Tag: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Panthers HC George Seifert named semifinalist for 2024 Hall of Fame class

Former 49ers and Panthers HC George Seifert was named one of 29 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 in the Coach/Contributor category.

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As officially announced on Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors and Coach/Contributor Committees returned their list of the 60 semifinalists for the class of 2024. Among them, courtesy of the latter group of 12 deciders, is former Carolina Panthers head coach George Seifert.

Seifert, of course, built much of his Canton-worthy reputation out west with the San Francisco 49ers. The San Fran native was a part of five Super Bowl championships for his hometown squad—with one coming as a defensive backs coach, two as a defensive coordinator and two as a head coach.

The first of those last two rings was captured in the 1989 campaign, after Seifert’s Niners stomped the Denver Broncos for a 55-10 win in Super Bowl XXIV. The second came in 1994—when they’d rout the San Diego Chargers, 49-26, in Super Bowl XXIX.

Five years later, Seifert became the second head coach in Panthers franchise history. Carolina went 16-32 over his three seasons at the helm.

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2 Panthers greats named Hall of Fame locks

Two Panthers legends were recently named Hall of Fame locks by The 33rd Team. So, who are they?

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It must be Julius Peppers Week!

On the same day he was officially named to the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor, the former defensive end was listed as one of two (retired) franchise greats to be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 33rd Team—with the help of voters and contributors Vic Carucci, Paul Domowitch, Clark Judge and Barry Wilner—provided the following about Pep:

Two-time All-Decade Team member Julius Peppers (2000s and 2010s) is the leading newcomer candidate for next year. His credentials, even while not winning a ring, are as impressive as any pass-rushing master can provide: 159.5 sacks, 52 forced fumbles, 21 recoveries, 82 passes defensed and 719 total tackles.

A three-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler who broke in as the Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2002, Peppers was as feared as any defender for much of his 17 NFL seasons.

“A dominant physical freak who combined pass-rush moves with remarkable power and athleticism,” Carucci said.

Those 159.5 sacks sit fourth all-time, with 97.0 of them coming in Carolina. His decade’s worth of dominance for the Panthers, and seven more with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, will probably have Peppers—who is eligible for Canton in 2024—visiting both the Hall of Honor and the Hall of Fame in a matter of a year.

Joining the Tar Heel State legend on the “locks” list is a fellow defender and former teammate, linebacker Luke Kuechly.

Kuechly walked away from the game after eight seasons and a string of concussions. He made the most of those seasons, going to the Pro Bowl seven times and being a first-team All-Pro five times as well as an All-Decade selection.

“If he had played another three to four years, he’d be a first-year-of-eligibility guy,” Domowitch said. “Might still be, but he shouldn’t have to wait very long. Kuechly was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in just his second season. He was a smart, instinctive, difference-making player.’’

The ninth overall pick of the 2012 draft made an impact right away for the Panthers. From his Defensive Rookie of the Year award to that Defensive Player of the Year honor and those myriad of all-star selections, Kuechly was one of the most integral pieces to what was perhaps the greatest run in franchise history.

Oh, and we’ll be seeing him in the Hall of Honor in due time as well.

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Former Panthers HC Ron Rivera named potential Hall of Famer

Ron Rivera’s impact beyond the field may one day land the former Panthers head coach in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Will the Riverboat make a stop in Canton, Ohio one day? Well, there might be a chance.

The 33rd Team recently looked into which of the NFL’s current head coaches are bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Listed amongst the group of 12 candidates was Ron Rivera—formerly of the Carolina Panthers and currently of the Washington Commanders.

Rivera is marked as a “potential HOFer” in the piece:

With coaches, it’s appropriate for HOF voters to consider the man’s influence beyond the playing field, and Rivera’s is massive. Rivera has struggled in Washington – who hasn’t? – but he has stayed above the mess, just as he did in a similar situation with the Carolina Panthers.

Those situations have seen Rivera steer the franchise’s ships amidst tumultuous ownership changes—one involving Jerry Richardson in 2018 and the other with Daniel Snyder this year. He’s also put together a winning product on the football field more times than not, amassing a combined 98-90-2 record along with five playoff trips and a Super Bowl appearance.

76 wins of those wins and four of those playoff trips (the one with the Super Bowl trip), by the way, came with the Panthers.

