Fansided

30 biggest Hall of Fame snubs in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 21: Linebackers Jim LeClair #55, Bo Harris #53 and Glenn Cameron #50 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackle running back Mike Pruitt #43 of the Cleveland Browns as cornerback Ken Riley #13 looks on during a game at Riverfront Stadium on December 21, 1980 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bengals 27-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 21: Linebackers Jim LeClair #55, Bo Harris #53 and Glenn Cameron #50 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackle running back Mike Pruitt #43 of the Cleveland Browns as cornerback Ken Riley #13 looks on during a game at Riverfront Stadium on December 21, 1980 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bengals 27-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

19. Ken Riley

The Bengals of the 1970s will have multiple players on this list, and Ken Riley is the first of them to be featured.

Riley was drafted by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 1969 NFL Draft, and all he did for the next 15 seasons was be one of the most productive defensive backs in NFL history while getting almost zero recognition for it.

Riley had at least four interceptions in nine of his 15 seasons, and retired with 65 interceptions overall, which is the fifth most in NFL history. Even while doing that, Riley was never selected as a Pro Bowler. He had nine interceptions in 1976- no Pro Bowl selection. He had six in the season prior to that, and got zero recognition by the national media.

Even in the late stages of his career, Riley was still a great ball hawk. He picked off five passes in 1982, and he intercepted eight passes in 1983, the final year of his career. He was named All-Pro that season, which is more important than a Pro Bowl selection, but still somehow wasn’t selected to go to the Pro Bowl.

He is easily the most disrespected defensive back in history and never got the attention and respect he deserves. Even now, he is rarely mentioned in the conversation of great defensive backs.

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