It is that time of the year when football honors its legends. And here are a few more good candidates who deserve Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame membership now stands at 318 with the additions of fable general manager Bobby Beathard, wide receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, linebackers Robert Brazile, Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis, safety Brian Dawkins and legendary Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer this year.
But what about so many more players, coaches and executives that are worthy of this honor?
In terms of our 32 selections, the onus here was on former players. That’s not the say that there are coaches and administrators that are due to be enshrined in Canton. And rest assured those men and others candidates will be mentioned throughout each of the team’s pages. Also keep in mind that several of the names listed here have been finalists for the honors at least once.
Are some of the choices here somewhat of a stretch? That’s certainly reasonable. Remember the criteria here. The selections are all currently Hall of Fame eligible. For some of the younger franchises, making a selection is easier said than done. In any case, enjoy the trip down memory lane.
Arizona Cardinals: WR/DB Roy Green
When Larry Fitzgerald finally opts to hang up his cleats, he figures to walk right into Canton. And while players at his position have had their problems being inducted as soon as they are eligible (only 6-of-27 modern-day wide receivers in the Hall of Fame are first-ballot selections), it’s hard to believe the league’s third-leading pass-catcher (for now) would not be an immediate choice.
Meanwhile the Cardinals have had their share of other prolific pass-catchers throughout their long history. One of those began his career as a defensive back and joined the franchise while it was still in the Gateway City. In 1979, the then-St. Louis Cardinals use a fourth-round selection on safety Roy Green from Henderson State University.
He played 12 seasons with the club from 1979-90 and still ranks fourth in Cardinals’ history in 522 receptions, good for 8,496 yards and 66 scores. That after catching only one pass in his first two years in the league when he was primarily focusing on defense.
Green, who finished his career with the Philadelphia Eagles (1991-92) also scored TDs during his career as a runner, punt returner and kickoff return artist. He finished his NFL career with 559 catches. And while roaming the secondary, picked off four passes and recovered four fumbles in his first four NFL seasons.
Next: Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons: LB Tommy Nobis
There are a total of 12 teams that have yet to capture Super Bowl title. But there are even fewer that have not won a league championship. For instance, the Cardinals own the league’s longest title drought. The last time they were crowned NFL champions was way back in 1947 when the club was still in Chicago.
The Atlanta Falcons weren’t born until 1966. The franchise has made a couple of Super Bowl appearances in 1998 and 2016. But the franchise has yet to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Of course this is also a franchise that does not have a lot of representation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps the most notable member is cornerback Deion Sanders, who was originally drafted by the Falcons in 1989 and spent the first five years of his career with the club. There’s also defensive end Claude Humphrey and placekicker Morten Andersen, the latter playing for the club for eight seasons over two different stints.
In the early days of the franchise’s history, well before the team made its first playoff appearance in 1978, there was middle linebacker Tommy Nobis. The University of Texas star was the first overall pick in the ’66 NFL Draft and played for the franchise for 11 seasons and five of those campaigns resulted in five Pro Bowl invitations. He started 132 of the 133 games he was available, totaling 12 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries.
The Hall of Fame is certainly well-represented when it comes to the middle linebacker spot. Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher join the fraternity this year. Could Nobis be next in line for such honors?
Next: Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens: OLB Peter Boulware
It was as fearsome of a unit as has ever been seen in the long history of the National Football League. Regardless of the era, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens’ defense played with the kind of fury often associated with teams from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. It was a club that would go on to capture Super Bowl XXXV thanks to a group spearheaded by Pro Football Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis, who may will be receiving his bust this summer.
Others members of that team that would certainly warrant Hall of Fame consideration would be free safety Ed Reed, who’s not yet eligible for induction but will be in the discussion for the Class of 2019. Of course, one of the more overlooked performers for that club was talented outside linebacker Peter Boulware.
He could do a little bit of everything and did it very well. The fourth overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, the former Florida State Seminole had somewhat brief but very productive career with the Ravens.
The talented defender was named to the Pro Bowl four times in his first seven seasons. Over that stretch, he racked up 67.5 sacks in 111 regular-season contests. He would miss the 2005 due to injury but bounced back in ’06 (his final season in the league) to play 15 games and total 2.5 sacks. Who knows what he would have accomplished if he had remained healthy?
It’s safe to say Boulware (who totaled 10 or more sacks 3 times) was a huge part of that 2000 postseason run in which Baltimore allowed one offensive touchdown in four games. Combine the Ravens’ regular-season and playoffs and the club allowed a total of 188 points in 20 games. Dominant indeed.
Next: Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills: WR/ST Steve Tasker
Over the last few years, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has begun to expand its horizons per say. A year ago, Morten Andersen joined Jan Stenerud as the only two pure placekickers enshrined in Canton. The former is the NFL’s all-time leader in points scored and field goals. Back in 2014, the first pure punter to be ever inducted into the Hall was long-overdue Ray Guy, who spent 14 seasons and was part of 3 Super Bowl championship teams with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
So perhaps it is time to put a performer known specifically for a special teams’ prowess? Steve Tasker was a member of those great Buffalo Bills teams in the late 1980s and early ‘90s and made a name for himself not only returning kicks but on the coverage teams as well. Originally a ninth-round draft choice of the Houston Oilers in 1985, he made his bones on that somewhat-unappreciated third aspect of the game and earned seven Pro Bowl invitations for his work here.