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Browns land two on 33rd Team’s Hall of Fame chances list

Do the Browns have two future Hall of Famers on their roster in Myles Garrett and Joel Bitonio?

With training camps set to start all over the NFL this month, the 33rdTeam released a list of active players and their Pro Football Hall of Fame chances. On this list, they organized them into three categories; locks, likely, and potentially in that order. The Cleveland Browns had two players on the list both in the lowest category of potentially on edge Myles Garrett and guard Joel Bitonio.

Here is what the 33rd Team had to say about both Garrett and Bitonio and why they are on the right path toward joining Joe Thomas in Canton, Ohio.

33rd Team says Jets have one Hall of Fame lock

Do you agree with The 33rd Team? Are there any more?

Next month, two great players in the history of the New York Jets will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Darrelle Revis and Joe Klecko will be forever immortalized in the halls of Canton, Ohio. That we know for sure. But what about the future? Do any current Jets have a shot at Canton?

The folks over at The 33rd Team took a look at the current landscape in the NFL to see which players have a shot, or even are already a lock, to make it to the Hall. The Jets landed one player in this group and it’s not hard to figure out who that is.

That player is quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is considered a lock to make the Hall of Fame. Four MVPs and a Super Bowl win make for a pretty strong case for inclusion into the Hall.

Yeah, yeah, we hear the criticisms, which have exponentially exploded since Aaron Rodgers moved to the New York Jets. Four MVP awards alone make him a Canton cinch, regardless of the alleged underachieving of his Packers teams with only one Super Bowl title.

Consider that, besides Davante Adams, Rodgers never played with a potential Hall of Fame target at a skill position.

“In the age of quarterbacks, Rodgers won four MVPs when the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees were starring,” (Barry) Wilner said. “Case closed.”

No discussion is needed.

It’s only been one year for Sauce Gardner, so they likely felt it was way too early to talk about his credentials, but the early trajectory could already be heading that way. And if he stays elite, Quinnen Williams may start getting some chatter. But there’s no doubt that Aaron Rodgers will soon have his own bust in Canton.

Commanders season opener in 70 days: Washington’s best No. 70?

70 Sam Huff days until Week 1 for the Washington Commanders.

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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 70 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 70?

Have you noticed that not many good players have worn No. 70 for Washington? There might be a very good explanation for this, actually. It’s not all that complicated.

The data reveals the organization has often chosen to not distribute jersey No. 70 very often. They have only done so a few times since 1969. Leonard Marshall came from the Giants having worn No. 70 to play his last season in Washington (1994).

Will Wynn (1977) and Troy Drake (1998) both played one season for Washington wearing No. 70. Then there is Kip Vickers, who finished with one season in Washington (2002) wearing No.70. Thus, Vickers is the only player in the Daniel Snyder era to wear No. 70.

Sam Huff came to Washington following eight seasons with the NY Giants. He was a Pro Bowler for four consecutive seasons (1958-61) and 1st team All-Pro (1958-59) as a Giant. In an interview with Time Magazine in 1959, Huff said, “We try to hurt everybody…We hit each other as hard as we can. This is a man’s game.”

Traded to Washington, he was a Pro-Bowler his initial season (1964) at age 30. Huff led the Washington defense for three more seasons (1965-67) retiring after the 1967 season.

One year out of football (1968), Vince Lombardi decided to come out of retirement and came to Washington to coach in 1969. Huff wanted back in and told Lombardi he could still play and wanted to play for Lombardi.

At age 35, Huff came out of retirement, indeed, did play one final season at middle linebacker in Burgundy and Gold, and Washington under Lombardi enjoyed their first winning season since 1955, as the Redskins finished 7-5-2.

During that 1969 season, Huff intercepted three passes, including returning one for a touchdown against the division-rival Eagles. In his five Washington seasons, Huff collected 12 interceptions and 14.5 sacks manning the middle of the 4-3 defense.

Huff concluded his NFL career as a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time 1st team All-Pro, and NFL Champion once, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 1982. He, of course, is a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame.

The former West Virginia Mountaineer was a member of the Redskins radio broadcast team from 1975-2012. Huff died on November 13, 2021.

Best NFL player to wear each jersey number: How many Washington players were picked?

Five former Washington players were named the greatest ever to wear their respective jersey number.

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When you think of the greatest players in Washington’s NFL franchise history, which dates back to 1932, which players first come to your mind?

