Tag: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Cardinal Dwight Freeney a Hall of Fame finalist; Anquan Boldin is not

Check out the finalists for the 2024 Hall of Fame class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 finalists for the 2024 Hall of Fame class, which will be announced in February before the Super Bowl.

One former Arizona Cardinals player made the cut. Another did not.

Former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, was drafted by Arizona in 2003 and played for the Cardinals through 2009, was not one of the 15 finalists. He was a semifinalist.

The former Cardinal to make the final 15 is Dwight Freeney. Freeney spent most of the 2015 season with Arizona, getting eight of his 125.5 career sacks with the Cardinals.

The 15 finalists are below.

Jaguars great Fred Taylor is finally a Hall of Fame finalist

In his fifth year as a semifinalist, Fred Taylor finally earned a well-deserved spot among the Hall of Fame finalists.

It took five tries, but Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is finally a well-deserved Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist.

Taylor, who is in his ninth year of eligibility , was one of 15 former players named modern-era finalists for the Class of 2024 on Wednesday. Shortly before the Super Bowl in February, the 50-person Selection Committee will convene and cut the list down from 15 to 10 and then 10 to five.

If Taylor reaches the final five, the committee will vote to decide if he’s an inductee. An 80 percent vote would get him enshrined.

Taylor is the only running back on the list of finalists, which includes two players in their first year of eligibility: Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates.

Wide receiver Torry Holt, who spent the majority of his career with the St. Louis Rams before finishing his career with one season in Jacksonville, is also a finalist.

Tony Boselli is the only former Jaguars player to be enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney finalists for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame

Reggie Wayne and Dwight Freeney represent the Colts as finalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

A pair of Indianapolis Colts legends have been named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, the league announced Wednesday evening.

Former Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and defensive end Dwight Freeney were named among the 15 modern-era finalists for the upcoming class.

This is Wayne’s fifth time on the ballot. He has made it as a finalist in each of his first five years on the ballot (2020-2024). Wayne will get in most likely sooner rather than later. His resume speaks for itself. His 1,070 career receptions and 14,345 receiving yards are more than 17 wide receivers already in the Hall of Fame.

Those numbers are both 10th all-time among wide receivers in NFL history. Wayne was a six-time Pro Bowler and was a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2010. He also holds the Colts’ franchise record for career games played (211). His 1,070 career receptions, 14,345 career yards and 82 career receiving touchdowns are all the second-most in franchise history behind Marvin Harrison.

Wayne recorded four seasons with at least 100 receptions and eight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. His 14,345 career receiving yards are the second-most among eligible Hall of Fame candidates.

This is Freeney’s second time on the ballot, and it’s the second time he’s reached the finalist stage. His 125.5 career sacks rank 26th all time while he was a three-time All-Pro First Team selection (2004-2005, 2009) and a seven-time Pro Bowler (2003-2005, 2008-2011).

Freeney’s 125.5 career sacks rank seventh-most among Hall of Fame eligible players.

Former wide receiver Andre Johnson, who spent the 2015 season with the Colts, also is a finalist for the Class of 2024.

Former Colts defensive end Robert Mathis was a semifinalist but did not make it to the finalist round.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be inducted during NFL Honors, on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

[lawrence-related id=92954,92949,92945]

Julius Peppers named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

Panthers legend Julius Peppers has been named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 class.

Carolina Panthers great Julius Peppers continues his fast track to Canton.

As announced on Wednesday night, Peppers has been named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. The legendary pass rusher, who retired after the 2018 season, is in his first year of eligibility for the game’s highest honor.

Peppers played 10 of his 17 pro seasons in Carolina, a two-stint tenure that sandwiched stops for the Chicago Bears (2010-2013) and the Green Bay Packers (2014-2016). Those 17 years yielded an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, four First-team All-Pro selections, three Second-team All-Pro selections, nine Pro Bowl nods and spots on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

Along with former teammate Muhsin Muhammad, Peppers was inducted into the Panthers Hall of Honor back on Oct. 29. We’ll find out if the fourth-leading sack artist of all-time is headed for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the NFL Honors show during Super Bowl week.

Unfortunately for another old teammate and fellow franchise great, Wednesday night marked the end of another shot at immortalization.

For the third straight year, former wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. did not make the cut into the group of finalists. Smith Sr., a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, ranks eighth all-time in receiving yards.

