimer: Head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984-88, Kansas City Chiefs from 1989-1998, Washington Redskins in 2001 and San Diego Chargers from 2002-06. Career record: 205-139-1 (including postseason).
  • George Seifert: Two-time Super Bowl champion head coach with the San Francisco 49ers. In 11 seasons with the 49ers and Carolina Panthers he posted a career record (including playoffs) of 124-67.
  • Mike Shanahan: Head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders from 1988-89, Denver Broncos from 1995-2008 and Washington Redskins from 2010-13. Won two Super Bowls with the Broncos while compiling a 178-144 career record (including playoffs).
While probably half would be worthy of consideration, there's a 1000 pound elephant in the room. Having only one finalist in this group will be tough for the next several years.

The Contibutor group also has to cut to one finalist:

  • K.S. “Bud” Adams: During his 54 years as founder, owner, chairman of the board, president and CEO of the Titans/Oilers franchise, Adams was a pivotal figure in the formation of the AFL and its subsequent merger with the NFL.
  • Roone Arledge: Television industry executive and producer whose creativity, leadership and technical innovations revolutionized the presentation of both news and sports.
  • Ralph Hay: Owned the Canton Bulldogs from 1918-1922 and hosted the NFL’s formational meeting in his automobile dealership in downtown Canton.
  • Frank “Bucko” Kilroy: Worked in player personnel and scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He was the Patriots’ general manager from 1979 to 1982 and vice president from 1983 to 1993.
  • Robert Kraft: Owner, chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots since 1994. His teams have won six Super Bowls. Key member of several influential NFL owners’ committees.
  • Art Rooney Jr.: Employed with the Steelers since 1961, from 1964 through 1986, worked in the Steelers’ Scouting Department. Currently a Steelers vice president and member of the Board of Directors.
  • Clark Shaughnessy: Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams from 1948-49 and assistant coach for the Washington Redskins from 1944-47 and Chicago Bears from 1951-1962. Credited with modernizing the T-formation and other offensive and defensive innovations.
  • Seymour Siwoff: Owner and president of Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the NFL, from 1952-2019.
  • Buddy Young: First African American executive in any major sports league when NFL hired him in 1964 in its scouting and public relations department. Was working as director of player relations in NFL when he died at age 57 in a car accident.
Kraft and Belichick going in together would be interesting. How Roone Arledge hasn't already been inducted is beyond me.

On who I think should get in this year:

Larry Fitz
Drew Brees
Jason Witten
Terrell Suggs
Luke Kuechly
Not sure any senior player should get in, but if it's anyone I'd want Tasker.
Belichick
Kraft (really Arledge, but Kraft will go in first)

That's a blue-ribbon class, especially compared to last year's Hall of Very Good.
 
This is terrific Gandy, thanks.

Looking at the old-timers, I forgot how good Henry Ellard was. I started watching football in 1988 and kinda caught the latter years.

Question -- who would you rank put in the HOF first? Frank Gore OR CMC with his career through last night?
 
Hmmm. CMC is working on his 5th special season in 9 years (1880 scrimmage yards or more with 13 or more TDs). His other four seasons were lost to injury.

Gore had one special year (2180 scrimmage yards with nine TDs). He had ELEVEN pretty productive years IN A ROW after that special year (1200-1600 scrimmage yards each year), which is a strong achievement.

I'm a sucker for the special though. CMC would get my vote first. But then I would vote for Gore. He was a primary starter for 14 years, tied with Emmitt Smith for the most in league history at RB. His longevity at the position is special.
 
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Jacoby or Anderson for the seniors imo.

Looking at the coaches the hall of fame might be the same as his career for Marty Shottenheimer. Certainly deserving but likely never gets in just like what happened to him in the playoffs.

Eli
Brees
Fitz
Witten

No deserving defenders
 
cubsker said:
When Eli was playing, was he ever a top 5 QB in the league? I certainly don't remember thinking he was.
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This comes up a lot, and he was certainly a polarizing player who played on some terrible teams throughout his career.

That said he was definitely a top five player in 2008 and carried the team after Plaxico shot himself derailing their season.

In 2011 he should’ve been the MVP of the league.

No quarterback - Then or since has had as many fourth-quarter comebacks, as many fourth-quarter touchdown passes, he then led his team on the road passing for more yards & more touchdowns in a playoff run to a ring

He went on the road in Lambeau Field clearly out playing Aaron Rodgers and the 15 and 1 top seed Green Bay Packers.

