Tag: Hall of Fame

Cowboys safety Darren Woodson among Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists, again

Former Cowboys safety and three-time Super Bowl Champion Darren Woodson makes it to the semifinal list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. | From @ArmyChiefW3

Former Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson has moved forward into the next phase of the 2025 Hall of Fame class process.

For the third straight year and eighth time overall, Woodson makes the semifinal list as Dallas’ all-time leading tackler once again hopes to be enshrined. He is the only Cowboys player to make the list in 2025.

Woodson was a catalyst on all three Cowboys Super Bowl-winning teams in the early ’90s. He was a three-time first-team All-Pro and was selected to five Pro Bowls during his 12-year career. His 827 solo tackles are unofficially the most in Cowboys history.

He was beaten to the Hall by three other safeties who played in his era. Tampa Bay’s John Lynch, Green Bay’s Leroy Butler, and Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins, all made it to the Hall of Fame despite Woodson having more Super Bowl rings than all three combined.

Dallas finished first in total defense in 1992 and 1994 while allowing the fewest points in the 1993 season.

While he wasn’t the first person to do so, Woodson helped shape how defenses counter the modern passing game. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound college linebacker converted to safety in the NFL but would also play in the slot. He helped with tackling inside the box and was fast enough to play on the back end of a defense.

The Hall of Fame committee will have some interesting debates to untangle. The biggest thing Woodson has going for him is his three Super Bowl wins, the same argument as first-time eligible and two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning.

If elected, Woodson would be the 33rd Cowboys player to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the 17th member to be in both the Hall and the Cowboys ring of honor.

Cowboys defenders Chuck Howley and DeMarcus Ware were the last Dallas players to be inducted back in 2023.

Broncos great Simon Fletcher elected to Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

Simon Fletcher, who ranks second in Broncos history with 97.5 sacks, will be added to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.

Former Denver Broncos pass rusher Simon Fletcher will be added to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2025 class, the selection committee announced on Wednesday.

Fletcher will be joined in next year’s class by Mikaela Shiffrin, Troy Tulowitzki, Larry Brown, Theodore “Bubbles” Anderson and Lisa Van Goor.

Fletcher, 62, ranks second in Broncos history with 97.5 career sacks, only trailing Von Miller (110.5 sacks). Fletcher played in Denver from 1985-1995, never missing a game during his 11-year career in the NFL (172 games).

Fletcher had five-straight seasons with double-digit sacks from 1989 to 1993 and he helped the team reach Super Bowls following the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons. He was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2016.

Fletcher and the five other members of the 2025 class will be recognized at a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Banquet next year. The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and Museum are located at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Broncos.

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1 stat proves Eli Manning is basically guaranteed to enter Hall of Fame (eventually)

Like it or not, Eli Manning is a lock for the Hall of Fame now.

If you stripped away Eli Manning’s two (kinda miraculous) Super Bowl wins and the fact that he played with the New York Giants, you would not think his NFL career was anything close to Hall of Fame worthy. But any contrary thinking to Manning’s uninspiring resume (he didn’t even have a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio! he averaged more than one turnover per game! he barely completed 60 percent of his passes in the easiest passing era ever!) is now probably moot.

On Wednesday, Manning was named one of 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, he was only one of six first-year eligible players named a semifinalist. That’s a key distinction, dearest readers.

Because according to pro football historian Jack Silverstein (@readjack.bsky.social on BlueSky), Manning is now basically a lock to one day enter the Hall of Fame based on his being a first-ballot semifinalist. Be it this year or somewhere down the line, Manning will soon get a bronze bust of his head.

Dread it. Run from it. Destiny still arrives for a middling quarterback who would have the same reputation as Joe Flacco if he didn’t play in the cultural capital of the United States:

Man, that’s honestly kind of wild to me. We need better standards for the Pro Football of Fame if Eli Manning really might be a first or second-ballot entry. That man was not that good. Far from it. Sigh.

Though, I suppose if someone lie Terry Bradshaw, of all people, is a Hall of Famer, then I guess Manning deserves it, too.

Dearest readers, we jumped this shark long ago.

