Hall of Fame voters weigh in on why legendary Raiders TE Todd Christensen hasn’t gotten in

We spoke with several Hall of Fame voters to better understand why legendary Raiders TE Todd Christensen hasn’t gotten more consideration.

Despite not winning a Super Bowl in over four decades, the Raiders are still among the most decorated teams in terms of members enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And being that the Raiders are among the most accomplished NFL teams in the Super Bowl era, it shouldn’t be surprising that more former Raiders are worthy of enshrinement. For instance, Wide receiver Art Powell was a Senior finalist this year. Powell didn’t make the final cut, even though every Senior finalist since 2010 had been enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

Another former Raider who deserves consideration is tight end Todd Christensen. Back in the mid 80s Christensen had one of the greatest four-year run of any tight end in NFL history.

Christensen, who passed away far too soon at the age of 57, earned two first-team and two second-team All-Pro nods during that time, earning votes for the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year in 1986. He was also a key player on the Raiders’ 1983 Super Bowl-winning team.

Additionally, he appeared in the Pro Bowl five times and led the league in receptions twice. Christensen was just the second tight end to accomplish that feat, with each reception total setting an NFL record for his position.

For comparison, former Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow, who played in Christensen’s era and is widely considered one of the best tight ends of all time, had the same total number of All-Pro seasons as Christensen (though Winslow was first-team All-Pro three times), and five Pro Bowl seasons. Despite playing in a notoriously pass-happy offense, Winslow had just four more career touchdowns than Christensen. Their yards per catch were nearly identical.

So why isn’t Christensen in line for Hall of Fame induction? I reached out to several members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee to find out. All were granted anonymity.

“You will find that all of us on the Seniors committee are well aware of Todd’s achievements,” said one voter. “You should also find it logical that the committee should put players in based on some sort of chronological sequence.”

That’s probably why Powell appears ahead of Christensen in line. But considering that one of this year’s Senior inductees, defensive lineman Steve McMichael, played squarely within Christensen’s era, chronological concerns can’t be the entire story.

“There are a lot of Raiders in the Hall of Fame and that has created what we call Raider fatigue among voters,” a voter noted.

In recent years, quarterback Ken Stabler, coach Tom Flores, and wide receiver Cliff Branch all made it to the hall, giving some voters pause when considering other Raiders for enshrinement. That could also explain why Powell didn’t get in when he was a finalist.

Another issue is the length of Christensen’s career.

“Todd does have good statistics, but note he was a starter only seven seasons,” one voter added.

A star running back at BYU, he was drafted by the Cowboys to play that position. A broken foot ended his rookie year, and it wasn’t until his fifth NFL season that he had his breakout campaign as a tight end.

Christensen’s star burned bright enough that it should alleviate concerns about the length of his career. Take former Broncos running back Terrell Davis, for example. He played in just 78 career games but had an incredible statistical impact on a Super Bowl-caliber team and he is in the Hall.

It should also be noted that Winslow played just nine seasons and appeared in fewer overall career games than Christensen (137 to 109). At tight end, Christensen had just three fewer career starts than Winslow.

One voter simply stated a truth we all know: it’s really difficult to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“John Madden was eligible 27 years before getting in,” he said. “It is a daunting task. It is hard to get into the Hall of Fame. And it should be.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is right to set a high bar, but I believe that Christensen’s case is a strong one. His impact was immense, setting NFL records on a dominant Super Bowl-winning team. While his career wasn’t as long as some might like, he was in the NFL for 10 full seasons, the same as Powell and more than Winslow and Davis.

On a personal note, I didn’t get to watch Christensen play, but I always enjoyed his work as a color commentator for multiple NCAA and NFL broadcasters. His personality was a bright spot during his playing days as well. Called a “renaissance man” due to his love for poetry, he marched to his own beat and simultaneously dominated on the gridiron.

For Christensen to ultimately earn a bronze bust of his own, Raiders fans may have to make their voice be heard, much as they did with Stabler, Branch, and Flores.

