It is an honor to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame but these 32 players are still stuck waiting for their call to Canton.
Getting a ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is an incredible honor for anyone who has ever played in the NFL. More than 26,000 players have suited up for an NFL game but just over 350 have been enshrined in Canton, making admission to the Hall an achievement only the greatest of the greats can achieve.
Due to the Hall’s unique structure of voting that permits only 5-8 inductees a year, there have been plenty of notable snubs. Let’s take a look at one player from each of the 32 NFL teams to see who has the biggest gripe about not being included in the Hall of Fame.
The 32 biggest Hall of Fame snubs
Arizona Cardinals
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: RB Ottis Anderson
The way the running back position has been devalued in the modern NFL gives a greater sense of perspective to talented backs from the past. One star who has slipped through the cracks is Anderson, who had an excellent 14-year career that began with seven excellent years for the Cardinals.
Anderson ran for 10,273 yards and 86 touchdowns in his career, totals that ranked him inside the all-time Top 10 in both categories when he retired. The Hall of Fame has never given a fair look at Anderson, a two-time All-Pro who won a pair of Super Bowls with the New York Giants and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXV.
Atlanta Falcons
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: LB Tommy Nobis
Being a standout on a bad team in the 1960s or ’70s could be a death sentence to a player’s Hall of Fame prospects. This appears to be what happened with Nobis, who was one of the NFL’s best linebackers but spent his entire 11-year career on a Falcons team that struggled to win games.
Nobis was a five-time Pro Bowler who made the NFL’s All-Decade Team in the 1960s, which should be viewed as a sign of respect for how dominant he was. That memo hasn’t reached the Hall of Fame yet as Nobis passed away in 2017 at the age of 74 without getting serious consideration for Canton in years.
Baltimore Ravens
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: RB Jamal Lewis
The Ravens have actually had a solid track record of respect from Hall of Fame voters and seen plenty of stars get the call to Canton in recent years. One player who hasn’t received his due yet is Lewis, the star running back who helped power the offense of Baltimore’s Super Bowl XXXV champion.
The most notable season of Lewis’ career came in 2003 when he became just the fourth running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade team in the 2000s, Lewis’ relatively high peak has left him on the outside looking in so far but it doesn’t make sense to keep him out when Terrell Davis’ career was deemed Hall of Fame worthy.
Buffalo Bills
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Steve Tasker
It may say wide receiver next to Tasker’s name but he is far better known for his prowess on special teams. Tasker was the primary gunner for Buffalo from 1986 until ’97 and was a dominant force on specials, recording 204 special teams tackles and blocking seven punts over the course of his career.
A seven-time Pro Bowler, Tasker is widely regarded as the best special teams player of all time but hasn’t gotten recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame since it has historically been slow to recognize that facet of the game. Tasker has been a semifinalist eight times but hasn’t been inducted yet, which is a shame since elite special teams play is important in football and he is the embodiment of that.
Carolina Panthers
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Steve Smith Sr.
Few expected Smith to have a 15-year career when the Panthers took him in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft but Smith developed into a legend thanks to his incredible toughness. Smith became the heart and soul of some strong Carolina teams in the 2000s, earning five Pro Bowl appearances as he racked up nearly 15,000 receiving yards on 1,031 catches over the course of his career.
The main issue for Smith has been a logjam at the receiving position in recent years that the Hall of Fame has been slow to sort through in order to recognize stars at other positions. Smith should get in at some point over the next few years but the fact he isn’t a Hall of Famer already is a product of the strange system that places artificial limits on the number of inductees per year.
Chicago Bears
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: C Jay Hilgenberg
A key member of the Bears’ offensive line in the 1980s, Hilgenberg was the anchor of the unit for a decade. A member of the 1985 Bears team that steamrolled to victory in Super Bowl XX, Hilgenberg was right up there with Mike Webster and Dwight Stephenson as one of the NFL’s top centers of his era.
