Tag: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Ohio State linebacker named Pro Football Hall of Fame senior finalist

This is long overdue. #GoBucks

Former Ohio State linebacker, Randy Gradishar, has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024. Gradishar, who played all of his ten-year career with the Denver Broncos, was announced as one of three senior finalist on Wednesday.

Out of Champion, Ohio, Gradishar played for Ohio State from 1971 to 1973 under Woody Hayes, who at one time called him the “greatest linebacker I’ve ever coached.” During his time with the Buckeyes, Gradishar was named an All-American twice and finished sixth in the Heisman voting in 1973. He is a member of the Ohio State and College Football Hall of Fame.

The Broncos selected Gradishar with the 14th overall pick in the 1974 NFL draft where he quickly became a cornerstone of the “Orange Crush” defense.  He was a selection for the Pro Bowl seven times, was an All-Pro five times, and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. Gradishar was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1989.

He was a tackle machine and unofficially (tackling stats weren’t official until 1994) the second all time leading tackler in NFL history behind Ray Lewis.

In order to be inducted in Canton, Gradishar must survive the selection process of receiving approval from 80% or more of the full Selection Committee during its selection meeting early in 2024. In case you are wondering, most senior finalists do make it through.

It would be a shame if he doesn’t because the wait has been long enough after missing out as a traditional finalist in 2003 and 2008. In all reality, Gradishar should already be enshrined and we’ll be the first to pop the champaign if it happens this time around.

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Randy Gradishar named senior finalist for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Randy Gradishar ranks No. 1 in Broncos history with 2,049 career tackles.

Former Denver Broncos inside linebacker Randy Gradishar is one of three senior finalists for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, voters announced Wednesday. Gradishar was previously named one of 12 senior semifinalists in July.

Gradishar, 71, played for the Broncos from 1974-1983. A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Gradishar ranks No. 1 in franchise history with 2,049 career tackles. He led the team’s famous “Orange Crush” defense to Super Bowl XII in 1977. One year later, Gradishar won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Gradishar is long overdue for enshrinement to the Hall of Fame and he is now one step closer.

Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware was enshrined in Canton, Ohio as a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame class earlier this month. Mike Shanahan and late coach Dan Reeves were snubbed as coach/contributor candidates for the 2024 class last week.

Gradishar could become the 12th former Bronco to reach the Hall of Fame. He will need to receive 80% approval when voters meet to elect the full 2024 Hall of Fame class in January.

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Bears Twitter reacts to Steve McMichael being named finalist for Hall of Fame

Steve McMichael has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here’s how Bears fans reacted:

Bears great defensive tackle Steve McMichael is one step closer to being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

McMichael was named one of three senior finalists for the Hall of Fame following a vote on Tuesday. While McMichael still needs to be voted through into the Class of 2024 — which will happen in February — the three semifinalists, also including Randy Gradishar and Art Powell, are all but guaranteed to be voted into the Hall.

McMichael, known as “Mongo,” was a force during his 13-year career with Chicago, where he played a huge role in the dominance of the 1985 Bears. McMichael was a two-time First Team All-Pro, three-time Second Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. His 92.5 career sacks ranks second in franchise history, behind only Richard Dent (124.5).

Many of McMichael’s former teammates, including Richard Dent, have argued he should already be in the Hall of Fame.

Unfortunately, McMichael has been battling ALS for the last couple of years. He revealed his diagnosis in April 2021, and he’s now fully paralyzed and lost his voice. But his wife, Misty, revealed that his push for the Hall of Fame has helped extend his life. Now, he’s one step closer to joining his Bears brothers in Canton.

As you can imagine, Bears fans were quite excited by the news that McMichael is now on the precipice of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Bears’ Steve McMichael named finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Legendary Bears DT Steve McMichael is all but guaranteed enshrinement in Canton.

Legendary Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve “Mongo” McMichael is on the doorstep of football immortality.

McMichael was officially named one of three senior finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The seniors committee voted a day earlier to determine the finalists, who will almost certainly join the Hall of Fame when the full selection committee votes in February.

