UNC legend Julius Peppers was named as 1 of the 15 finalists for the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame class.
UNC football great [autotag]Julius Peppers[/autotag] is a step closer to entering pro football’s elite club after being named a finalist for the 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Peppers was one of 15 finalists named for the honor, which also features Antonio Gates, Devin Hester, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Jared Allen, Patrick Willis, Fred Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Eric Allen and Willie Anderson.
Out of the 15 players, only five will be picked for the high achievement, with Peppers having the opportunity as a first balloter, being his first year of eligibility.
Peppers was one of the more feared defensive players during his tenure in the NFL, playing for three teams, most known for the ten years spent in Carolina as a Panther. Peppers has 159.5 sacks in his playing career, ranking 5th most in NFL history, and 52 forced fumbles, ranking second most in NFL history.
Peppers won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and was selected to nine pro bowls.
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Hines Ward and James Harrison failed to make the final round of voting for the HOF.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 15 modern-era finalists for the 2024 class. The biggest surprise is that neither of the Pittsburgh Steelers who were semifinalists made the cut for the final 15.
Here is the full rundown of finalists:
– TE Antonio Gates
– WR Reggie Wayne
– DE Dwight Freeney
– OL Jahri Evans
– OL Willie Anderson
– WR/RS Devin Hester
– RB Fred Taylor
– WR Torry Holt
– WR Andre Johnson
– LB Patrick Willis
– DE Julius Peppers
– DE Jared Allen
– S Rodney Harrison
– S Eric Allen
– S Darren Woodson
Wide receiver Hines Ward and linebacker James Harrison were left out of the mix. The debate then becomes whether Ward is more deserving than Wayne, Hester, Holt or Johnson. Statistically, Johnson and Wayne both had better career numbers.
As for Harrison, he was more in the style of Freeney, Peppers and Allen, all of whom had significantly more sacks.
Hines Ward and James Harrison are once again semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 25 semifinalists for its 2024 class, and two former Pittsburgh Steelers are among the group. Wide receiver Hines Ward is a semifinalist for the eighth time, and linebacker James Harrison is a semifinalist for the second time.
Ward holds numerous receiving records in franchise history. In 217 career games, Ward had 1,000 receptions for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns. He won two Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh.
Harrison is one of the most prolific pass rushers in the franchise’s history. He is currently No. 2 all-time in franchise history with 80.5 career sacks. Harrison was Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and that season made perhaps the greatest play in Super Bowl history, a 100-yard interception return against the Arizona Cardinals. Like Ward, he won two Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh.
Both guys face stiff competition this year with multiple great players at linebacker and wide receiver in the mix.
Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2017-2024)
James Harrison, LB – 2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
Is 2024 the year former Steelers WR Hines Ward finally makes the Hall of Fame?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame released its list of 173 modern-era nominees for the 2024 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In digging through the expansive list, we were glad to see the Steelers are well-represented with 10 names. Some we’ve seen on here before and others are new. Here’s the full list.
Ken Huff and Julius Peppers will be on the 2024 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
North Carolina Tar Heels Ken Huff and Julius Peppers will be on the 2024 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The announcement came Monday morning by the National Football Foundation (NFF), with the UNC sending out a press release about the news shortly after. Huff and Peppers were instrumental in rocking Carolina blue, becoming Tar Heel legends.
In the press release by UNC, a statement from NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell explained how special it is to be listed on the ballot.
““It’s an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.62 million people have played college football and only 1,074 players have been inducted,” said Hatchell. “The Hall’s requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of about 1,500 individuals who are even eligible. Being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game, and we look forward to announcing the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class early next year.”
Congratulations to Carolina legends Ken Huff and Julius Peppers on earning a place on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot 👏👏👏
“Finally.” That is the best way to sum up the reaction to Don Coryell being added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Finally.” That is the best way to describe the reaction to Don Coryell being added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
That was the prevailing sentiment on social media after it was announced that the great Chargers head coach was among those in the Class of 2023, announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night in Phoenix, AZ.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
At long last, legendary San Diego Chargers head coach Don Coryell is headed to the HOF. pic.twitter.com/hwIAplFSHW
Congrats to our all-time winningest coach and a pioneer of the air raid offense, Don Coryell, on making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/c49tRWb2le
Chargers head coach Don Coryell is officially a member of the @ProFootballHOF joining his players, Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, and Kellen Winslow in football immortality.
Great joy former “SAN DIEGO”CHARGERS head coach Don Coryell (and of course former #aztecs coach) elected to the Pro football Hall of Fame. Great passing game innovator and winner loved by his players and quite frankly one of the best men I’ve ever known in sports.
Don Coryell has finally been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The honor is long overdue and comes 13 years after the offensive guru who developed "Air Coryell" died.
It’s been a long time coming…#Chargers Head Coach Don Coryell has finally been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 per @ProFootballHOF
I can’t pretend to be a Don Coryell expert since I was 10 when his career ended, but I’ve known about his impact on the game my whole life. I really can’t believe it took him this long to become a Hall of Famer.