[lawrence-related id=687600,683855,677533]

Raiders CB Eric Allen named modern-era finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024

CB Eric Allen named modern-era finalist for Hall of Fame class of 2024

And then there were 15.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has trimmed their list of nominees for the class of 2024 to 15 finalists. And Raiders great CB Eric Allen is among them.

You can see the full list of finalists here.

Allen played the final four years of his 14-year career with the Raiders. He revived his career in those years, collecting 16 interceptions and 46 pass breakups including four playoff games.

Allen made six Pro Bowls over his career, including one All Pro. All happened while with the Eagles and Saints.

While Allen is the only modern-era finalist for the Raiders, the franchise also has a Senior Committee finalist in receiver Art Powell.

The Raiders have gotten several of their greats in the Hall of Fame via the Senior committee over the past few years including Ray Guy, Ken Stabler, and Cliff Branch.

The inductees will be announced as part of the NFL Honors show on February 8 in Las Vegas.

Antonio Gates named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

The eight-time Pro Bowler was among 15 finalists for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Chargers great Antonio Gates was among 15 modern-era finalists named on Wednesday for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gates never played college football despite initially enrolling at Michigan State with the hopes of playing basketball and football. He transferred to two schools before ending up at Kent State.

This is where he helped the Golden Flashes reach the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA tournament. He switched to football after graduation, signing with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003.

Little did many know when Gates entered the league that he would go on to be one of the best to play the sport and revolutionize the tight end position.

Gates finished his 16-year career, all with the Bolts, with 955 receptions for 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns. His 116 touchdown receptions are the most by a tight end in NFL history.

Gates was a five-time All-Pro selection and made eight Pro Bowl teams.

Gates was recently inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.

Here are the 15 modern-era finalists:

  •     Eric Allen, cornerback
  •     Jared Allen, defensive end
  •     Willie Anderson, offensive tackle
  •     Jahri Evans, guard
  •     Dwight Freeney, defensive end
  •     Antonio Gates, tight end
  •     Rodney Harrison, safety
  •     Devin Hester, punt returner/kick returner/wide receiver
  •     Torry Holt, wide receiver
  •     Andre Johnson, wide receiver
  •     Julius Peppers, defensive end
  •     Fred Taylor, running back
  •     Reggie Wayne, wide receiver
  •     Patrick Willis, linebacker
  •     Darren Woodson, safety

The Class of 2024 will be unveiled before Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, NV. The class will be announced live on the “NFL Honors” telecast on February 8. They will then be enshrined in August in Canton, OH.

Darren Woodson named Hall of Fame finalist for second straight year

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 5x-Pro Bowl safety is once again one of 15 modern-era finalists for enshrinement in Canton.

Darren Woodson is, once again, on Canton’s doorstep.

The 12-year Cowboys safety was named Wednesday as one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. It’s Woodson’s second straight year making it to the finalist stage after eight times as a semifinalist.

The franchise’s all-time leader in tackles joins a stocked roster of finalists that includes Reggie Wayne, Devin Hester, Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers, and Fred Taylor.

The pool of nominees started with 173 names in September and was trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November.

It’s a talented class, to be sure, but it’s hard to imagine any of this year’s finalists having a more loaded résumé or being more deserving of finally getting a gold jacket than Woodson.

Five-time Pro Bowler. Four-time first-team All-Pro. Three-time Super Bowl champion. Cowboys Ring of Honor member since 2015.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

“Anytime you’re in a situation where you’re up for an award and you don’t win it… I’d be a fool and lying to you if I said I wasn’t disappointed,” Woodson, now 54, said after being passed over for inclusion in the Class of 2023.

“I’m disappointed, but I’m not broken by it… I feel like, at some point, it’s going to happen.”

That point may be almost here. Woodson is once again on the doorstep.

The only thing left is a knock.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hjkm3g68dmqnvdkey6 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hjkm3g68dmqnvdkey6/01hjkm3g68dmqnvdkey6-a3794302c2b2b46604fbda13ecec3f5c.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

49ers LB Patrick Willis named finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Patrick Willis is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, and it feels like this is the year for him:

Legendary 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the third time in as many years.

Willis was also a semifinalist for the fifth consecutive year, so it appears he’s trending toward finally being enshrined with a bust in Canton.

A short career has likely been the main culprit for Willis not getting into the Hall of Fame just yet. He played for just eight seasons, but he packed a hall-of-fame resumé into those years. Willis was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, a five-time First-Team All-Pro, a one-time Second-Team All-Pro, a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time top-10 finisher for Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2010s.

