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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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 9: Safety Tony Peters #20 of the Cleveland Browns tackles wide receiver Cliff Branch #21 of the Oakland Raiders during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on October 9, 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Raiders defeated the Browns 26-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 9: Safety Tony Peters #20 of the Cleveland Browns tackles wide receiver Cliff Branch #21 of the Oakland Raiders during a game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on October 9, 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Raiders defeated the Browns 26-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

15. Cliff Branch

Cliff Branch had a career that spanned 14 seasons, as he was part of all three of the Raiders Super Bowl wins from 1972-85.

In his third season in 1974, Branch was a Pro Bowler, as well as an All-Pro. He led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,092 on 60 catches. He also led the NFL in touchdown receptions that season with 13. Branch would go on to be an All-Pro from 1974-76. The next season in 1975, he caught 51 passes for just under 900 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns for the second time in 1976 with 12.

Even as he aged, Branch was still a big part of the Raiders offense. Even if he wasn’t the big-time, go-to target that he used to be, he transitioned into a secondary role on the team. He caught 44 passes for 858 yards and seven touchdowns in 1980, and would put up similar numbers until his retirement after the 1985 season.

Branch was one of the most dominant and reliable targets of the 1970s, and continued to be a big part of the Raiders success in the twilight of his career. He should be in the Hall of Fame, and it’s a shame that he isn’t.

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