Former Viking Jared Allen named Pro Football HoF semi-finalist

The former Minnesota Viking legend is on the short list to become a hall of famer.

Former Minnesota star defensive end Jared Allen, who played for the Vikings from 2008 to 2013, was one of 25 players who became semifinalists for the 2025 Hall of Fame class.

Allen came to the Vikings from the Kansas City Chiefs where he started his career. He played for the Chiefs from 2004-2007. After he left Minnesota, he played two seasons with the Chicago Bears before playing one final season with the Carolina Panthers.

Allen is considered one of the greatest players ever to wear Purple and Gold. He finished his Minnesota career with 85.5 sacks, which ranks fourth in franchise history. In 2011, he led the entire league with 22 sacks, which is a single-season Vikings franchise record. In that season he finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Terrell Suggs.

Allen’s 136 career sacks rank 12th in NFL history. During his time in the league, he was named to five Pro Bowls. It seems like a matter of time before Allen gets his gold jacket.

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

The semifinalists for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class have just been announced, which include six players in their first year of eligibility. Fans of the Seattle Seahawks will certainly recognize one name in particular, which is none other than a founding member of the Legion of Boom: safety Earl Thomas.

Thomas was announced as a nominee in late September, alongside running back Marshawn Lynch. While it is unfortunate Lynch did not progress this far, it is impressive Thomas has. Joining Thomas as semifinalists in their first year of elibility are quarterback Eli Manning, kicker Adam Vinatieri, guard Marshall Yanda, and linebackers Terrell Suggs and  Luke Kuechly.

When Thomas was announced, I wrote about how from a football perspective it was a no-brainer he was a Hall of Fame caliber player. Overqualified, in fact. He was the best safety in the league during his prime, a Super Bowl champion, a member of the All-Decade team, and a key player on the best single season defense in NFL history.

I also mentioned his off the field/personal issues possibly could have hampered his first ballot status. So far, that does not seem to be the case. At least, as far as him making it to the semifinalists stage.

Like I said, the legacy of Thomas is complicated, especially since he has not reconciled with the franchise whatsoever after his departure prior to the 2019 season. Should Thomas make it to Canton, hopefully he and the Seahawks can mend fences, as it would be awkward to have a HOF’er who wants nothing to do with the team he built his career with.

The next step will be a finalists round, which will feature 15 total players and it will be announced later this year. Eventually, the Hall of Fame selection committee will make their decision on the 2025 class before Super Bowl LIX in February.

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Couple Raiders legends remain among modern-era semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

The latest trim down to 25 modern-era semi-finalists, leaves two Raiders nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2025.

Wednesday the Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed their list of nominees down to 25 semi-finalists. Among them are a couple Raiders legends.

Making the list are Raiders greats CB Eric Allen and G Steve Wisniewski.

Allen finished out his career in Oakland, playing for the Raiders for four seasons from 1998-2001. This is his fifth time being named a semi-finalist.

Wisniewski played his entire career for the Raiders, starting in Los Angeles in 1989 and retiring after the 2001 season. This is his second time as a semifinalist.

This round saw Marshawn Lynch trimmed from the list of nominees for the Raiders. He was in his first year of eligibility.

This list will be trimmed down to a shorter list of finalists later this year. They will be combined with the senior finalists for a list of 20 modern-era and senior finalists, with the list of inductees announced prior to Super Bowl LIX in February.

Saints Super Bowl champ named Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist yet again

Jahri Evans made the cut as a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame again this year. Is the third time the charm for the Super Bowl 44 champ?

They say third time is the charm. That’s the hope for New Orleans Saints legendary offensive lineman Jahri Evans. The Pro Football Hall of Fame released their annual list of semifinalists, and Evans was one of the 25 players who made the cut.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for him. Evans has been a part of the semifinalists for each of the last three years, but hasn’t made the final cut. He has gotten closer on each attempt.

If the trend continues, this is the year Evans will be immortalized in Canton, Ohio. Evans was a semifinalist on his first attempt. Last year, he made his way into the group of finalists. Maybe adding the Saints Ring of Honor to his resume can swing things in his favor.

