HOF Class of 2024

[AB in DC]

It's that time of year again. Only two newly-eligibles on the semifinalist list this year: Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers

https://www.nfl.com/news/pro-football-hall-of-fame-announces-25-modern-era-semifinalists-for-class-of-202

• Eric Allen, CB – 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021-24)
• Jared Allen, DE – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021-24)
• Willie Anderson, T – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021-24)
• Tiki Barber, RB – 1997-2006 New York Giants | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2024)
• Anquan Boldin, WR – 2003-09 Arizona Cardinals, 2010-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013-15 San Francisco 49ers, 2016 Detroit Lions | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
• Jahri Evans, G – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
• London Fletcher, LB – 1998-2001 St. Louis Rams, 2002-06 Buffalo Bills, 2007-2013 Washington Redskins | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
• Dwight Freeney, DE – 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
• Antonio Gates, TE – 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2024)
• Eddie George, RB – 1996-2003 Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans, 2004 Dallas Cowboys (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022, 2024)
• James Harrison, LB – 2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
• Rodney Harrison, S – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2021, 2023-24)
• Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
• Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 – 2015-2024)
• Andre Johnson, WR – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
• Robert Mathis, DE/LB – 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
• Julius Peppers, DE – 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers, 2010-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Green Bay Packers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2024)
• Steve Smith Sr., WR – 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
• Fred Taylor, RB – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020-24)
• Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2017-2024)
• Ricky Watters, RB – 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2020, 2022-24)
• Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020-24)
• Vince Wilfork, DT – 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
• Patrick Willis, LB – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020-24)
• Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2024)

 

[BaseballJones]

Good grief it's impossible to get into the Football HOF. So many great players on that list.

 

[luckiestman]

All very good players. None jump out to me as being a level above the others. Maybe Woodson.

 

[AB in DC]

Gates is probably a shoo-in. The rest...I dunno. I thought Jared Allen would have gotten in years ago.

 

[Devizier]

My barometer has been AP and PB selections.

Julius Peppers (9 PB, 4 first team AP, 3 second team AP)
Antonio Gates (8 PB, 4 first team AP, 2 second team AP)
Jared Allen (5 PB, 4 first team AP).

Stand out. I might be missing some guys though.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

Willie Anderson is probably the best RT in modern football history. He made four straight APs including three first-team and was shut out of more because he was on terrible teams. He only allowed 16 sacks and had 13 holding penalties in a 13-year career. He allowed one sack to the top pass rushers of his generation, to Bruce Smith in the final seconds of a blowout his rookie year. Michael Strahan called him the best RT of his generation. Gates and Peppers are slam dunks, but I don't see anyone else that unequivocally deserves to be in over him.

 

[Bergs]

Willie Anderson is probably the best RT in modern football history. He made four straight APs including three first-team and was shut out of more because he was on terrible teams. He only allowed 16 sacks and had 13 holding penalties in a 13-year career. He allowed one sack to the top pass rushers of his generation, to Bruce Smith in the final seconds of a blowout his rookie year. Michael Strahan called him the best RT of his generation. Gates and Peppers are slam dunks, but I don't see anyone else that unequivocally deserves to be in over him.

I would like to think people are starting to get smarter about the impact of OL on the game, but I see precious little evidence that is the case. Also he has a pretty generic sounding name, which probably hurts him (which is really stupid). The numbers I bolded are absolutely insane.

 

[luckiestman]

My barometer has been AP and PB selections.

Julius Peppers (9 PB, 4 first team AP, 3 second team AP)
Antonio Gates (8 PB, 4 first team AP, 2 second team AP)
Jared Allen (5 PB, 4 first team AP).

Stand out. I might be missing some guys though.

Well I’m totally out of it today. I read your post and was like how does he not have Woodson. Well, good reason, Rod Woodson has already been in the HOF for 14 years. Wow. Holy shit, what a moment of stupidity and illiteracy by me.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Willie Anderson is probably the best RT in modern football history. He made four straight APs including three first-team and was shut out of more because he was on terrible teams. He only allowed 16 sacks and had 13 holding penalties in a 13-year career. He allowed one sack to the top pass rushers of his generation, to Bruce Smith in the final seconds of a blowout his rookie year. Michael Strahan called him the best RT of his generation. Gates and Peppers are slam dunks, but I don't see anyone else that unequivocally deserves to be in over him.