Sammy Baugh is arguably the greatest player in franchise history. He played 16 NFL seasons, all with Washington. He was the quarterback, punter and safety, a two-time NFL champion, and won numerous individual awards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

Unfortunately for Baugh, he last played in 1952, so many casual fans have never heard of Baugh. However, most know Baugh from his iconic jersey number: No. 33. For years, Baugh’s No. 33 jersey was the only one retired by Washington.

How popular was Baugh’s jersey? Check out hip-hop icon Jay-Z wearing Baugh’s No. 33 jersey back in 2001 in the music video for his hit song, “Girls, Girls, Girls.”

Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire recently named the best NFL player to wear each jersey number. Baugh won the title for No. 33.

What other Washington icons made the cut?

Of course, No. 44 belongs to John “Diesel” Riggins, the Hall of Fame running back who played nine seasons for Washington and was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII.

Former Washington running back Stephen Davis was named the best to ever wear No. 48. While the pickings were slimmer for No. 48, Davis did have a solid career, playing seven of his 11 NFL seasons with Washington.

The No. 49 pick was easy. Bobby Mitchell is one of only four Washington players to have his jersey retired by the franchise. Unfortunately, it took far too long for that to happen. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and also enjoyed a long career as a front-office executive for Washington. Mitchell is a true Washington icon.

Bruce Smith made his name with the Buffalo Bills, but he broke the NFL sack record when he was a member of the Washington franchise. He spent the final four seasons of his NFL career with Washington.

If you notice legendary Washington players, such as Darrell Green and Art Monk, missing, they made the honorable mention list for their respective jersey numbers.

The following Washington players received honorable mention for their jersey numbers:

Chris Hanburger, Green, London Fletcher, Adrian Peterson, Russ Grimm, Mark Schlereth, Trent Williams, Monk, Gary Clark, Santana Moss, Clinton Portis and Ryan Kerrigan.

Ken Riley to be presented by his wife at Pro Football Hall of Fame

An update on Bengals great Ken Riley going to the Hall of Fame.

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Late Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Ken Riley will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 5 in the class of 2023.

Barbara Riley will officially be the presenter for her late husband when that day comes, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

After 15 years with the Bengals, Riley finished with 207 games played, 65 interceptions which is fifth best all time, and earned All-Pro honors three times in his career.

Riley already has a spot as a member in the Bengals Ring of Honor, but will now be the second Bengal to represent the team in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Dante Scarnecchia recognized by Pro Football Hall of Fame

Dante Scarnecchia gets recognized on a national level

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It has been a busy year for former New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. He was announced as a Patriots Hall of Fame finalist in April, and he received a bigger honor on Thursday.

He received a Pro Football Hall of Fame Award of Excellence, becoming the 17th person to get the honor.

Scarnecchia was the architect of some of the best New England offensive lines in team history. He worked with the organization from 1999-2014, and then again from 2016-2019. He was there for all of New England’s Super Bowl titles and became an integral part of the organization.

The legendary coach will be honored at the Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony on October 21, according to a press release from Patriots.com.

Scarnecchia is finally getting his due recognition after a storied and celebrated career. It’s fulfilling to see him rewarded on a national scale.

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Broncos great Rod Smith: ‘I feel I’m deserving’ of Hall of Fame

“I feel I’m deserving,” Broncos great Rod Smith said of his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith recently said that he feels that he is worthy of a Pro Football Hall of Fame nod.

In an interview with Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, Smith said, “I feel I’m deserving (of Hall of Fame consideration), but I don’t get a vote.”

Smith, who played with the Broncos from 1994-2006, was an integral part of the 1997-98 Denver teams that won back-to-back Super Bowls.

Statistically speaking, Smith has more than a good case. Smith leads all franchise receiving records with 68 career touchdowns, 11,389 career receiving yards and a career catch percentage of 60.3 percent. Smith is also a part of the Broncos Ring of Fame, and he leads all undrafted players in every major receiving category.

Former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan summed it up best: “Rod Smith is one of the biggest reasons why we did win those back-to-back Super Bowls… In my opinion, he’s definitely (deserving),” Shanahan told Tomasson.

Smith first gained eligibility into the Hall of Fame in 2012, five years after his retirement. Smith hopes, along with much of Broncos Country, that one day Hall of Fame voters decide that he is worthy of the highest honor the NFL has to offer.

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