(And I'm so sorry for Raiders fans who watched Megatron, Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch and, well, the next player in this article go after Russell. How much is needed for the rightful recognition is given. But where were the first-ballot candidates? Robert Kraft could be in line to receive a gold jacket as a contributor. Longtime NFL executive and former player whose career spanned from 1943 through 2007. He should be a lock to make the Hall of Fame in 2023. Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 1, 2023 According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's website, football players are not deemed eligible until they've been inactive. The list of 129 nominees for the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame was released Tuesday, headlined by Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis and Dwight Freeney. This is the full schedule of our 2023 Free Agent Focus rundown: February 15: WR Julio Jones. Thomas was a five-time All-Pro, so it just felt like it was time for him to get inducted. I had Barber and Lewis behind Eric Allen, who didn't make the finalist list, in my ranking of the semifinalists. It included the Jets scoring an insane 30 total points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and eventually win. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just keeping it real here. Here's a look at the best first-time candidates out there as well as the senior and contributor finalists that the NFL has already selected. March 7 - Prior to 4:00 p.m., In addition to the list below, review the all-time best players for each team, and the all-time best players at each position. On the newest episode of "The Mission," HOF Production had an all-access backstage pass at NFL Honors, where the new class was introduced to the nation for the first time. Andrew Luck is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Kevin Hickey February 11, 2023 8:28 am ET When the 2023 season is concluded, it will mark five consecutive seasons since former. In fact, if you don't remember the story, I remember writing a blog post (ask your parents what a blog was, kids; it was all the rage at the time) about how Thomas skipped the draft at Radio City Music Hall and went fishing with his dad instead. So, what about Rocky Bleier, L.C. On the first Saturday of every month, Mark will write about a topic of interest to . FAMU football great Ken Riley was announced to be a member of the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class during Feb. 9's NFL Honors. The trio are among the nine nominees who are eligible for the first time Overall, Palmer was a solid quarterback, but that shouldn't be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. I wasn't sure if it was ever going to happen for Ronde. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Though sometimes you never know with these Hall of Fame voters. 10:06 am ET, Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports, Ranking 10 best NFL landing spots for Richardson, 2023 NFL combine: WR/TE winners and losers, Takeaways from NFL combine measurements for WR, TE, Pete Prisco's top 100 NFL free agents of 2023, NFL combine: Grading top QBs, plus winners and losers, NFL combine 2023 tracker: Top performances, highlights, Looking ahead to possible 2023 NFL Hall of Fame class, NFL Combine: Grading top QBs; winners and losers, NFL Draft: Top landing spots for Richardson, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Colossal Richardson sets multiple QB combine records, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. I'd have him in. With the Dallas Cowboys (2005-13), he twice led the NFL in sacks (2008, 2010)and holds the Cowboys' career sacks record with 117. He was the MVP of Super Bowl 5, making him the first defensive player (and non-quarterback) to win those honors. 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame lookahead: James Harrison, Joe Thomas among first-time eligible players Several high-profile players will be eligible for the first time By Bryan DeArdo Feb. Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News. He might need to wait a rotation or two while another pass rusher who didn't make the first-ballot cut last year (see below) gets in. Fox Sports' RJ Young breaks down five true freshmen quarterbacks who are most likely to play in 2023. The Athletic is reporting that the Eagles have submitted a proposal to the NFL's competition committee that would reinstate No. I also wonder if Antonio Gates, who feels like a pretty automatic first-ballot member of the Class of 2024, might hurt the chances of some receivers. His longevity and toughness are also very compelling. The New York Jets and Cleveland Browns will face off in the 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio to kick off the preseason on Thursday, Aug. 3. If he does not get in over the next three years time too close hall of fame, Posted by greg thompson on 07/21/2022 @ 01:30am. His best season came in 2015 when he finished as a runner-up in the MVP voting after recording 4,671 yards, 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading the Cardinals to a 13-3 record. NFL.com The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed the modern-era finalists for the Class of 2023 on Wednesday, highlighted by three players who made the cut in their first year of eligibility:. He returned eight of his 47 career regular-season interceptions for touchdowns. March 3, 2023 1 min Watch. The roster of nominees consists of 67 offensive players, 50 defensive players and 12 special teamers. Please keep comments relevant to the topic. He had a streak of 10,363 consecutive plays while playing for the Browns his entire career. But Joe Thomas' presence in this class probably hurts Anderson this year. The final slot in the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class could be filled by any number of worthy candidates. T A number of people are inducted every year, with some classes obviously looking stronger than others. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Finalists will be discussed by 49 selectors during an election meeting on Jan . Tap on other column headers to sort by name or position. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He has the statistics that are better than some of the guys that are currently in the HOF. Maybe his comments on Jeff Saturday rubbed people the wrong way? Thomas was named to the Hall of Fame's All-2010s team, so that should give him a great chance of making it in during his first year on the ballot. QUARTERBACKS (6): Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia, Dave Krieg, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair. pic.twitter.com/ENrAjjg7ag, Now, with the Raiders taking JaMarcus Russell No. Ben Roethlisberger is a 1st Ballot HOF Feb 10, 2023 / by Logan Reardon Bears he Pro Football Hall of Fame is an exclusive club for the game's elite players, coaches, executives and contributors. He was a strong, steady starter for 12 years and made 183 starts overall. Peterson, fifth all-time in rushing yards (14,918), is a good bet for election on the first ballot. Up to three seniors and one individual from the coach/contributor category can be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Class of 2023.. To be eligible for the seniors category,. In addition to the list below, review the all-time best players for each team, and the all-time best players at each position. February 17: ILB Lavonte David. Any content deemed inappropriate or offensive may be edited and/or deleted. Back in 2007, on one of the most significant days of Joe Thomas life - @joethomas73 skipped the @NFLDraft to go fishing?! Hence, the iconic nickname "Revis Island" he picked up in the early part of his career with the Jets. When is Tom Brady eligible for the NFL Hall of Fame? Still, Revis was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for half a decade and was named an All-Pro four times. This sport's past isn't always as treasured as it should be, but I love NFL history and get geeked every time we get to talk about another new group Hall of Famers. It's a busy offseason and the timeline below gives a clear picture of what is coming. The 2022 preseason opened up Thursday with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. I know this is a big day for Joe, but think about what this means to me. Freeney spent most of his 16-year career in Indianapolis, where his speed off the edge and dominant spin move led to 125.5 career sacks. I thought Ware had a great chance last year, but again, it seem like we can't let just anybody in on the first ballot. Why is Darrelle Revis ranked so low? teams around the league rate . Copyright 2020-2023 FutureFootballLegends.com, Unmasking the Next Generation's Hall of Fame. Howley was All-Pro from 1966-70 and was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1977. 2X Super Bowl Champion, 5th All-Time in Wins and Yds and 8th in TDs, Posted by Brian Nau on 02/9/2023 @ 21:53pm, Posted by Goifjjc on 03/10/2022 @ 22:27pm. This year's class brings the total to 362 former players, coaches and contributors who have received a permanent spot. Rounding out the modern-era group is Ronde Barber (CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1997-2012), a third-time finalist in his sixth year of eligibility. I could understand some hesitation, but the voters got this one correct. 'The Mission': Backstage access at NFL Honors 2023. In his 12 NFL seasons, Ware played on only one team with a losing record. Because I have a suspicion it's DeMarcus Ware (DE/LB, Dallas Cowboys, 2005-2013; Denver Broncos, 2014-16) who gets in this year. Had a 10-year career as a player before serving as a scout for the Cowboys, Eagles and Ravens from 1975 to 2003. Adam Rank provides his ranking of the 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2022 -- including first-ballot hopefuls Devin Hester, Steve Smith Sr. and DeMarcus Ware. Ballard at the 2023 NFL Combine; Wednesday, March 1 . The superstar quarterback will have to wait until at least 2028 for his induction because he played in the 2022 seasonafter briefly. Chancellor's career was cut short by a neck injury, so his lacking longevity and zero first-team All-Pro nods may keep him out of the Hall of Fame. This is a well-deserved honor for the best of his generation. Freeney is another fearsome pass rusher who will have a great chance to make it into the Hall of Fame. He's good. February 1, 2023 8:52 am ET. Either put him in or don't make him a finalist. Here's a look at the players will be eligible for the first time. 1940's Bruno Banducci & Al Wistert, Posted by William McCoy on 08/16/2022 @ 22:32pm. Who else makes the cut? The following list of players retired after the 2021 season and will become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027. The Hall of Fame Committee met in January to make its final selections for this year's class. Two days . Who else makes the cut? Each . Also being enshrined are coachDick Vermeil and former supervisor of officialsArt McNally. Ahead of Dick Vermeil's enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, Kurt Warner reflects on his former coach's greatest attribute and how it impacted the Super Bowl-winning QB's life and own HOF career. Nick Shook provides a primer on this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement, including a look at the activities planned to mark Saturday's ceremony in Canton. He didn't. But while I don't want to be too harsh here, I'm not sure he would get my vote. Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot if they are 10 years removed from their . In his first day of measurable testing on Friday, Scott clocked a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash to rank second among 19 safeties and recorded the top time in his . 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame lookahead: Andrew Luck, Julius Peppers among first-time eligible players Two players will likely be inducted in their first year of eligibility By Bryan DeArdo. Being included is truly an honor for these players. 2022 Semifinalists and Finalists Table; Passing Rushing Receiving Defense; Rk Ballot Player Role HOFm From To W L T Chmp AP1 PB St wAV G Cmp Att Yds TD Lng Int Sk Yds Att Yds greenwood, Dwight White, and Jim Plunkett? 2022 . Of course, Lewis' lack of enshrinement may be a harbinger of bad news for Johnson, who failed to replicate the high-end success of his 2,000-yard season during which he averaged 5.6 yards per carry. And that about covers it. Evans did a good job blocking for Drew Brees during the prime of his career and spent his final season blocking for Aaron Rodgers. Johnson thought he was still going to feast. Freeney has the credentials. (Sorry, that analogy made more sense in my head. Here is the fourth version of our Vikings 2023 Mock Draft Tracker, which features 16 recent predictions from around the world of . While 2023's class was filled with tough names, there's a bit of a drop-off for the class of 2024, which could end up being a benefit . 0 as a legal uniform number. But the voters also seem to hold first-ballot enshrinees to some kind of tough-to-decipher level of prestige. The Pro Football Hall of Fame hasn't yet announced its modern-era nominees for the Class of 2023, but there are plenty of intriguing first-year candidates on the ballot, and a few of them could be chosen for enshrinement in the not-so-distant future. Greenwood, former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, former Bengals cornerback Ken Riley, former Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett, and former Raiders cornerback Lester Hayes. The distinction between modern-era players and senior players is that seniors will have played their final NFL game no later than 1996. The thing working against him here is that Ray Guy is the only pure punter in the Hall of Fame to date. Baalke said he spoke with Taylor's representation Tuesday and has met with . 2022 saw both teams finish the regular season with a 7-10 record and last in their respective AFC divisions. I couldn't be happier for him. - Former Cal safety Daniel Scott is scheduled to start his measurable skills testing and participate in an on-field workout Friday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. NFL Team Plaques and Collages. The Pro Football Hall of Fame hasn't yet announced its modern-era finalists for the Class of 2023, but the league will face a tough task in picking its best options this year. It's unclear whether the Hall of Fame would admit Lechler to give him some company. 1920'S LaVern Dilweg Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren may also receive consideration. The top vote-getters returning include third baseman Scott Rolen (63.2% of the vote, up from 52.9%), first. Six-time Super Bowl-winning owner of the Patriots. Former Cleveland Browns LT Joe Thomas will be eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023 Cleveland Browns great Joe Thomas only has to wait one more year for his first chance to be. Posted by DEBORAH HOPE on 02/10/2023 @ 21:19pm, Your list run by mathematics is Poop. Lechler played 18 years in the NFL and was one of the best punters the league has ever seen. Thomas retired after that season, but not before becoming the first offensive lineman to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons all with the Cleveland Browns. March 1: S . Six-time All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thomas, shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis and speedy pass-rusher Dwight Freeney headline the list of nine first-year-eligible players picked among the 129 nominees for the 2023 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sign up now to get football news delivered to your inbox, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It's just one of those things I've learned to come to expect, like the way people assume deep-dish pizza is the best pizza in Chicago, when all the people from Illinois know it's tavern-style pizza that's truly the staple of our diets. I am aware Willis does not have a ring. I'm not going to be mad if he gets in. Long-time NFL head coach who won three Super Bowls (two as a head coach, one as an assistant). The fact that this was Ware's second year was part of why I felt he had a better chance than finalist Dwight Freeney, who missed out as a potential first-ballot guy this year but will likely get in next year. One would expect that at least one of these receivers will be part of the 2023 induction class. NFL Hall of Fame candidates: Best first-year eligible players for 2023 The Pro Football Hall of Fame hasn't yet announced its modern-era finalists for the Class of 2023, but the. After a bounce-back season with new head coach Brian Daboll, Jones has the Giants up against the wall. Just kidding. There have been 63 recorded 100-yard touchdowns in NFL history (playoffs incl. (I would have voted for Steve Smith Sr., but you all didn't ask me. Do it! Here's more about each of the nine newest Pro Football Hall of Famers. In the case of Joe Thomas (OT, Cleveland Browns, 2007-2017), I was working the NFL.com news desk in 2007 on the day he was drafted. It's a big step in the pre-draft process with pro days and player visits to team facilities next on the docket. The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class will be announced Thursday night during NFL Honors. Days before the Super Bowl, the NFL announced the 2022 class of entrants into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During his college coaching career, Joe Gibbs and John Madden were assistants on his staff. It won't be long until the Hall of Fame process begins. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Known as the "Forgotten Four," Marion Motley, Woody Strode, Kenny Washington and Bill Willis reintegrated pro football in 1946, and have now been selected to share the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Ralph Hay Pioneer Award during enshrinement week. . Jamal Lewis is the lone exception. MORE: Ranking Hall of Fame tiers for active NFL players. That ranks top-100 in NFL history. He was instrumental in the team's 2009 Super Bowl win over the Cardinals, during which he returned an interception 100 yards for a score just before halftime. He made six All-Pro teams and led the NFL in yards per punt five times during his career. First, Mexican American? He officially retired from the NFL in 2021. Tony Boselli and LeRoy Butler finally made it to Canton. The official start of the 2023 NFL year is March 15 when free agency kicks off. Is Darrelle Revis a lock? Ware's spot on the waiting list ends up being filled by Dwight Freeney. Zach Thomas should be in the hall of Fame! There is about to be a run of guys in the 125-plus sack range seeking induction. Players are ranked according to their Legends Score, which is a simple measure of a player's individual career accolades. He's not even a finalist. The Chicago Bears hold the No. To be enshrined, a player must be named on at least 75% of the voters' ballots. Also only lb in his era that compares is ray Lewis,who is in the hall! But I'm going to keep it in there anyway.). 1 overall, Thomas was either going second overall to a three-win Lions team (they went with Calvin Johnson) or third overall to a Browns team with one winning season in the previous eight campaigns. It's easy for some to forget just how good Revis was in his prime because his decline was so swift. Players are ranked according to their Legends Score, which is a simple measure of a player's individual career accolades. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. A quarterback in college at Florida A&M, he converted to cornerback for his 15 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (1969-1983). After a weather delay, the Las Vegas Raiders came out with a commanding first half en route to a 27-11 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Copyright 2020-2023 FutureFootballLegends.com, Unmasking the Next Generation's Hall of Fame. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe. His 1-3 record in playoff games, along with the fact that he played in a quarterback-rich era, hurts Palmer's case for induction in 2023. So, if you're considering Johnson, you have to consider Forte, especially since the latter is a better receiver. The fact that he has to compete with players like Revis shows just how difficult it is to get into the Hall of Fame. The inductees must fit into one of five categories: student-athlete, coach, team, athletics staff member or special achievement. The 2022 preseason opened up Thursday with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. Notes: Each voting cycle, qualified members of the BBWAA name no more than 10 eligible players whom they consider worthy of Hall of Fame honors. Ha ha ha. Other 2022 finalists who will likely receive consideration for induction in 2023 include defensive end Jared Allen, offensive tackle Willie Anderson, defensive back Ronde Barber, and linebackers Zach Thomas and Patrick Willis. The one blemish on hisrsum is that he never won a Super Bowl. Johnson's 2,006-yard rushing season gives him an argument, but his lack of overall production (he finished with just under 10,000 career rushing yards) probably leaves him on the outside of the vote for 2023. Ben Volin (@BenVolin) February 1, 2023. But again, I've seen obvious go unrewarded before. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He was one of the most durable and dominant players of his era. Who will be eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024? On the newest episode of The Mission, HOF Production had an all-access backstage pass at NFL Honors, where the new class was introduced to the nation for the first time. (Announced Aug. 24, 2022) The other first-year-eligibles are running back Chris Johnson, offensive lineman Jahri Evans, linebackers NaVorro Bowman and James Harrison, defensive back Kam Chancellor and punter Shane Lechler. (Hey, sometimes us fantasy dorks get it right!) Palmer enjoyed early success in Cincinnati before leading the Cardinals to the NFC Championship Game in 2015. Former coach known as "the father of the T formation" who helped popularize the forward pass. However, Forte's overall numbers are similar to those of Johnson as you can see below. I love Ike Bruce, who was in the Class of 2020, but if you were going to tell me that one of the receivers from the Greatest Show on Turf was going to get inducted, I would have sworn it would be my guy, Torry. We finally know when the GOAT is going to get his gold jacket. Albert Lewis (CB, Kansas City Chiefs, 1983-1993; Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 1994-98) deserves congratulations for making it this far in his final year of eligibility. Players must be retired for five years to be eligible for induction. How about Tommy nobis of the Atlanta falcons for the Hall of Fame? Freeney had seven seasons with at least 10 sacks and demonstrated incredible longevity. Therefore, any individual who last played in 2017 is eligible for the first time in 2023.) Steve Smith Sr. (who did not make it to the finalist stage), Torry Holt, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne were all left waiting.