Current Houston Texans’ special teams coach Brad Seely had this to say about Tasker about a year ago while he was still employed by the Oakland Raiders (via Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com):
"You know, I coached against Steve. He was one of those guys that was a fantastic football player. And again people say the kicking game is one-third of the game. Well, then that should be part of the Hall of Fame. This guy in Buffalo, he created a lot of advantages for the Bills just by field position by what he did. So there’s a guy, to me, that is extremely worthy of consideration to go to the Hall of Fame because he was a difference maker in that area. And that’s what the Hall of Fame is supposed to be about."
It’s safe to say that Tasker would be an interesting selection. And if elected one day, would a specialist like himself open the door one day for someone like kick returner Devin Hester? By the way, if there’s a desire here for a more “traditional” choice, there’s always guard Ruben Brown. He earned eight of his nine Pro Bowl invitations with the Bills.
Next: Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers: WR Muhsin Muhammad
The franchise first took the field in 1995. So it’s pretty understandable that the Carolina Panthers aren’t really represented in Canton yet. Sure, Pro Football Hall of Fame outside linebacker Kevin Greene had a stint with the team from 1996 and 1998-99. But he’s more known for his days with the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers. General manager Bill Polian and defensive end Reggie White spent time with the club as well.
Of course, the day figures to come when wide receiver/kick returner Steve Smith is up for consideration. He walked away from the game after the 2016 season and his contributions were impressive in 13 years with the Panthers and three more with the Baltimore Ravens. Likewise, there’s ageless defensive end/outside linebacker Julius Peppers. He’s still in the league and is currently preparing for 17th season. The second overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft is currently enjoying his second stint in Charlotte. Finally, current middle linebacker Luke Kuechly is one quite the path to possible immortality as well.
As for the selection here, how about underappreciated wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad? He’s more than just an answer to the trivia question “who owns the longest touchdown reception in Super Bowl history?” A second-round pick by Carolina in 1996, he spent 11 of his 14 seasons with the Panthers. Throw in three years with the Chicago Bears and the one-time Michigan State standout amassed 860 receptions for 11,438 and 62 touchdowns.
When it comes to that trivia question, the answer is 85 yards and came courtesy of quarterback Jake Delhomme in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Next: Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears: C Jay Hilgenberg
There haven’t been a lot of great moments as of late for one of the league’s flagship organizations. Only the Green Bay Packers (13) have more NFL titles than the storied Chicago Bears (9). But only one of those championships have come during the Super Bowl Era. Of course, the 1985 team’s accomplishments are long in the rearview mirror fix. Yes, the team did get to the big game back in 2006 under head coach Lovie Smith. But lately, the “Monsters of the Midway have looked anything but scary. The Bears have finished last in the NFC North four consecutive years and own a dismal 19-45 record since 2014.
In August, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher will receive his bust in Canton, Ohio. He joins quite the legacy at the position for that club and is now lifetime teammates with Bill George, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary
Jay Hilgenberg was an undrafted free agent and wound up with the Bears in 1981. The 6’3”, 259-pound product from the University of Iowa would go onto quite the career as the pivot for the club. He would spend the first 11 of his 13 NFL seasons in the Windy City and was named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 1985-91 and also earned All-Pro honors over that span. He was a model of consistency on a quality offensive line that paved the way for the likes of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton and his successor Neal Anderson.
Hilgenberg would go onto one-year stints with the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints. But his years in Chicago could certainly merit some Hall of Fame consideration.
Next: Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals: CB Ken Riley
This past year, the Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their 50th season. This is a franchise that is often spoken about what at his failed to do rather than what the team and players have done.
When you think of the Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the name that immediately comes to mind is tackle Anthony Munoz. There are many that consider him the greatest offensive lineman to ever play in the league. That’s a strong statement considering the talent that has graced the professional gridiron.
Of course, that’s really about it when it comes to this franchise and its primary members (Hall of Fame wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Terrell Owens played for the team as well). There are many out there who believe quarterback Ken Anderson there preserves the rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One of the more accurate passer in league annals during the time when the rules weren’t slanted as much towards the passing game, he helped make the team a steady playoff contender, guided the club Super Bowl XLI and was the NFL MVP in 1981.
However, consider that Paul Krause (81), Emlen Tunnell (79), Rod Woodson (71) and Dick “Night Train” Lane (68) are the only players in NFL history with more interceptions in league history than former Bengals’ defensive back Ken Riley. And all four of those gentlemen are enshrined in Canton. Riley and Charles Woodson both picked off 65 passes during their careers, with the former spending all 15 of his NFL seasons in the Queen City.
Amazingly, Riley never earned Pro Bowl honors during career was named All-Pro in his final year in 1983 when he managed eight interceptions. But is he worthy of Hall of Fame votes?
Next: Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns: OLB Clay Matthews
It’s pretty safe to say that once he becomes eligible (Class of 2023), Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas will be earning a bust in Canton, Ohio. He wound up stepping away from the game this offseason after 10-plus seasons. This past year, he went down in Week 7 with a triceps injury. Prior to that, the third overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft had not missed an offensive snap. That’s simply mind-boggling the more you think about it.
But the subject at hand here is who is eligible now. Before the franchise was reinvented in 1999 as an expansion team, the Cleveland Browns were one of the more storied clubs in this league. Yes, they are one of four franchises that have never reached the Super Bowl. But they certainly made their impression on this game, winning a total of four NFL titles from 1950-64.