Hilgenberg has received Hall of Fame consideration in the past but hasn’t gotten over the hump, likely in part because very few true centers have been admitted to Canton. It would be nice to see Hilgenberg be considered in the future as a senior candidate.
Cincinnati Bengals
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: QB Ken Anderson
The bar is high for quarterbacks to reach the Hall of Fame with the standard usually featuring either elite statistical performance or multiple championships as barriers to entry. Those metrics may have worked against Anderson, who was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL during his 16-year career as a member of the Bengals, even winning the NFL’s MVP award in 1981.
Unfortunately for Anderson, the Bengals couldn’t close out Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI, denying him a ring that may have pushed him over the top for Hall of Fame consideration. As it is, Anderson’s most favorable comparison is with current Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, who put up comparable statistics with San Diego but also didn’t win a ring in his career.
Cleveland Browns
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: LB Clay Matthews Jr.
The son of an NFL offensive tackle, Matthews made his mark on defense, becoming a star as a ball-hawking linebacker for the Browns. Matthews was a four-time Pro Bowler for Cleveland and racked up 1,595 tackles along with 69.5 sacks over the course of his 19-year NFL career.
That tackle total is the seventh most in the history of the NFL with three of the six players ahead of Matthews currently in the Hall of Fame and two more having legitimate cases to get in over the next few years. It is possible that Cleveland’s failure to get to a Super Bowl in the late 1980s is weighing against Matthews, who never got to showcase his talents on the biggest stage in all of sports.
Dallas Cowboys
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: LB Chuck Howley
He may be most notable for being the only player to be named Super Bowl MVP from the losing team, but Howley was one of the NFL’s most dominant linebackers in the 1960s. A star for the Cowboys from 1961-1973, Howley made six Pro Bowls and was a five-time first-team All-Pro during his prime.
It is simply astonishing that Howley isn’t in the Hall of Fame already. Now a senior candidate, Howley has to fight through a deep pool of snubs to have his case heard, although the Hall’s recent decision to expand its annual pool of senior inductees from two to three could help expedite the process.
Denver Broncos
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: LB Randy Gradishar
The headliner of the Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush” defense, Gradishar hasn’t heard his name called for Canton. A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Gradishar was also named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 and helped anchor a defense that season that allowed just 198 points in 16 games, ranking only behind the Steel Curtain of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
It is possible that the relatively short length of Gradishar’s career (he only played 10 seasons) hurt him in an era of dominant defensive players. Gradishar’s 2,049 tackles are nothing to sneeze at and he is another player who should have his case examined as a senior candidate in the coming years.
Detroit Lions
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Herman Moore
The Lions actually don’t have a ton of notable snubs for the Hall of Fame, a fact that may be due to the fact that the franchise has struggled to make a huge impact on the NFL since the merger. One player who should receive more consideration for Canton is Moore, who was Detroit’s top receiver throughout the 1990s.
Moore was particularly dominant between 1994 and ’97, registering all four of his Pro Bowl and All-Pro appearances while racking up over 1,000 yards per season. The fact that Moore was able to be so productive in an offense headlined by future Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders in the backfield should give him more consideration since Moore was likely ahead of his time.
Green Bay Packers
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Sterling Sharpe
The story of Sharpe is another case of a player who put together an extremely productive career in a short time span. A star for Green Bay from 1988-94, Sharpe led the NFL in receptions three times and touchdowns twice while making five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro first teams.
A serious neck injury forced Sharpe into early retirement after the 1994 season, robbing him of the chance to compile more dominant statistics with a rising star in Brett Favre. The fact that Terrell Davis and Tony Boselli have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in recent years is good news for Sharpe, who was unquestionably one of the league’s best receivers in his prime.
Houston Texans
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Andre Johnson
It doesn’t seem right for the NFL’s youngest franchise to be complaining about Hall of Fame snubs but they do have a beef about Johnson’s delayed entry to Canton. The first true Texans star after being taken with the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, Johnson was a seven-time Pro Bowler who posted seven 1,000-yard seasons while leading the NFL in receptions and receiving yards twice.