Along with that, Willis changed the way the linebacker position was played with his ability to not only get downhill and deliver big hits as a run stopper, but his athleticism helped redefine how to maximize linebacker play in an NFL that was increasingly pass-happy.

Willis is a finalist alongside CB Eric Allen, DE Jared Allen, OT Willie Anderson, G Jahri Evans, DE Dwight Freeney, TE Antonio Gates, S Rodney Harrison, WR/KR Devin Hester, WR Torry Holt, WR Andre Johnson, DE Julius Peppers, RB Fred Taylor, WR Reggie Wayne and S Darren Woodson.

Now the selection committee will choose as many as five of these finalists to make up the 2024 Hall of Fame class. That group will be announced Feb. 8 during the NFL Honors ceremony.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Bears Devin Hester, Julius Peppers named finalists for Hall of Fame 2024

Former Bears Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen were named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.

Three former Chicago Bears are one step closer to football immortality. Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen were named three of the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Wednesday evening.

Hester has been named a finalist for the third time in as many years since he became eligible for the Hall of Fame. The legendary Bears return specialist changed the game when he was drafted in 2006, setting various records for both kickoff and punt returns throughout his career. The former All-Pro holds records for most career return touchdowns (20), most career punt return touchdowns (14), and most return touchdowns in a single season (6). He also made both the 2000s and 2010s All-Decade Teams. Hester played for the Bears from 2006 to 2013.

Peppers, meanwhile, spent the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers but was a Bear for four seasons from 2010 to 2013. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2010 and made three Pro Bowls while with the Bears, helping lead them to the 2010 NFC Championship game. Peppers has the fifth-most sacks in NFL history with 159.5, 37.5 of which came with the Bears. He is in his first year of eligibility.

Finally, Allen spent a year and a half in Chicago from 2014–2015, at the end of his career. He was a perennial Pro Bowl player for the Minnesota Vikings for the majority of his career, totaling 136 sacks, and is in his fifth year of eligibility.

The rest of the finalists include Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Patrick Willis, Fred Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Erin Allen, and Willie Anderson. Former Bears great Steve “Mongo” McMichael was also named a senior committee finalist earlier this year and is all-but guaranteed to get enshrined in Canton as well.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced in February, prior to Super Bowl LVIII.

Finally, Allen spent a year and a half in Chicago from 2014-2015 at the end of his career. He was a perennial Pro Bowl player for the Minnesota Vikings for the majority of his career, totaling 136 sacks, and is in his fifth year of eligibility.

The rest of the finalists include Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Patrick Willis, Fred Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Erin Allen, and Willie Anderson. Former Bears great Steve “Mongo” McMichael was also named a senior committee finalist earlier this year, and is all-but guaranteed to get enshrined in Canton as well.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced in February prior to Super Bowl LVIII.

Hall of Fame RB Eric Dickerson hates the name ‘Commanders’

The legendary running back still refers to Washington by its old name.

Eric Dickerson is one of the greatest running backs in football history. During his college career at SMU, Dickerson rushed for 4,450 yards and scored 45 touchdowns.

Dickerson then became the No. 2 overall pick in the 1983 NFL draft. He played 11 seasons with four teams, rushing for over 13,000 yards and scoring 96 touchdowns. Dickerson is a member of the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Now, the 63-year-old Dickerson works in the Rams front office as the vice president of business development. Dickerson spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with Los Angeles.

Dickerson played three games against the then-Washington Redskins during his career. During those days, Washington was one of the NFL’s flagship franchises.

Things are much different these days. Dickerson has followed the Commanders some and, like many Washington fans, hates the new name.

“I still call them the Redskins…..Commanders, I mean, I’m not in Washington, but I hate that name,” Dickerson said on “BMitch and Finlay” on 106.7 The Fan Friday, courtesy of Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “I have friends here in L.A. that are on the tribes, and they love the name Redskins, but, you know, it’s a whole different thing.”

Now under new ownership, it’s possible Washington could look at changing its name again. While far from a certainty, ownership hasn’t ruled it in or out.

As far as the 2023 team, Dickerson isn’t impressed.

“I watched them early in the season, and they would play really hard but lose games, and they would be the team that I think they shouldn’t be,” Dickerson said. “Then the last couple weeks, man, they just fell off the map. When you’re watching a team that’s not playing good and losing, you don’t want to watch that anymore.”

Washington fans would likely agree with almost everything Dickerson said on Friday.

The Commanders travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams on Sunday.