Former Chargers HC Don Coryell got the call from Canton.
It’s been long overdue, but former Chargers head coach Don Coryell has finally been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Coryell coached the Chargers from 1978-1986, posting a 72-60 record. Under him, the Bolts won three division titles and played in four divisional playoff games and two AFC championship games.
But it’s not what he accomplished while serving as the head coach, it’s how he revolutionized the game. The “Air Coryell” offense marked the beginning of the NFL’s transformation from a run-first league to one where passing reigned supreme.
Quarterback Dan Fouts led the league in passing yards four straight seasons (1979-1982) and became the first player to surpass 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.
Coryell’s offense forced defenses to bring in extra defensive backs to slow the passing attack, which we refer to as nickel and dime defenses nowadays.
Coryell passed away on July 1, 2010 in La Mesa, CA at the age of 85.
The Georgia Bulldogs are already well-represented in Atlanta’s College Football Hall of Fame, and soon there may be two more Dawgs added to the club.
Georgia had two former greats included on the ballot for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame class —former head coach Mark Richt and former running back Garrison Hearst.
Hearst was one of 80 former FBS players included on this year’s ballot, while Richt was one of nine coaches. Also included on the ballot is former Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson.
Hearst was on the ballot as well for the 2022 class. Former Georgia defensive back Champ Bailey was inducted as part of that class.
This year’s class will be announced early in 2023
Mark Richt:
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt reacts to fans after the Bulldogs defeated Kentucky at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 7, 2015. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
In 2001, Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley took a shot on Florida State quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Mark Richt to become the new head coach in Athens. Richt, a former Miami quarterback, had been at Florida State for 15 years, taking one year off to coach at East Carolina in the late 1980s. Brought back by legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, Richt guided the FSU offense to the top of college football. Richt coached six FSU quarterbacks to the NFL, including Heisman winners Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke.
In 2001, Richt’s first season at Georgia, the Bulldogs were only able to win 8 games, yet it was obvious things were trending upward in Athens. Richt’s first season at Georgia featured a win over a top-five Volunteers team on the road (Hobnail Boot).
In 2002 under Richt, Georgia began its ascension towards becoming a consistent college football powerhouse. The Bulldogs finished the year 13-1, which included an SEC Championship win over Arkansas and a win over his former Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl.
In 2005, Georgia won yet another SEC Championship. With star quarterback D.J. Shockley under center, the Bulldogs delivered a beatdown over LSU in Atlanta. Richt had won two SEC titles in his first five years at Georgia.
Richt came close to returning to the top of the SEC on a couple more occasions as well. In 2011, Georgia rebounded from an 0-2 start to finish the regular season with 10 straight wins. The Dawgs jumped out to a great first half vs LSU in the SEC Championship but were unable to finish the drill in the second half. The following year, Richt produced maybe his best team while at Georgia. The 2012 Bulldogs featured Aaron Murray, Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, Tavarres King, Arthur Lynch, Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, Shawn Williams, Bacarri Rambo, etc. However, the Dawgs fell just short to Alabama in the SEC Championship, a game that had Georgia won, the Bulldogs would have likely cruised to a national title win over an overrated Notre Dame.
Following the 2015 season, a year that saw Georgia finish with 10 wins, Richt was let go from his post at Georgia. He returned to Miami to assume to the position of head coach at The U. Richt is currently retired from coaching football.
Garrison Hearst:
Sep 12, 1992; Athens, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Georgia Bulldogs running back Garrison Hearst (5) in action against the Tennessee Volunteers at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Hearst meant everything to his 1992 UGA team. More than a third of Georgia’s offensive production came from Hearst, who scored over half of the team’s touchdowns. During his junior year, the Lincolnton native led the nation in touchdowns (21) and in scoring (11.5 points per game).
Hearst broke SEC and school records for most points scored in a single season (126), total touchdowns (21), rushing touchdowns (19) and average yards per carry (6.8).
A consensus All-America, Doak Walker Award recipient and SEC’s player of the year in 1992, he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Hearst finished his college career second on the Georgia records list in rushing yardage (3,232), all-purpose yardage (3,934) and 100-yard rushing games (16), trailing only Herschel Walker. He was the third pick in the 1993 NFL draft, selected by the Arizona Cardinals.
This fall, former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Troy Polamalu will finally be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Polamalu was selected on the first ballot he was eligible in February of 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HOF did not hold a ceremony so the 2020 and 2021 classes will go in together.
Polamalu made an interesting post on Twitter on Tuesday night that dropped a huge hint about who his presenter will be. It appears Polamalu’s former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will be speaking for Polamalu at the enshrinement. LeBeau was Polamalu’s defensive coordinator for his entire NFL career and helped Polamalu become one of the best safeties of all time.
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) April 27, 2021
When former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Alan Faneca is enshrined as part of the 2021 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he will be presented by another Steelers great who is still waiting his turn. The HOF announced on Tuesday that former wide receiver Hines Ward will be Faneca’s presenter.