In any case, one of their standout performers for 16 years was outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Yes that’s the father of current Green Bay Packers defender with the same name. The 12th overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft was a four-time Pro Bowler during his stay with the club and would go onto play three more seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He could chase down opposing quarterbacks (credited officially with 69.5 sacks from 1983-96), to go along with 30 takeaways – including 16 interceptions. He played in a whopping 278 regular-season games during his career, making 248 starts. Could he one day join his brother Bruce (who also played 19 NFL seasons, with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans) in the storied Hall in Canton, Ohio?
Next: Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys: LB Chuck Howley
Don’t blame the Dallas Cowboys for getting the moniker “America’s Team. That falls on NFL Films, who anointed the franchise that title for a highlight film many decades ago.
What this club has managed to do over its storied history is not only win some championships but produce some of the best players in league history. The Hall of Fame certainly has its share of Cowboys. From head coach Tom Landry, quarterback Roger Staubach, running back Tony Dorsett and defensive tackle Randy White to the more modern day “Triplets” of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.
Of course, the team has also had plenty of great players who are not members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At least not yet. One such example may be linebacker Chuck Howley, who was actually a first-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 1958. He wound up with the Cowboys after sitting out the 1960 season with a knee injury and eventually being dealt to Dallas.
He would go onto play the next 13 seasons for Landry’s team from 1961-73 (limited to 1 game that final year). During his days with Dallas, there were 24 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries (quarterback sacks were not an official stat back). Howley was a six-time Pro Bowler and earned All-Pro Honors an impressive five times. He was a vital part of two Super Bowl teams and remains the only player to capture MVP honors (Super Bowl V) in a losing effort in that “Big Game.” One year later, the Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins, 24-3, in Super Bowl VI to win their first NFL title.
It’s very easy to envision Howley getting in one day as a choice by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee.
Next: Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos: LB Randy Gradishar
As outlined in the intro, the focus here is on players who may deserve to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio. But in the case of the Denver Broncos, it would certainly be an oversight not to mention what owner Pat Bowlen has meant to the success of the National Football League.
A year ago, Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed Broncos’ running back Terrell Davis. His career was cut short by a knee injury but for the short time he was on the field he was as good as running back as there was in the league. He was Super Bowl XXXII MVP when the team knocked off the Green Bay Packers in 1997 and a year later, earned NFL Most Valuable Player honors when he ran for 2,008 yards and helped the franchise defend its Super Bowl title.
Not long ago, the Broncos sported one of the better defensive units in recent memory. It was a unit that catapulted them to an NFL championship in 2015. But the call here goes back to the days of the original “Orange Crush” in the 1970s.
This was a group led by defensive linemen such as Lyle Alzado, Rubin Carter, play-making outside linebacker Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wight and safety Billy Thompson. This was a big-play defense that often doesn’t get the credit it truly deserved. And the main man in the middle was linebacker Randy Gradishar.
The one-time Ohio State Buckeye star and the 14th overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft would play 10 seasons for Denver head coaches John Ralston, Red Miller and Dan Reeves and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. He was a tackling machine but also showed his range. Gradishar racked up 20 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries and didn’t miss a game during his impressive career. His induction would be a fitting tribute to those Broncos’ defenses of that era.
Next: Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions: T Lomas Brown
One of the more interesting Hall of Fame debates that will come up over the next few years, once he is eligible, is whether wide receiver Calvin Johnson deserves a spot in Canton, Ohio. He opted to leave the game after nine seasons but his impact was hard to ignore. He totaled 73 receptions, good for an impressive 11,619 yards and 83 scores. In 2012, he set the NFL record for receiving yards in a season (1,964) via 122 catches. The former Georgia Tech standout and second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft was named to the Pro Bowl six times and earned All-Pro honors on three occasions.
For our purposes, it’s a bit too early for that discussion. So what when it comes to a player that performed well in this league over a long period of time, how about long time offensive tackle Lomas Brown? He spent the first 10 of his 18-year NFL career in the Motor City. In 1985, he was the sixth overall pick in the draft. The former University of Texas star was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1990-95.
In 1996, he joined the Arizona Cardinals and earned a seventh straight trip to the Pro Bowl. There would also be stops with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played in 263 games and made a combined 251 career starts for those five clubs. Those are pretty impressive numbers, to say the least.
Next: Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers: WR Sterling Sharpe
We have certainly seen our share of inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who had their careers cut short by injury. Notable names that come to mind are legendary Chicago Bears’ running back Gale Sayers, Miami Dolphins’ center Dwight Stephenson and most recently Denver Broncos’ running back Terrell Davis. We were graced by their presents for only a short time. But what they did was certainly memorable and warranted their selection into the hallowed Hall.
You could certainly make that same case for Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, who saw his career cut short by a neck issue. He played seven seasons and all 112 regular-season games for the team from “Titletown” from 1988-94. He hauled in 595 passes for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. In 1992, he broke the then-NFL receptions mark for a season (108) – held at the time by eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Monk. A year later, he became the first player in NFL history to total at least 100 catches (112) in back-to-back seasons.
In his final three years in the league, Sharpe totaled an impressive 314 grabs for 3,854 yards and 42 scores in 48 contests. In seven seasons, there were five Pro Bowl invitations and three All-Pro awards.