I agree with this. For me, Anderson, Gates and Peppers should be automatic.

I'd also very much consider Allen and Woodson (and Wilfork, but that's probably a bit biased).

I will say though, if Devin Hester doesn't get in, they should just rename it the "Hall of Fame, except for kickers/punters/returners." If Hester doesn't get in, no returner ever should get in. The guy has 14 Punt Return touchdowns and another 5 on kick returns. The next closes guy is Eric Metcalf at 10 PR, and 2KR. Hester has a total of 20 return touchdowns. The next five guys on the list, are all in the HOF. Now most are CB's, like Deion, but nobody has 20.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Gates should definitely get in. He was both dominant in his prime, and had longevity as well. The rest of the list has so many outstanding players, like @BaseballJones , I have no idea how to whittle it down to 2-3.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

Gates and Peppers were the two who immediately stood out to me. Anderson seems like he should be in as well based on the posts above. Beyond that I have no clue how you sift through the rest.

They should really change the way they do it. I'm ok with a small hall attitude but the backlog is so significant at this point I feel like they have to increase the number they allow in each year.

 

[Kliq]

There is a huge glut of pass catchers and pass rushers who all have similar statistics that are arguably all preventing each other from going in.

I think a lot of people have the wrong idea with receivers. People think the numbers are inflated and therefore less important, but I really think we should be looking at it in terms of how important WRs are to the game--they are far more important than at any other time. More receivers have 13,000+ receiving yards because receivers are bigger pieces of the offense now, and I don't think they should be punished for that.

 

[Hoya81]

Gates and Peppers were the two who immediately stood out to me. Anderson seems like he should be in as well based on the posts above. Beyond that I have no clue how you sift through the rest.

They should really change the way they do it. I'm ok with a small hall attitude but the backlog is so significant at this point I feel like they have to increase the number they allow in each year.

Or do a special slate of 15-20 inductees like they did a few years ago for the 100th anniversary of the NFL.

 

[snowmanny]

My barometer has been AP and PB selections.

Julius Peppers (9 PB, 4 first team AP, 3 second team AP)
Antonio Gates (8 PB, 4 first team AP, 2 second team AP)
Jared Allen (5 PB, 4 first team AP).

Stand out. I might be missing some guys though.

My barometer is all-decade inclusions (same voters, I think). I'll dark horse adding Jahri Evans.& Dwight Freeney

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Patrick Willis is sort of tricky. His whole career was pretty much peak, but his career was short.

 

[Ale Xander]

It's that time of year again. Only two newly-eligibles on the semifinalist list this year: Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers

https://www.nfl.com/news/pro-football-hall-of-fame-announces-25-modern-era-semifinalists-for-class-of-202

Automatic enshrinement for the new guys if Canton and Springfield ever merged

Tony Gonzalez to mc

 

[scott bankheadcase]

Patrick Willis is sort of tricky. His whole career was pretty much peak, but his career was short.

7 PB, 6 AP.

entire career was hall of fame quality, but he retired early. I think he should be in. He was the best middle linebacker in the league for multiple years,

 

[Kliq]

Willis and Luke Kuchely have almost the exact same career.

 

[Silverdude2167]

No hope for Vince? Would love for him to get in.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

No hope for Vince?

Nose Guards and Defensive Tackles have an extremely hard time getting in.

 

[8slim]

The pro Hall is way too small. Most of that list should be in.

 

[Saints Rest]

The pro Hall is way too small. Most of that list should be in.

It’s almost the opposite of the MLB list. MLB has 2-3 sure-fire yes, a couple more maybe, and a pile of nevers. NFL has a pile of yes, a bunch of maybes, and just a couple nevers.

 

[tims4wins]

LFG. One of my top 3 all time favorite Patriots.

View: https://twitter.com/profootballhof/status/1740181542977122566?s=46

 

[Sandwich Pick]

LFG. One of my top 3 all time favorite Patriots.