McMichael was a member of the Bears for 13 years and was a key component of the 1985 Super Bowl team. Mongo ranks second in team history with 92.5 career sacks, trailing only Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Dent. McMichael is third in tackles with 814. He was named first-team All-Pro twice and second-team All-Pro three times, and made two Pro Bowls.

The news of McMichael’s likely induction is special for multiple reasons. For one, a deserving member of the vaunted Bears defense of the 1980s finally gets the recognition he deserves.

But it’s also a gratifying moment for McMichael and his wife, Misty, with the former NFL star having battled ALS for more than two years. McMichael was diagnosed in the spring of 2021, and he lost his ability to speak, along with the movement of his muscles. Things almost took a turn for the worse recently, too.

A couple of weeks ago, McMichael lost consciousness while suffering from pneumonia and sepsis. He’s now back at home, and Misty credits the push for the Hall as something that extended his life.

“He would have died at home if it wasn’t for the nomination,” she told Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “He was dying in front of us. We ripped up the DNR [do-not-resuscitate order] because of the nomination. He has to live to see this.”

At long last, McMichael was able to see it and the induction to Canton, Ohio is all but final. The other senior finalists are Randy Gradishar and Art Powell.

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Cam Newton reflects on the impact of his football career

Panthers great Cam Newton on his NFL career: “My impact gives me the comfort knowing that I had a little small piece of that player playin’ the way he play.”

Carolina Panthers great Cam Newton doesn’t have a Super Bowl win to his name. Nonetheless, that name still has its place in the NFL storybook.

Newton, joined by former three-time First-team All-Pro wideout Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, released the second episode of the “Uno & Ocho Show” on Tuesday. In this almost eight-minute installment, the two discuss the importance of overall impact on the game—even if it didn’t translate into a Lombardi Trophy or a bust in Canton.

And Newton, who may very well end up with neither, seems at peace with what he’s done for the sport.

“My impact gives me the comfort knowing that I had a little small piece of that player playin’ the way he play,” he said.

Newton’s dominant, record-breaking dual-threat style undoubtedly had its influence on waves of younger quarterbacks. Some players who have attributed a piece of their style to Cam include Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields and, most recently, Anthony Richardson.

Oh, and while he didn’t win the big one, the 2010 Heisman Trophy Winner and 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player still has plenty of hardware from every other step of his football career.

“Bro, I got so much out of football,” he added. “When I sit back and I think—bro, I won everywhere. Did I win a Super Bowl? No. But I won a national championship. I won a junior college national championship. And even in high school, my high school was really known for basketball. We went to the state championship and we lost. We was 32-0. And we lost in the championship.”

Okay, maybe not every other step.

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Giants legend Tom Coughlin passed over for Hall of Fame

Retired New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will not be among the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024.

Retired New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will have to wait a little longer to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame announced the one coach/contributor finalist for the Class of 2024, and it is former Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Buddy Parker.

Coughlin, a two-time Super Bowl champion as head coach of the Giants, was the first head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and quickly led them into contention.

Parker beat out a distinguished group of coaches/contributors, of which only one can go on to the final round to be considered for entry to the Hall.

Besides Coughlin, the group consisted of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft; Steelers owner Art Rooney II; former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren; and two-time Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.

Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Lloyd Wells, and John Wooten were the other candidates under consideration.

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Legendary Lions head coach Buddy Parker a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Parker coached the Lions to two NFL titles in six years and was the pioneer of the hurry-up offense

Buddy Parker had an incredible run as the head coach of the Detroit Lions. His teams won two NFL titles (1952 and 1953) and played for another in Parker’s six seasons at the helm (1951-1956).

The successful stint in Detroit is the bedrock for Parker’s candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Parker, who went 47-23-2 in his time as Lions coach before eight more seasons coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers, was selected as a finalist for the hall of fame on Wednesday.