Back in 2011, Shannon Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the midst of his exceptional acceptance speech, he had some heartfelt words for his older brother. Perhaps one day, the younger Sharpe may be able to return the favor and induct his older brother into the Hall of Fame.
Next: Houston Texans
Houston Texans: G/T Chester Pitts
This is a tough one. The Houston Texans were born in 2002, leaving the team has played 256 games regular-season games in this brief existence. It’s safe to say that there are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who have eclipsed that total in a big way. For instance, Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans legend Bruce Matthews suited up for 296 contests.
That not to say that somewhere down the road that the Texans will be represented in Canton. Wide receiver Andre Johnson, the third overall pick by the Texans in 2003, stepped away from the NFL after the 2016 season (and ranks 11th in NFL history with 1,062 receptions). Defensive end J.J. Watt still in the midst of his tremendous NFL career. And four-time Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster also retired after a four-game stint with the Miami Dolphins in ‘16.
Back in 2013, Nick Scurfield from HoustonTexans.com (courtesy of Alex Gelhar of NFL.com) listed offensive linemen Chester Pitts as the Texans’ most underrated player in the team’s short history and offered this synopsis:
"Pitts, an original Texan, started the first 114 games in team history from 2002 to 2009. He played 3,884 consecutive snaps from 2002 to 2006 and missed only seven total plays in his first seven seasons, playing left tackle as a rookie before becoming a fixture at left guard. A 2009 knee injury ended his iron man streak, and he never made a Pro Bowl or earned All-Pro recognition. A second-round pick in the Texans’ inaugural draft in 2002, Pitts first played organized football as a walk-on at San Diego State at the urging of eventual Texans teammate Ephraim Salaam, who found Pitts bagging groceries at a Ralph’s near their college campus."
Of course, underrated doesn’t mean Pro Football Hall of Famer. But for now, Pitts is the franchise’s best option when it comes to such honors.
Next: Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts: RB Edgerrin James
He was one of the top running backs in the league as soon as he entered the league. Former University of Miami running back Edgerrin James was the fourth overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. And he wasted little time making an impression on a team that was just starting to come into its own.
Led by then second-year quarterback Peyton Manning, head coach Jim Mora guided the club to a 13-3 record. A year earlier, the team finished with only three victories. And James would lead the NFL with 1,553 yards rushing in parentheses on 369 carries – good for 13 touchdowns. That performance would earn him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
A year later, the Colts would go back to the playoffs and James would once again wind up as the league’s leading rusher. This time, he rolled up 387 carries for 1,709 yards and 13 scores.
It also worth noting that over that two-year span, the former Hurricane totaled 125 catches for 1,180 yards and nine touchdowns. In his first two NFL season, it all added up to an imposing 4,442 yards from scrimmage and 35 TDs in 32 regular-season appearances.
James would spend his first seven years in the league and close his career with a three-season stint at Arizona followed by a seven-game showing with Seattle in 2009. The four-time Pro Bowler ranks 13th in league annals in rushing yards (12,246) and 15th in total yards from scrimmage (15,610).
Next: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars: T Tony Boselli
He was the first pick in the history of the franchise and the second overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. And while tackle Tony Boselli’s NFL career didn’t last overly long due to injuries, he was a dominant player in his position for the short time he suited up for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, the former USC tackle paved way for the team’s solid ground game and also offered plenty of protection for quarterback Mark Brunell during his seven years in the league.
During the club’s inaugural campaign in 1995, Boselli played in 13 games and made 12 starts. From 1996-2000, he was certainly in the discussion for the league’s best left tackle and even the NFL’s top offensive lineman. The Jaguars would make four consecutive playoff appearance from 1996-99 and twice reached the AFC title game over that span.
In ’99, Tom Coughlin’s club finished with an NFL-best 14-2 record, won the then-AFC Central and hosted the conference championship game. And Boselli was an enormous part of the team’s offensive success. But injuries would eventually take their toll on the 6’7”, 324-pound pro. The team would make him available in the 2002 NFL Expansion Draft. But Boselli never played for the incoming Houston Texans.
Of course, you can’t talk about productive Jacksonville Jaguars and not mention both wide receiver Jimmy Smith and running back Fred Taylor. The latter ranks 17th in league history in rushing yards (11,695), the vast majority of that with the Jaguars. Ditto Smith, who played 11 seasons with the franchise and was a five-time Pro Bowler, rolled up 862 catches for 12,287 yards and 67 scores.
Next: Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs: FS Deron Cherry
Defense has always been the Hallmark of the Kansas City Chiefs’ organization. During its Super Bowl IV championship season 1969, Hank Stram’s defense played as well as anyone ever. In fact, that club is represented by four current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Defensive lineman Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier and cornerback Emmitt Thomas.
Speaking of the latter, the Chiefs have always had their share of talented defensive backs. These days (when healthy), free safety Eric Berry is one of the best players in the league at his position. And until he was dealt to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, cornerback Marcus Peters was the 2015 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and is one of the top ball hawks in the NFL.
Back in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the Chiefs had stars in the defensive backfield in the safeties Gary Barbaro and Deron Cherry. The former played seven seasons with the club, picked off 39 passes and was a three-time Pro Bowler. Meanwhile, Cherry toiled 11 seasons with Kansas City from 1981-91 (earning 6 Pro Bowl invites and 3 All-Pro berths) and certainly had a nose for the football. He not only totaled 50 interceptions but 14 fumble recoveries over that span.