Johnson has been the victim of the log-jam of receiver candidates that are waiting for entry to Canton after the NFL’s passing revolution of the 2000s produced a litany of star pass catchers. It shouldn’t be too much longer before Johnson becomes the first Texans player inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Indianapolis Colts
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Reggie Wayne
Much like Johnson and Smith before him, Wayne is another star receiver from the 2000s who is caught in the log-jam of candidates awaiting their ticket to Canton. Wayne made beautiful music with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck over the course of his 13-year career, racking up 1,070 catches for 14,345 yards and 82 touchdowns while being named to seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.
Part of the reason Wayne may be in limbo is because he spent the early portion of his career playing alongside another Hall of Famer in Marvin Harrison, who helped draw the attention of opposing defenses away from Wayne. The best performances of Wayne’s career fall in a nine-year span between 2004 and ’12, which could force him to wait in limbo a bit longer.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: RB Fred Taylor
It may surprise a lot of football fans to see how strong a career Taylor had. Infamously dubbed “Fragile Fred” early in his career due to injuries, Taylor was extremely productive and stayed relatively healthy from 2002-08, a stretch that saw him rack up five 1,000-yard seasons for the Jaguars.
Taylor was an explosive runner who averaged 4.6 yards per carry over the course of his NFL career and rushed for 11,695 yards, a total that ranks 17th all time. Recent retiree Frank Gore and the still-active Adrian Peterson are the only players ahead of Taylor who aren’t in the Hall of Fame, which should lead Hall voters to take Taylor’s candidacy more seriously in the coming years.
Kansas City Chiefs
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Otis Taylor
Even though it is the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there hasn’t been a ton of respect from voters for players who spent the bulk of their careers in the AFL. This has undoubtedly hurt Taylor, who split his career almost evenly between the AFL and NFL while being one of the best receivers of his generation.
A two-time AFL Champion, Taylor helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV while making two Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams while leading the NFL in receiving yards in 1971. Taylor was also one of the true stars of the AFL and has been snubbed for far too long, a wrong that should get fixed by consideration as a senior candidate.
Las Vegas Raiders
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: CB Lester Hayes
Few defensive backs were more dominant in their prime than Hayes, who was nicknamed “The Judge” and teamed with Mike Haynes to give the Raiders one of the most fearsome cornerback duos of the 1980s. A five-time Pro Bowler, Hayes was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1980 after racking up 13 interceptions.
Even though Hayes was one of the NFL’s greatest shutdown corners he did generate some controversy for excessive use of Stickum, which Hayes would slather all over his uniform to help him grip footballs. Hayes recorded just 14 interceptions in the six years after the NFL banned Stickum as compared to 25 in the four years prior, which may have been held against him by past voters.
Los Angeles Chargers
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: DE Leslie O’Neal
A true pass-rushing star, O’Neal made an impact from the moment he was drafted by the Chargers in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after racking up 12.5 sacks, O’Neal saw his immediate future curtailed by a knee injury that cost him most of the next two seasons.
O’Neal was dominant when he was on the field, however, making the Pro Bowl six times, earning three Second-Team All-Pro appearances and finishing his career with 132.5 sacks. That total ranks 20th on the all-time list and the only players ahead of O’Neal who aren’t in the Hall of Fame played recently, making his exclusion a bit of an outlier.
Los Angeles Rams
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: WR Torry Holt
One of the great receivers of the 2000s, Holt is another player caught up in the wideout logjam that the Hall of Fame voters are trying to navigate at the moment. Holt was one of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers as part of the Greatest Show on Turf, making seven Pro Bowls and earning a pair of All-Pro appearances in his 11-year career.