Three years feels like a long time until you look at the length of time other semifinalists have waited. Torry Holt is on his 11th attempt to go from semifinalist to enshrined in Canton.

Some of the first-time semifinalists who will make it tougher on Evans are Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning and Adam Vinatieri.

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2 ex-Broncos players fail to advance in Hall of Fame voting

The Broncos will not have any players added to the Hall of Fame in the 2025 class.

Former Denver Broncos defensive linemen Neil Smith and Simeon Rice are not among the 25 modern-era semifinalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. So the Broncos will not be represented by any players in next year’s class.

Smith, 58, spent the first nine years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Broncos in 1997. He won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver and then finished his career with the San Diego Chargers.

Smith totaled 625 tackles, 104.5 sacks, 30 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries and four interceptions during his 13-year career.

Rice, 50, played five years with the Arizona Cardinals and then had a six-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning Super Bowl XXXVII with the Bucs. He spent part of his final year in the NFL with the Broncos in 2007.

Rice recorded 483 tackles, 122 sacks, 43 pass breakups, 28 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and five interceptions during his 12-year career.

Former coaches Mike Shanahan and the late Dan Reeves were previously named coach semifinalists for the 2025 class in October. The selection committee voted on a coach finalist yesterday, but the result is not expected to be announced until December.

Broncos candidates for Hall of Fame

  1. Coach Mike Shanahan
  2. Coach Dan Reeves

The list of modern-era player semifinalists will be trimmed down to a finalists list later this fall. The 2025 class will be announced before Super Bowl LVIX next year.

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Sean Payton gives strong take on Mike Shanahan’s Hall of Fame candidacy

Sean Payton said Mike Shanahan has a better resume than some of the recent coaches that have reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is one of nine coach semifinalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Sean Payton, Denver’s current coach, gave Shanahan a strong endorsement during his conference call with Broncos reporters on Monday.

“I’ve had a long friendship with him,” Payton said. “What he’s accomplished though in our game, he has two Super Bowl championships. He’s been behind, I would say, the minds behind so many coaches working right now. I’d say almost a third of the league at one point has been impacted by Mike. Not only the coaching tree, I’m talking about the offensive tree.

“When I got into the league, there were two or three teams that you studied, and Denver was one of them. We’re sitting here in 2024 and we’re looking at a guy — a candidate — who quite honestly has a lot better credentials than maybe some others [who] have gone before him as coaches. He was one of the guys. [He’s] extremely intelligent and then the Super Bowls, the quarterbacks, the success and all those other things. I don’t know when the vote is or how that all unfolds, but his candidacy for someone like myself, it’s easy.

“It’s all there right in front of you. Then go ahead and look back at the last — just take the last six coaches that have gone in. Just use that number and then throw their numbers at Mike and their accomplishments and I think that’s a simple way to look at it and arrive at the right decision.”

This certainly isn’t the first time Payton has backed Shanahan. Denver’s current coach previously noted that elements of Shanahan’s offense are still used in the NFL today, and Payton said last summer that Shanny should already be in the Hall of Fame.

We should find out soon if Shanahan is advancing in the voting process.

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Saints legends present for Jahri Evans’ Ring of Honor ceremony

Drew Brees, Carl Nicks and Jermon Bushrod were some of the Saints legends in the building for Jahri Evans’ Ring of Honor enshrinement:

Jahri Evans is entering the New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor when the team takes on the Cleveland Browns. Evans is one of the greatest offensive linemen in team history, and could be on his way to being immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Evans was a part of that historic 2006 draft class and played an integral part in the Saints’ Super Bowl run. To celebrate his enshrinement, a few players from that Super Bowl team are in attendance. It was also the annual “Legends Weekend” for former Saints players, so many of them were in the building, too.

Drew Brees, Carl Nicks and Jermon Bushrod were all on the sidelines ahead of Sunday’s matchup. The trio of Bushrod, Evans and Nicks played a big part in protecting Drew Brees through his early run in New Orleans. Evans and Nicks were particularly important on the interior due to Brees’ height.

The quartet spent four years together from 2008 to 2011. The group has now reunited to celebrate Evans being remembered forever in Saints history.

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