It also goes without saying that longtime Chiefs’ left tackle Jim Tyrer, a six-time All-Pro who spent the vast majority of his 14-year career with the organization, deserves heavy consideration as well.
Next: Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Wes Chandler
A year ago, the Chargers returned to the city where it all began. In 1960, they were one of the original franchises in the American Football League and located in Los Angeles. Their stay in the City of Angels lasted just one year as the club moved to San Diego.
But in 2017, the Los Angeles Chargers once again took the field. But regardless of where they were playing, the team’s offensive unit of the late 1970s and early 1980s was one of the most talented and explosive in NFL annals. Quarterback Dan Fouts, wide receiver Charlie Joiner and tight end Kellen Winslow have already secured spots in Canton, Ohio. But there’s an unsung member of that attack that might be a little Hall of Fame consideration as well.
Wideout Wes Chandler began his career with the New Orleans Saints in 1978. The former University of Florida standout was the third overall pick in the draft that year. After three-plus seasons, 182 catches, 15 scores and a 1979 Pro Bowl invitation in the Big Easy, he was dealt to the Bolts during the 1981 campaign. He finished that year with Fouts and company totaling 52 receptions for 857 yards and five touchdowns in five games.
One-year later, during the nine-game strike-shortened season of ‘82, Chandler totaled 49 grabs for an astounding 1,032 yards and nine TDs in eight contests. It added up to an unheard of 21.1 yards per reception. He finished his National Football League career with 559 receptions, good for 8,966 yards and 56 touchdowns – averaging 16.0 yards per catch for his career (which included 4 games with the 49ers in 1988).
It’s safe to say that nine-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro guard Walt Sweeney deserves a mention as well. Both he and Chandler are certainly worthy candidates.
Next: Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams: WR Isaac Bruce
He’s one of 14 players in NFL history to total at least 1,000 career receptions. And that latter number will certainly continue to grow. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall, now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, stands at 959 career catches. Pittsburgh Steelers’ wideouts Antonio Brown has 733 career receptions in eight seasons and has totaled 100-plus grabs in an NFL-record five consecutive seasons.
So is it the lack of uniqueness when it comes to reaching four digits in career catches is why the wide receiver spot continues to be the most debated when it comes to the Hall of Fame? As mentioned earlier in the piece, only six of the Hall’s 27 modern-day players at the position were first-ballot selections.
So what about longtime Rams and later San Francisco 49ers’ receiver Isaac Bruce? He ranks 12th in league annals with 1,024 catches, good for 15,208 yards (5th in NFL history) and 91 touchdowns. For the vast majority of his career, he played on some very poor Rams’ teams. Of course, that all changed when the “Greatest Show on Turf” wound up winning Super Bowl XXXIV. The St. Louis Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans, 23-16, thanks to Bruce’s 73-yard touchdown reception (courtesy of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner) late in the fourth quarter that day in Atlanta.
A second-round pick in 1994 when the franchise was still in Los Angeles the first time, he was a model of consistency for those clubs that struggled throughout the decade. The consistent Bruce totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in eight of his 16 NFL seasons and was named to four Pro Bowls in a six-year span from 1996-2001.
Next: Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins: LB Zach Thomas
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018 is made up of eight members. And it’s worth noting that three of the inductees are linebackers, two who specifically manned the middle (Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher) for their respective teams (along with former Houston Oiler superstar Robert Brazile). So you could certainly make the case for another person at the same position who came up big throughout his career in the league.
A fifth-round draft choice in 1996 from Texas Tech, inside linebacker Zach Thomas patrolled the middle of the Miami Dolphins’ defense for 12 seasons before closing his career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. That year, he played in 16 games, made 14 starts and wound up second on the team with 94 tackles. It’s safe to say he was extremely productive even later in his career.
With the Dolphins, Thomas was a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro. With the exception of his final season with the franchise, he racked up 100 or more tackles each year. The rangy defender also amassed 19.5 sacks, forced 16 fumbles, picked off 17 passes and recovered seven fumbles. He was also part of a Miami team that made five consecutive playoff appearances from 1997-2001.
Other names that could be included in the Dolphins’ Hall of Fame discussion are safety Dick Anderson and six-time Pro Bowl guard Bob Kuechenberg. But Thomas certainly makes for the most worthwhile candidate at the moment.
Next: Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings: DE Jim Marshall
It is certainly one of the most creative nicknames in NFL history. And such monikers used to come with the territory when it came to defensive lines in the 1960s and early ‘70s. There was the Los Angeles Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome” and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain.” And there was also the Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eater,” a group led by Pro Football Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller. Sturdy defensive tackles Doug Sutherland and Gary Larsen were also part of the unit.
There was also seemingly-invincible defensive end Jim Marshall. The one-time member of the Cleveland Browns – who spent the final 19 seasons of his 20-year career in the Twin Cities – is more regarded for something that probably inspired those fabled “blooper” reels churned out by NFL Films.
Against the San Francisco 49ers in 1964, he picked up a fumble by the Niners’ Billy Kilmer and proceeded to head toward his own end zone. He tossed the ball up in the air after he crossed the goal line figuring he had scored a touchdown but in fact he totaled two points for the opposing team. By the way, it is worth noting that the Vikings did go on to win that game.