A key member of St. Louis’ Super Bowl XXXIV champion, Holt was remarkably consistent, racking up at least 1,100 yards every season between 2000 and ’07, leading the league in receiving yards twice and receptions once in that span. Holt also has NFL records for most consecutive seasons with 1,300 receiving yards (six) and at least 90 receptions (also six), giving him a very valid argument to be enshrined in Canton someday.
Miami Dolphins
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: LB Zach Thomas
There have been plenty of notable snubs from Miami but the most egregious one right now is Thomas, who has been a Hall of Fame finalist a few times but hasn’t broken through to Canton just yet. A fearsome tackling machine in his prime, Thomas led the NFL in tackles twice while making seven Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro teams over the course of his 13-year career.
Thomas’ 1,734 total tackles rank fifth on the all-time list, which should be enough to merit induction into the Hall of Fame on its own without all of his other accolades. There is a good chance this snub gets fixed in the next few years with Thomas being a frequent semifinalist in the balloting.
Minnesota Vikings
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: DE Jim Marshall
There may not be a more egregious snub on the entire list than Marshall’s for the Vikings. A stalwart on the Minnesota defensive line for nearly two decades, Marshall started 282 consecutive games between 1960 and ’79, giving him the longest consecutive games streak for defensive players and the longest by a non-special teamer until Brett Favre surpassed him in 2009.
Marshall was also extremely productive when he was on the field, racking up 130.5 sacks in his career and 30 fumble recoveries while being named to two Pro Bowls as well as three All-Pro teams. The oversight of Marshall will have to be fixed by the Hall’s Senior Committee.
New England Patriots
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: DT Vince Wilfork
The fact that Tom Brady is still playing has obscured the fact that the Patriots’ dynasty hasn’t produced a ton of Hall of Famers yet. The most notable Patriot from the early dynasty to land in Canton is cornerback Ty Law but several other defenders have a notable gripe, including Wilfork.
A three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, Wilfork is considered one of the greatest run stuffers in the history of the league and was a vital part of Bill Belichick’s defense after he was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Wilfork won a pair of Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and should merit strong consideration from voters over the next few years.
New Orleans Saints
Biggest Hall of Fame Snub: LB Pat Swilling
An underappreciated defender who spent the first seven years of his career in New Orleans, Swilling made a tremendous impact as a pass rusher. Swilling recorded 107.5 sacks in his career, including a league-leading 17 sacks in 1991 when he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
A four-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, Swilling helped New Orleans and Detroit reach the postseason six times only to see his teams lose their first playoff game each time. That lack of postseason success may be a differentiator for Swilling, who is likely considered a Hall of Very Good player by most voters.
New York Giants
Biggest Hall of Fame Snub: RB Tiki Barber
Barber really had two separate careers in New York, a disappointing first three seasons followed by seven that saw him become one of the NFL’s best running backs. Things really took off for Barber in 2002, when he left fellow committee member Ron Dayne in the dust by rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and adding another 597 yards through the air, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s best dual-threat running backs.
The biggest reason that Barber isn’t in the Hall of Fame is due to his decision to retire at age 31 after the 2006 season in order to try to get a jump on a future broadcasting career. That decision came after a campaign where he compiled over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, a sign that Barber was nowhere near done. Another two or three years of excellent production may have gotten Barber into the Hall of Fame.
New York Jets
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: DL Joe Klecko
A vaunted member of the New York Sack Exchange, Klecko has never truly gotten his due as one of the game’s great defensive linemen. Klecko made four Pro Bowls over the course of his career and earned starting assignments at three different positions (defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle), showcasing how versatile his game was as both a run-stuffer and pass rusher.
Only Frank Gifford had made the Pro Bowl at three different positions before Klecko, a feat that will be very difficult to duplicate in the modern age. Klecko also made three All-Pro teams and led the NFL in sacks in 1981 so it is a travesty that one of the great defensive linemen of the 1980s hasn’t been elected to the Hall yet.