View: https://twitter.com/profootballhof/status/1740181542977122566?s=46

Belichick has repeatedly vouched for him. Also called him the best practice player ever.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Complete finalists. Vince didn't make the cut

• Eric Allen, DB -- 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-1997 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
• Jared Allen, DE – 2004-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2015 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
• Willie Anderson, OT -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
• Jahri Evans, OL -- 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
• Dwight Freeney, DE -- 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Detroit Lions, 2017 Seattle Seahawks
• Antonio Gates, TE -- 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
• Rodney Harrison, DB -- 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-2008 New England Patriots
• Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR -- 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2015 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
• Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
• Andre Johnson, WR -- 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
• Julius Peppers, DE -- 2002-2009/2017-2018 Carolina Panthers, 2010-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2016 Green Bay Packers
• Fred Taylor, RB -- 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots
• Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
• Patrick Willis, LB -- 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
• Darren Woodson, S -- 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

 

[djbayko]

Couldn't agree more. Watching this compilation is fun. Hester would find an opening and in a blink of an eye he had covered like 15 yards and had shot past the coverage. He was incredible.

View: https://twitter.com/betonline_ag/status/1740202529802350671

It’s criminal that now 3 time Hall of Fame finalist Devin Hester isn’t in the Hall of Fame already

 

[Mystic Merlin]

I didn’t realize how many All Pro teams Jahri Evans made. Between him and Carl Nicks, that Saints offense had the best guard tandem in the league for a while there, which they needed with a QB of Brees’ stature.

I also thought that Darren Woodson already got into the HOF. He’s gonna be the next safety to get in, so Rodney might still be waiting for the call by the Super Bowl.

Hester has to get in at some point if special teams matters at all to the history of the sport.

 

[Ale Xander]

Gates
Willis

Didn't realize Harrison only made 1st team All-Pro twice

 

[Kliq]

Peppers and Gates are the only locks. Everyone else has a shot but it's tough to make it.

 

[Ale Xander]

Peppers and Gates are the only locks. Everyone else has a shot but it's tough to make it.

I didn't even look at Peppers stats. Hadn't considered a lock. Hmmmm

They should move the induction to Springfield, MA

 

[Ale Xander]

My barometer has been AP and PB selections.

Julius Peppers (9 PB, 4 first team AP, 3 second team AP)
Antonio Gates (8 PB, 4 first team AP, 2 second team AP)
Jared Allen (5 PB, 4 first team AP).

Stand out. I might be missing some guys though.

Patrick WIllis has 5 1st team All-Pros and 7 Pro Bowls in 7 years (got hurt in 8th and retired)

He would have gone down as arguably the best non-felonious ILB in history had he stayed healthy

 

[Deathofthebambino]

I agree with this. For me, Anderson, Gates and Peppers should be automatic.

I'd also very much consider Allen and Woodson (and Wilfork, but that's probably a bit biased).

I will say though, if Devin Hester doesn't get in, they should just rename it the "Hall of Fame, except for kickers/punters/returners." If Hester doesn't get in, no returner ever should get in. The guy has 14 Punt Return touchdowns and another 5 on kick returns. The next closes guy is Eric Metcalf at 10 PR, and 2KR. Hester has a total of 20 return touchdowns. The next five guys on the list, are all in the HOF. Now most are CB's, like Deion, but nobody has 20.

I'm just gonna quote my earlier post because nothing has changed.

Devin Hester is the guy I'd go to the mat for...

 

[AB in DC]

Complete finalists. Vince didn't make the cut

Also missing out are Tiki Barber, Anquan Boldin, London Fletcher, Eddie George, James Harrison, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Ricky Watters

That's a pretty damn find list on its own.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

LFG. One of my top 3 all time favorite Patriots.

View: https://twitter.com/profootballhof/status/1740181542977122566?s=46

Literally my favorite patriot of all time

 

[AB in DC]

Inductees will be announced tonight at NFL Honors Ceremony. Some names are already starting to leak

Link

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Patrick WIllis has 5 1st team All-Pros and 7 Pro Bowls in 7 years (got hurt in 8th and retired)

He would have gone down as arguably the best non-felonious ILB in history had he stayed healthy

Bobby Wagner would like a word.

Edit to add: Six 1st-team All-Pros, four 2nd-team All-Pros, nine Pro Bowls, fifth in MVP voting in 2014, fourth in DPoY in 2017 and second in DRoY in 2012.

 

[scott bankheadcase]

Willis makes it. Very happy!

 

[scott bankheadcase]

Also: Peppers, Johnson, Freeney, Hester, McMichael, Gradishar.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Willis makes it. Very happy!

I'm happy to see it too. He was great

 

[DeadlySplitter]

The Gate(s) was not locked.