Regardless, Christensen should certainly get more consideration on his own. You cannot write the history of the NFL without this man. And you can’t write the history of the Raiders — one of the NFL’s most accomplished franchises — without Christensen earning a chapter of his own.

Senior finalist Art Powell kept out of Hall of Fame class of 2024

Raiders legend Art Powell becomes first Senior finalist in 12 years not to be voted in

Being named a Senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was a virtual lock for induction in recent years. In fact, every Senior finalist since 2010 had gotten a bronze bust. So wouldn’t you know it, the first time it happened in more than a decade, it was a Raiders legend who was voted down and kept out.

Art Powell was among three players who were named Senior finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The other two were Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael.

Gradishar and McMichael made it. Powell did not.

It was bad enough that it took the senior committee in order for Raiders greats Ray Guy, Ken Stabler and Cliff Branch to get into the Hall of Fame, but now they’re finding ways to reject them through this route as well.

It’s been 55 years since Powell, who died in 2015, played his final game. But he still holds some lofty franchise and league records to this day.

He had 81 touchdown catches in 105 games, giving him an average of 0.77 touchdowns per game. That’s second-highest ever behind only Don Hutson (0.85).

Powell led the league in receiving in 1963 (1,304), and his 16 touchdowns that season are still the franchise record. He put up a franchise-record 247 yards in a single game that year. He outdid his receiving yardage the following season. His 1,361 yards are still third in franchise history.

But when it comes to recognition among the game’s greats, Powell got snubbed again. And with former cornerback Eric Allen also not making the cut among modern-era finalists, the Raiders have been shut out from the Hall of Fame class this year.

Raiders WR Art Powell named Senior Finalist for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Raiders WR Art Powell named Senior Finalist for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame

The NFL will select one senior player to make the Hall of Fame for the 2024 induction class. That list includes a former Raiders great, wide receiver Art Powell, who spent four years with the team.

Powell was a four-time Pro Bowl selection for the Raiders, earning the honor from 1963-1966. During that stretch, he never missed a game and totaled 4,491 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns for the Silver and Black.

Powell finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings and totaled more than 8,000 yards during his professional career. Powell played both in the AFL and the NFL, but most of his success came in the AFL with the Raiders.

Powell passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on as he is part of the three players ( linebacker Randy Gradishar and defensive tackle Steve McMichael) who are eligible to make the Hall of Fame in 2024.

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Raiders greats Art Powell, Albert Lewis among Senior semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Legendary Raiders receiver Art Powell is among Hall of Fame senior semifinalists.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their semifinalists for the class of 2024 Thursday. Among them are Raiders greats WR Art Powell and DB Albert Lewis.

To be eligible for the senior committee, a player must have played their last game in 1998 or earlier. That was Lewis’s final season in the NFL, which was his fifth as a member of the Raiders.

Lewis played 16 years in the NFL, his first 11 with the Chiefs. He collected 42 interceptions, heading to four Pro Bowls and once an All Pro. He also appeared in six playoff games, all with the Chiefs.

Powell is one of the greatest receivers in Raiders history. He spent just four seasons with the Raiders, but made the Pro Bowl in every season and was an All AFL performer in 1963 when he caught 73 passes for a league-leading 1304 yards and 16 touchdowns.

His 16 receiving touchdowns in a season is still the most in Raiders franchise history — and he did in in 14 games.

Powell played a total ten NFL seasons with the Eagles, New York Titans, Raiders, Bills, and Vikings.

Roger Craig is also among the semifinalists. He played one season with the Raiders in 1991 as his career was winding down.

The rest of the semifinalists are Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Randy Gradisher, Joe Jacoby, Steve McMichael, Eddie Meador, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor, and Al Wistert.

Former Raiders head coach Mike Shanahan was among the coaches/contributor semifinalists.

Shanahan coached the Raiders for just 20 games before butting heads with Al Davis and being fired. He then went on to have a very successful career as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, including winning two Super Bowls.

Other coach/contributor semifinalists are Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney Jr, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Lloyd Wells, and John Wooten.