Philadelphia Eagles
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: CB Eric Allen
Allen played for three different teams over the course of his career but is most notable for his success as a member of the Eagles. A three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Allen was a ball-hawking cornerback with a knack for coming up with clutch interceptions, returning three picks for touchdowns in two separate seasons.
The trouble with Allen’s case is that he did peak relatively early with the Eagles and was never quite as dominant with either New Orleans or Oakland. Allen is a player who was one of the best at his position for a seven-year span so that should merit more consideration in the future.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: DE L.C. Greenwood
The Steel Curtain has sent a few players to Canton over the years but one notable omission from the great Pittsburgh defense was Greenwood. Drafted in the 10th round in 1969, Greenwood spent over a decade playing opposite “Mean” Joe Greene on the Steelers’ defensive line terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
Greenwood racked up 78 sacks and 14 fumble recoveries in his career while being named to six Pro Bowls. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade team in the 1970s, Greenwood was a finalist for induction in both 2005 and ’06 but was passed over by the voters, ensuring that he wouldn’t live to see potential enshrinement after he passed away in 2013.
San Francisco 49ers
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: RB Roger Craig
Joe Montana and Jerry Rice get all the headlines from the 49ers’ dynasty in the 1980s but Craig was a valuable contributor out of the backfield. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Craig became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and post 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, a feat that has only been duplicated by Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey since.
Craig was also named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1988 after totaling over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, including 1,500 on the ground, and nine touchdowns to help San Francisco win its third Super Bowl. The overall rushing totals don’t look stellar for Craig, which may explain why he isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet, but he was a prototype for the modern NFL running back and that should merit recognition in Canton.
Seattle Seahawks
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: RB Shaun Alexander
If your definition of a Hall of Famer involves being one of football’s best players at your position, Alexander should already be in Canton. Alexander was one of the NFL’s best running backs in the 2000s, being named to three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams while winning MVP honors for his ridiculous 2005 season that saw him lead the NFL in rushing yards (1,880 yards) and touchdowns (27) to cap a brilliant five-year run.
All of the carries Seattle fed Alexander between 2001 and ’05 took a toll on him, however, as he quickly declined and was out of the league after the ’08 season. The peak of Alexander’s powers was Hall of Fame worthy, however, and should merit strong consideration after Davis was inducted with a similar career arc.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: CB Ronde Barber
Like his brother Tiki before him, it is a bit of a surprise that Ronde Barber isn’t in Canton yet. The 2000s Tampa Bay defense has been slow to receive recognition from the Hall of Fame voters as only Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch have been inducted as of now.
A five-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro, Barber was one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks for 15 years, leading the league in interceptions in 2001 and playing a key role in the success of the Buccaneers’ Cover 2 defense. Barber was also an iron man, setting an NFL record with 215 consecutive starts by a cornerback, a statistic that should help bolster his case in the future.
Tennessee Titans
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: RB Eddie George
A true throwback to the old-school era of running backs, George was a workhorse from the moment he was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1996. The Titans handed George at least 312 carries in the first eight years of his career and he was extremely durable, rushing for over 1,000 yards seven times as George made four consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl between 1997 and 2000, including the 1999 season that saw Tennessee reach the Super Bowl.
Like Alexander after him, the heavy workload quickly took a toll on George, who declined rather quickly and was out of football after the 2004 season. Few running backs of his era were as dominant as George and it is fair to point out that a less heavy workload could have prolonged his career.
Washington Commanders
Notable Hall of Fame Snub: OT Joe Jacoby
A key member of the Hogs, Jacoby was a dominant force at offensive tackle for Washington throughout the 1980s. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, Jacoby helped the Redskins win three Super Bowls over the course of his 13-year career.
Jacoby was also recognized as a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s, making his exclusion from the Hall of Fame particularly egregious. It is likely this wrong gets corrected in the coming years with the expansion of senior candidates allowed into the Hall of Fame each year, a move designed to help players like Jacoby who fell through the cracks in previous elections.