Marshall, who never missed a game in 20 seasons in the league, is still co-owner of the NFL record for opponent’s fumble recoveries (29). The Minnesota Vikings’ media guide list him second in team history with 127 sacks in the regular season and 7.5 more in the playoffs (both numbers unofficial). Will his moment in Canton ever come?
Next: New England Patriots
New England Patriots: CB Ty Law
Somewhere down the road, the New England Patriots will be represented fairly well when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Who knows when quarterback Tom Brady will ever decide to retire? The most accomplished quarterback to date in NFL history when you take into consideration the total picture, it’s hard to fathom the Hall not getting an early start on his bust.
As for now, you could certainly make a strong case for one-time Patriots’ defensive lineman Richard Seymour. The seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro (who spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career in Foxborough) was one of most versatile defenders in the league. He lined up everywhere on New England’s front and would go onto have a similar role with the Oakland Raiders for four seasons.
Talented cornerback Ty Law, a big part of those first three Patriots’ championship seasons (although he missed the ’04 postseason due to injury), has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist each of the past two years. A first-round draft choice by then-head coach Bill Parcells back in 1995 when the legendary figure was still buying the groceries, the former University of Michigan performer was part of the foundation of a team that has become the league’s current reigning dynasty at the moment. During his 10 seasons in Foxborough, he picked off 36 passes in the regular season (6 returned for touchdowns) and four more in the playoffs.
Law’s 15-year career would conclude with stints with the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. He totaled 53 career interceptions and returned seven of those thefts for scores. Add in six more picks in the postseason and it’s hard to argue against his possible selection.
Next: New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints: ILB Sam Mills
With head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees at the helm since 2006, the New Orleans Saints have become one of the more visible franchises in the NFL. But it wasn’t always this way for a club that entered the league in 1967 and didn’t enjoy its first winning campaign (and playoff appearance) until its 21st season of existence.
There was a time in the early 1990s when the club was sending all four of its starting linebackers to the Pro Bowl. The outside spots were held down by Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson and pass-rushing stud Pat Swilling. The inside was manned by Vaughan Johnson and the late and very-great Sam Mills.
The latter was a former undrafted free agent who began his pro career in the United States Football League. Under head coach Jim Mora, the same man who helped guide Mills in his days with the Philadelphia and later Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars in the USFL, the Saints emerged as a contender after two decades of misery. Mills’ impact on the New Orleans defense was unquestioned. He would spend nine seasons in the Crescent City before moving on to Carolina and joining the expansion Carolina Panthers and playing for Dom Capers’ club for three years.
Along with his countless amount of tackles, there were 20.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, 22 forced fumbles and 23 fumble recoveries. The “Field Mouse” was indeed a pest when it came to opposing offenses.
Next: New York Giants
New York Giants: DE/DT Leonard Marshall
He was a big part of those fearsome New York Giants’ defensive units of roughly three decades ago. Spearheaded by a pair of Hall of Fame linebackers in Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, Big Blue won Super Bowl titles and both 1986 and ‘90 thanks to a huge assist from that side of the football.
With Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells in charge and Bill Belichick on his staff, the Giants did some great things that decade. Along with a standout linebacker corps – which also included Carl Banks, Gary Reasons and Pepper Johnson, to name a few – it was a club of quality yet unsung defensive lineman.
One of the prime examples was relentless Leonard Marshall, a fierce competitor who came up with his share of memorable plays during 12-year NFL career – the vast majority of that with the Giants.
A second-round pick out of LSU in 1983, the 6’3”, 288-pound end racked up 79.5 sacks in 10 seasons with Big Blue. In a two-year span from 1985-86 (the latter resulting in the team’s Super Bowl XXI victory over the Denver Broncos), Marshall rolled up a combined 27.5 sacks in 32 regular-season contests. He added four more QB traps in a combined five postseason games, two of those in the win over Denver in Pasadena. And in the 1990 NFC title game, he changed the history of the San Francisco 49ers with his devastating hit on quarterback Joe Montana.
He closed his NFL career with one-year stints with the Jets and Washington Redskins. Marshall may be one of those candidates who will be much more appreciated as time wears on.
Next: New York Jets
New York Jets: DL Joe Klecko
In terms of players, there’s quarterback Joe Namath, wide receiver Don Maynard and running back Curtis Martin. And that’s pretty much the case when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the New York Jets. Yes, recently-retired cornerback Darrelle Revis will certainly be under serious consideration once he is eligible down the road. He was one of the dominant players at his position and later in his career certainly made his share stops around the league.
But what about one of the team’s legendary performers who was as versatile as any defensive lineman as we’ve ever seen in the league? Reliable Joe Klecko was a Pro Bowler at defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle. That’s three different positions in both to 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. As far as those four-man fronts, he was a huge part of the “New York Sack Exchange” which featured dance-crazed Mark Gastineau and defensive tackles Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. The quartet put up some amazing numbers in the 1980s when it came to harassing opposing quarterbacks.
However, it was Klecko who was the foundation of the group. A sixth-round draft choice in 1977 from Temple University, the reliable performer played 11 seasons for the Green and White before a one-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 1988. All told, there were four Pro Bowl invitations and a pair of All-Pro selections for the 6’3”, 263-pound defender who brought his best on a weekly basis.