Parker was named a finalist in the Coach/Contributor category. He was selected from a group of 12 semifinalists in a vote by the selection committee. He now advances to the next step to be elected in the class of 2024. From the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s press release,

The Hall of Fame’s full 50-person Selection Committee will consider Parker for election — along with 15 Modern-Era Players and three Seniors — when it meets to choose the entire Class of 2024 early next year.

Parker would be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame if he receives at least 80% approval in the up-or-down balloting at that meeting.

Parker and QB Bobby Layne are credited with pioneering the up-tempo offense. His emphasis on playmaking in the defensive backfield was also a wrinkle that broke from the contemporary norm and produced two Hall of Fame safeties in Jack Christiansen and Yale Lary.

It’s a real honor for Parker when considering he was the Coach/Contributor category over prominent names like Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, Marty Schottenheimer and Dan Reeves.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft loses out in 2023 Hall of Fame vote

Patriots owner Robert Kraft fell short once again in his Pro Football Hall of Fame bid.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft fell short in the Pro Football Hall of Fame vote and will have to wait until next season for another shot at getting inducted.

The late Detroit Lions coach Buddy Parker beat out Kraft. Parker coached the Lions for 15 seasons and was able to win two championships with Detroit.

Kraft was also beaten out in 2022 by former San Diego Chargers head coach Don Coryell.

There is no denying what Kraft has been able to do for the Patriots. Since his ownership began in 1994, the organization has won six Super Bowl titles, 10 conference championships and 19 division titles. And that’s just what he did on the football field.

Kraft’s charitable donations and work goes beyond just the city of Boston.

Will the third time be the charm in 2024? We have yet to see the field of contestants, but there is little doubt that Kraft has a strong resume.

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CBS Sports rates Josh Allen’s Hall of Fame chances as ‘premature’

CBS Sports: Josh Allen to Hall of Fame? Still premature:

The NFL introduced the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class over the weekend. In total, Canton welcomed nine new members to the exclusive club.

When it comes to the Hall of Fame, quarterbacks being selected is always a topic of interest. The NFL certainly has some future Hall QBs currently playing in the league.

Is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen among that group?

CBS Sports says not so fast.

Following the Hall of Fame weekend, the outlet placed some of football’s best throwers into tiers relating to their likelihood of making it to Canton one day. Allen was placed in the category of “premature possibilities.”

Here’s the breakdown on Allen:

Allen’s still searching for his first AFC title, but the Bills haven’t missed the playoffs since he became a full-time starter, and he’s had three straight seasons with 4,200+ yards and 35+ TDs, all while approaching the top 10 all-time list for QB rushing yards. He’s the closest thing to Mahomes in terms of total-package play-making; he just needs the big-game results.

Placing Allen in a “premature” status is a fair assessment. He has dazzled onlookers with his arm and legs in the pros, but the successes (or lack thereof) with the Bills have left something to be desired. Unfortunately, that gets factored in.

In addition, Allen’s placement in the premature category is logical because he does go alongside some other prominent NFL QBs as well. Fact is, they’re all just too young to make a judgment on.

Others placed at the same level include:

  • Joe Burrow (Bengals)
  • Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
  • Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
  • Justin Herbert (Chargers)

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Wade Phillips found the perfect dad joke to congratulate DeMarcus Ware for his Hall of Fame honor

Wade Phillips: master of the dad joke.

Former NFL coach Wade Phillips was one of the signature personalities of the league, and he congratulated former outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware on his recent Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in the most Wade Phillips way possible.

Phillips coached the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-10, a time where Ware was playing at the top of his game.

Ware joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend, and Wade found the absolute perfect dad joke to wish Ware well on his major career achievement.

Like, this is a grade-A dad joke, and it’s one you’ve got to see for yourself.

That’s gold. It’s one of those dad jokes that will make you cringe into a new dimension if you can’t appreciate the beauty of the corniness, but for those of us who can’t help but appreciate a good dad joke, it’s as good as it gets.

We give this dad joke a 10/10, and we hope Phillips has plenty more in him for his Twitter feed. They’ll never … Ware … too thin.