Pro Football Hall of Fame: Ray Lewis, Randy Moss headline star-studded class
Meet the members of the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
This year’s group of Hall of Fame finalists was as deep and talented as I’ve seen in recent memory. Rules limit the class to a total of five, excluding the senior committee members, but you could make a case for 12-15 of this year’s finalists to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio as a Hall of Famer. Alas, only five can make the cut and those who didn’t get in this year will hope for better luck this time next year.
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was a no-brainer selection as he is arguably the greatest inside linebacker since Dick Butkus. The two-time Super Bowl champion and 12-time Pro Bowler joins one of the best Hall of Fame classes of all-time, including a fellow middle linebacker.
Former Chicago Bears middle linebacker, Brian Urlacher, was elected on the first ballot. There was some question whether he would get in this year with Ray Lewis on the ballot or if he’d have to wait for the other inside linebacker to get in first.
There was little question that Randy Moss would be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the former Vikings and Patriots standout became the first receiver to get in on the first try since Jerry Rice. Not bad company.
After a short wait, fellow receiver, Terrell Owens, was finally selected as a Hall of Famer. He is richly deserving and was likely kept out because of his off-the-field drama that followed him wherever he went. Owens shared the news on his Instagram.
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Brian Dawkins has been elected. The former perennial Pro Bowl safety was a huge part of the Philadelphia Eagles defenses before going to the Denver Broncos. He got in while fellow safety, John Lynch, did not, but should have a great chance next year.
Finally, in a long overdue move, former Green Bay Packers guard, Jerry Kramer was finally elected via the senior committee along with Robert Brazile and Bobby Beathard made it via the contributor committee.