NFL Hall of Fame: 10 worst omissions

6. Roger Craig

Craig was not only a great player who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980’s, he also changed the way the position was played. Before Craig, running backs were asked to churn up yardage on the ground and make sure to protect the quarterback. After Craig, teams have constantly been looking for backs who can also catch the ball.

Craig was the perfect fit for Bill Walsh’s west coast offense, working as a safety valve for quarterback Joe Montana. The former Nebraska Cornhuskers star was a second-round pick in 1983 and became the first player in NFL history to both rush and receive for more than 1,000 yards in a season, hitting those benchmarks in 1985.

Craig rushed for 8,189 career yards with the 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings, while catching 566 passes for 4,911 yards. All told, Craig scored 88 touchdowns. Craig has only been a finalist once for the Hall of Fame, something that reeks of an oversight. Craig was a trend-setter and a game-changer, two things that go well beyond stats.

Next: 5. Kenny Stabler