10 biggest NFL omissions from the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Running back Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

8. RB Roger Craig

The former University of Nebraska product amassed an impressive 13,100 yards from scrimmage and 73 total touchdowns with the 49ers, Raiders and Vikings. The vast majority of that production (11,506 and 66 TDs), along with four Pro Bowl invitations and All-Pro honors in 1988, came in his eight seasons with San Francisco (all resulting in postseason appearances.

Craig also earned three Super Bowl rings (XIX, XXIII and XXIV) during his tenure with the Niners. In his third NFL campaign in 1985, he became the first player in league history to total at least 1,000 yards rushing (1,050) and receiving (1,016) in the same season.

7. OLB Clay Matthews Jr.

One season after a rookie outside linebacker for the New York Giants named Lawrence Taylor terrorized opposing quarterbacks in 1981, the National Football League finally opted to make individual sacks an official statistic. The fine folks at Pro Football Reference have done their research and have the totals dating back to 1960.

So that means former Browns and Falcons outside linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. is unofficially credited with 82.5 quarterback traps during his 19-year NFL career. The 12th overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft from Southern Cal also totaled 16 interceptions, forced 27 fumbles and racked up 14 fumble recoveries with Cleveland and Atlanta.

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