Next: Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders: WR Cliff Branch
It seems as if it’s taken longer for members of the Silver and Black to take their rightful place in Canton, Ohio, than members of other franchises. Still, you will find your share of Oakland Raiders in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Owner Al Davis was a member of the Class of 1991 and some felt his selection was overdue at the time. And it seemingly took forever for legendary Ray Guy to be the first pure punter to enter the Hall. Quarterback Ken Stabler, who orchestrated his share of memorable wins and guided the franchise to its first Super Bowl win in 1976, finally earned his place in 2016.
When Hall of Fame omissions come up and the Raiders are the subject, head coach Tom Flores and quarterback Jim Plunkett are popular topics and certainly warrant consideration. But it’s also hard to ignore the merits of big-play wide receiver Cliff Branch, a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most explosive performers of his era. A fourth-round pick from the University of Colorado in 1972, he burst onto the scene in his third season.
All told, Branch was named All-Pro three consecutive years from 1974-76 and over that span, hauled in a combined 157 passes for 3,096 yards and 34 touchdowns. Those numbers may not seem impressive in today’s game. But these figures were before the league’s first set of rules changes (1978) which limited contact to pass-catchers.
Branch averaged 19.7 yards per reception over that span, pretty gaudy for any era. During his 14-year career, he totaled 501 grabs for 8,685 yards (17.3 average) and 67 scores. And the four-time Pro Bowler’s postseason numbers are pretty significant as well. In 22 games, he rolled up 73 catches for 1,289 yards (17.7 average) and five TDs. That yardage figure remains the third-highest in league history behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin. This is a player that warrants a lot more consideration when it comes to Canton.
Next: Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles: LB Bill Bergey
Prior to this past season, the last time the Philadelphia Eagles won an NFL Championship was way back in 1960. To put that in perspective and terms of the current subject, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was still three years away from inducting its inaugural class.
The City of Brotherly Love certainly has a lot to celebrate these days as one-time Eagles’ safety Brian Dawkins is a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Of course, wide receiver Terrell Owens played for the team from 2004 (and part of ’05) and was a part of the club that reached Super Bowl XXXIX.
As for the current topic, could cornerback Eric Allen get a call from the Hall one day? He played the first seven of his 14-year career with the Birds before moving onto the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders. For the six-time Pro Bowler, there were 54 interceptions (eight returned for touchdowns), including 34 picks and five scores during his time in the City of Brotherly Love.
But perhaps an even more intriguing candidate is middle linebacker Bill Bergey. Originally a member of the Cincinnati Bengals (a second-round pick in 1969), he was traded to the Eagles in 1974 after five years in the Queen City. It was there where he really excelled. In seven seasons with his second franchise, he was named to four Pro Bowls and was voted All-Pro twice. He was part of the Birds’ first Super Bowl squad in 1980, his final season in the league.
During his 12-year career, Bergey totaled an impressive 48 takeaways (27 interceptions, 21 fumble recoveries) and brought an intensity to his teams that was certainly welcomed. And he indeed may not be the only one-time Eagles’ linebacker who deserves Hall of Fame consideration. Maxie Baughan was a nine-time Pro Bowler who earned five of those berth while in Philadelphia.
Next: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers: G Alan Faneca
The long and very proud history of the Pittsburgh Steelers dates back to the birth of the team in 1933. Both owner Art Rooney and his son Dan Rooney are members of the hall. Thanks to the team’s enormous success in the 1970s – which included for Super Bowl titles in six years – Canton is well-stocked when it comes to members of the Black and Gold. There’s defensive tackle Mean Joe Greene, linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert and cornerback Mel Blount. On offense, you have quarterback Terry Bradshaw, running back Franco Harris, center Mike Webster and wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
And lest we forget head coach Chuck Noll, hired in 1969 and the true leader behind the dynasty. The “Team of the ‘70s” was talented and fearsome.
When it comes to this franchise, others mentioned from that era include defensive end L.C. Greenwood and safety Donnie Shell. As for the more modern day Steelers, there’s prolific wide receiver Hines Ward and standout guard Alan Faneca.
The latter has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist each of the past three years and his credentials are impressive. Faneca was the team’s first-round pick in 1998 and spent the first 10 years of his career with the franchise. He was named to nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 2001-09, the last two with the New York Jets. He was also a six-time All-Pro with the Steelers. All told, it seems like just a matter of times before he gets the call.
Next: San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers: RB Roger Craig
In 1999 and during his first season with the then-St. Louis Rams, future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk totaled at least a thousand yards both on the ground and through the air for the eventual Super Bowl XXXIV champions. He finished the season with a then NFL-record 2,429 total yards from scrimmage and scored a combined 12 touchdowns.
But 14 years earlier, San Francisco 49ers’ running back Roger Craig was the first to achieve such a feat. A second-round pick by Bill Walsh and the organization in 1983, he burst into the national spotlight by becoming the first player to score three touchdowns in a Super Bowl. That was during his second season in the NFL and in the Niners’ 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins (XIX).
It was the third year that proved to be most charming for the former Nebraska Cornhusker. In ’84, Craig totaled 214 carries for 1,050 yards and nine scores. He caught a league-high 92 passes for an additional 1,016 yards and six touchdowns. It would result in the first of four Pro Bowl invitations for the versatile pro, whose physical play made him a handful for any defense.