 

[AB in DC]

No Gates

Gradishar and McMichael from the veteran's committee, or whatever it's called

 

[AB in DC]

My barometer is all-decade inclusions (same voters, I think). I'll dark horse adding Jahri Evans.& Dwight Freeney

Good call on Freeney. He was absolutely not on my short list, particularly with Pepper and (snubbed) Jared Allen on the ballot.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I hate to be a cold bastard, and McMichael's condition sucks...but I never thought of him as a HOF caliber player

 

[Ale Xander]

No Gates is odd. Curious to reasoning. All I can think of is Kelce and Gronk came after him.

McMichael isn't a hall of famer in my book.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Disappointed that Willie Anderson missed out again, but happy especially for Willis and Hester

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I have fond memories of Andre Johnson being almost unstoppable. What an all around amazing receiver.

Hester getting in is awesome. Another ridiculous playmaker.

No Harrison is weird. Guess he rubs people the wrong way?

 

[BaseballJones]

I don't think McMichael is a HOF level player either. I also am iffy on Andre Johnson. Terrific player? Absolutely. Hall of Famer? Ehhhhh... I guess? PFR has his comps being Andre Reed, Steve Largent, Cris Carter, James Lofton, and Henry Ellard. Four of those five are also HOFers. So I guess he is.

7 times with 1000+ receiving yards
0 times with 10+ receiving touchdowns (Carter had 6)
0 times with more than 14 AV in a season

His HOF monitor number is 94.91, and the average HOF WR is at 103.63, so well below average for a HOF WR.

I guess he deserves to be in, looking at his comps. But I see him as on the low end of a HOF player. But still...terrific receiver, congrats to him.

 

[Kliq]

Johnson getting in helps breaks the log jam of wide receivers with extremely similar stats that were all getting stuck on the ballot. Johnson, Steve Smith, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne and Anquan Boldin all have extremely similar career numbers, and I think with Johnson getting in, that will help clear the way for others.

You can take your pick on which one of those guys you think was the best (I'd go with Steve Smith) but I think the case for Johnson was that he had the worst QBs by far of that group besides Smith, and easily played on the worst teams with the least surrounding talent.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

I don't think McMichael is a HOF level player either. I also am iffy on Andre Johnson. Terrific player? Absolutely. Hall of Famer? Ehhhhh... I guess? PFR has his comps being Andre Reed, Steve Largent, Cris Carter, James Lofton, and Henry Ellard. Four of those five are also HOFers. So I guess he is.

7 times with 1000+ receiving yards
0 times with 10+ receiving touchdowns (Carter had 6)
0 times with more than 14 AV in a season

His HOF monitor number is 94.91, and the average HOF WR is at 103.63, so well below average for a HOF WR.

I guess he deserves to be in, looking at his comps. But I see him as on the low end of a HOF player. But still...terrific receiver, congrats to him.

Yeah, McMichael is weird. This feels like a reputation reward - was a starter for the '85 bears, started 101 games in a row, Ditka said he was the "toughest player he ever coached"...I dunno. His all-pro nods are in line with everyone else that was a finalist. He was a great player, but aren't there other guys on this list that were more impactful? Harrison may have been the most important player on 2 SB defenses. Anderson was a premier LT for a decade. Evans was an elite guard and the only real pro-bowler on one of the best offensive teams in his era. Gates is 14th all-time in TD's - every person in the top 25 are in or will be in the HoF (excluding Shaun Alexander).

You think about guys like that, and then put in McMichael? 3 of his 4 AP's came when the Bears were at their apex ('85-'87). He was one of 6 pro-bowlers on the '85 defense, and that DOESNT include their most impactful player (and person drawing all of the double teams away from McMichael) William Perry. Again, very good player. Maybe even a HoF caliber player. But ahead of some of the other guys on the list?

Personally, the one I'll never understand is Jared Allen. He broke the single season sack record at the time (22 sacks), was AP 1st team 4 times, and is 12th all-time in sacks. Even crazier, he finished 12th in sacks despite only playing 187 games. Of the 11 players with more career sacks than Allen, only one of them - Reggie White - registered a higher sack-per-game number than Allen (0.72 sacks per game). The only thing against him would be steroids, but this isn't baseball. The number of guys in this league - hell, in the HOF - who probably took steroids are astronomical.

 

[DanoooME]

I'm sure one factor in McMichael's induction is his illness and he doesn't have much longer to live. He'd probably get in eventually but there's likely some urgency because of that