The next week he took the most hellacious beating I’ve ever seen a quarterback take by that incredible San Francisco 49er defense in San Francisco in an absolute slugfest. The Giants had no business winning if not for Eli‘s incredible toughness and clutch play.

And then he essentially wins the Super Bowl in 2011 by making an absolute pinpoint throw.
One of the greatest throws in Super Bowl history from the shadow of his own goal line hitting Mario Manningham up the field on the sideline with maybe an inch to spare in incredibly tight coverage.

He should’ve been the MVP of the league in 2011. He was the best player in the NFL that year.
 
Playing extremely well for a year just doesnt do it for me. I'm looking for the dominant players of their era. I think Brees was. I think Eli was not. Hall of Very Good.
 
cubsker said:
Playing extremely well for a year just doesnt do it for me. I'm looking for the dominant players of their era. I think Brees was. I think Eli was not. Hall of Very Good.
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Fair enough

The regular season statistics were not eye popping overall. Although he retired near the top of all-time statistics for touchdowns yards, passing he played on some pitiful teams never really had the talent that other top quarterbacks benefited from.

I was addressing the question that someone asked if he was ever a top five player @ the position which to me as an absolute yes

Totally see where you’re coming from and your sentiment.
 
Steve Tasker not being in long ago is a disgrace to the game. When Buffalo was a burning trash can Steve was the only BILL to make the pro bowl in 1987 as a GUNNER !! My father while working as a kicking screen operator used to tell me to focus solely on Steve in 87 as he handed me a pair of binoculars before each home game.
As an 11 year old I couldn't believe my eyes how this small looking guy was able to flip the field often making solo tackles when the Bills punted.

Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells admitted to devising game plans with his special teams coaches to specifically neutralize the game wrecking exploits of Steve Tasker on special teams. He routinely deployed two jammers on Tasker's side to make certain he wouldn't get down the field to make a play on their punt returner.

Blocked punts were what Tasker was most known for with seven in his career, including one in Super Bowl XXVII. His blocked punts were rarely just a turnover on downs when he did so. Whether it was blocking Mike Horan's punt for a safety against Denver in 1987, his blocked punt against Pittsburgh in 1988 that teammate Rob Riddick returned for a touchdown, or the block he had against the Raiders that was returned by teammate James Williams for a go-ahead score with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Tasker's exploits on special teams put points directly on the board for Buffalo.

But the most overlooked area of Tasker's special teams achievements was forced fumbles. When covering kicks and punts, Tasker was not only the first man down the field to make a tackle for no gain. Very often he'd strip the ball for a turnover as well.

He had seven in his career with the most instrumental coming in the AFC Divisional Playoff win in 1988 against the Oilers. With the Bills offense unable to kill the clock with two minutes remaining in regulation while clinging to a 17-10 lead, they punted, and Tasker forced Houston returner Curtis Duncan to fumble the ball. The Bills recovered deep in Oilers' territory and the offense killed the remaining time on the clock to advance to the AFC Championship Game.

His forced fumble while tackling Hall of Famer, Tim Brown for no gain on a punt in the 1990 Sunday Night game, at the Raiders' 15-yard line allowed the Bills to tie the score early at seven before his aforementioned blocked punt turned the game in Buffalo's favor.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame recognized Tasker in 2000, when he was voted to be a member of the All-Time NFL Team. He was listed among 26 other players – from the likes of Jim Brown to Walter Payton – as the best of the best players in the history of the game.

"If you're going to say how important special teams are and the player that is the best at that craft is not in the Hall of Fame, then you're talking out of both sides of your mouth," said former Kansas City offensive lineman, Tim Grunhard. "If Steve Tasker is the best special teams player ever, which I think he is… then he's first ballot". ...
Steve is the only special teams player ever to be PRO BOWL MVP ( 1993) .
 
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And honestly, if you’re putting a special teams player in there, it’s insane it’s not Vinatieri…

He made 2 GW kicks to win super bowls…he had maybe the greatest field goal we’ve seen in 25 years in the Tuck Rule game hitting from 50 in a snowstorm to save the Pats at the very start of their run…

he’s got more points than any player in the 100 year history of the league.

How’s he NOT the ST guy miles ahead of the pack?
 
I'm not putting in a guy because he was great at covering kicks. He's covering kicks because he's not great at the other 95% of plays. Nor a guy who was great at long snapping. This is the hall of fame, not the I'm good at one particular play that happens a handful of times per game. Kicking at least scores points. Punters.....meh.
 
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