After eight seasons and a part of three Super Bowl championship teams with the 49ers, Craig spent one seasons with the Raiders and then two more with the Minnesota Vikings. It comes to an impressive 13,100 total yards from scrimmage and 73 touchdowns in 11 NFL campaigns. It may also add up to a bust in Canton one day as well.
Next: Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks: G Steve Hutchinson
The Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers both began play as expansion teams in 1976. So it would stand to reason that neither one of these franchises would have a bevy of Pro Football Hall of Famers at the moment.
For the team from the Pacific Northwest, their first inductee came in 1995 with the selection of prolific wide receiver Steve Largent. In more recent years, the Seahawks have had their share of enshrines – the most recent being unheralded safety Kenny Easley. Of course, the late and great Cortez Kennedy earned a bust in Canton, Ohio in 2012. And left tackle Walter Jones was a member of the Class of 2014.
University of Michigan guard Steve Hutchinson was the 17th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seahawks. He was a 16-game starter as a rookie that year and would wind up being a mainstay on the team’s offensive front for five seasons – although he missed 12 games in his second campaign. He would also wind up joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 after the ‘Hawks opted to place the “transition tag” on the talented performer and the Purple Gang came up with an offer sheet that Seattle simply couldn’t match.
But the onus here is on Hutchinson’s play. In his first 11 seasons with the Seahawks and Vikings (he closed his career with a 12-game cameo with the Tennessee Titans in 2012), the 6’5”, 315-pound specimen was named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 2003-09 and earned All-Pro honors five times over that span.
A year ago, in his first year of eligibility, Hutchinson was a finalist when it comes to being enshrined in Canton. So when it comes to Hall of Fame omissions, you get the sense that he won’t be on such a list a year or two from now.
Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S John Lynch
Just as was the case for the aforementioned Seattle Seahawks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the National Football League in 1976. And ironically enough, both franchises had their first primary Hall of Fame inductee that same year. While the Seahawks saw wide receiver Steve Largent enshrined in Canton, defensive end Lee Roy Selmon – the Buccaneers’ first ever draft choice in ’76 – got his bust as well.
Since then, Tampa has seen a couple of more of defensive stalwarts enshrined in the hallowed Hall in defensive tackle Warren Sapp and prolific outside linebacker Derrick Brooks. And the feeling here is that one of their teammates should get the call to that call sooner than later.
Safety John Lynch played 15 NFL seasons with the Buccaneers (11) and Denver Broncos (4). A third-round draft choice from Stanford University in 1993, he’s busy serving as general manager of the San Francisco 49ers these days. On the field, he was busy being named to the Pro Bowl nine times, including his final four seasons in the league with the Broncos.
Lynch, a five-time finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame honors dating back to 2014, racked up some impressive numbers. There were 26 interceptions, 13 sacks and nine fumble recoveries. He was also a huge part of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl XXXVII championship team in 2002, along with Sapp and Brooks. The reliable defender missed only 16 games in 15 seasons (7 in 1995) and made 191 career starts.
Next: Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans: DE Ray Childress
Once upon a time in an American Football League far, far away, the Tennessee Titans were the Houston Oilers. Born in 1960, they were original members of the AFL and actually captured the first two championships.
Following the 1996 season, the team would move from the Lone Star State and became the Tennessee Oilers. They held that moniker for two years before heading to Nashville and becoming the Tennessee Titans. During the franchise’s 50-plus of existence, there have been many great players and they have certainly gotten their due when it comes to Canton. From quarterback Warren Moon and running back Earl Campbell to defensive linemen Elvin Bethea and Curley Culp. And this year, outside linebacker Robert Brazile becomes the latest individual to earn such honors.
You could make a case for a number of Oilers/Titans in terms of Hall of Fame consideration. Running back Eddie George is certainly worth mentioning, as are wide receivers Charlie Hennigan and electrifying Ernest Givins. But the nod here goes to five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Ray Childress.
The third overall pick in the 1985 draft played and started 160 games for the Oilers, racking up 75.5 sacks in 11 seasons with the organization. He would spend his final NFL season in Dallas, but was a huge part of those Houston teams that made seven straight playoff appearances from 1987-93.
Next: Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins: T Joe Jacoby
In many ways, it was the Washington Redskins of the 1980s and early ‘90s that put NFL offensive lines on the map. Sure, there were other clubs that featured great five-man fronts. The Silver and Black of the Oakland Raiders once employed the Pro Football Hall of Fame trio of tackle Art Shell, guard Gene Upshaw and center Jim Otto.
But it was the ‘Skins – under the command of head coach Joe Gibbs and offensive line tutor Joe Bugel – that made four Super Bowl appearances in a 10-year span from 1982-91. And the group that spearheaded that success were “The Hogs.” The membership would change slightly over that decade or so but the nom de guerre is part of NFL lore.
Guard Russ Grimm is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, enshrined in 2010. And many feel that tackle Joe Jacoby alongside him in Canton, Ohio. The massive 6’7”, 305-pound blocker has been on the doorstep of this honor the last few years, having been a finalist each of the last three years. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro entered the league as an undrafted free agent and was a member of all four of Gibbs’ Super Bowl squads.
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Jacoby played in 170 regular-season games in 13 seasons with the Redskins. He was versatile enough to line up both outside and inside but mainly could be found at left tackle. It seems somewhat logical that he will one day join Grimm and the rest of his successful teammates and head coach in Canton.