Tag: Pro Football Hall of Fame

11 former Cardinals among 167 players nominated for 2025 Hall of Fame class

Anquan Boldin and Larry Centers are among the 11 former Cardinals nominated for the Hall of Fame.

This week, it was announced that 167 NFL players were nominated for the 2025 class in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sixteen of those players are eligible for the first time.

Of those 167 players, 11 played part of their career with the Arizona Cardinals. Some were notable Cardinals players, others simply passed through.

  • RB Larry Centers: Was drafted by the Cardinals, played nine seasons for them
  • RB Thomas Jones: Drafted by the Cardinals, played three seasons for them
  • RB/WR/returner Eric Metcalf: Played one season for the Cardinals in 1998
  • WR Anquan Boldin: Drafted by the Cardinals, played seven seasons for them
  • DL John Abraham: Finished career with Cardinals, playing full season in 2013 and one game in 2014
  • DL Simeon Rice: Drafted by the Cardinals, played five seasons for them
  • DL Clyde Simmons: Played two seasons for Cardinals
  • LB Terrell Suggs: Played most of final season for Cardinals
  • CB Antonio Cromartie: Played one season for Arizona
  • P Jeff Feagles: Was the Cardinals’ punter for four seasons

This list of 167 will be reduced to 50 players in October.

Then it will be trimmed to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists before the class of three, four or five players will be announced the week of the Super Bowl.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Courtland Sutton says Demaryius Thomas ‘earned and deserves’ Hall of Fame nod

Demaryius Thomas “earned and deserves” a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said.

The NFL announced 167 modern-era nominees for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Wednesday, and late former Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is among the first-year nominees.

After Wednesday’s practice, Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said Thomas took him under his wing and was an “amazing example” who helped shape the way that Sutton carries himself now both on and off the field.

“That’s amazing,” Sutton said of Thomas’ Hall of Fame nomination. “I think that it’s something that he earned. If the committee finds it fitting to vote him into the Hall of Fame, I think that will be something that will be an amazing accomplishment for himself, his family [and] this organization.

“He had an amazing career, something that you all know very well, that I admired. The time that we had together, I treasure dearly and hold close in my heart. It’s something that he definitely, like I said, earned and deserves based upon the numbers, and the things, the accolades that he was able to accumulate over his career.”

Thomas and Sutton were teammates for half of Sutton’s rookie season in 2018 before Denver traded Thomas to the Houston Texans.

A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Thomas helped the Broncos reach two Super Bowls, winning one title. Thomas died from complications of seizure disorder at age 33 in 2021. He totaled 724 receptions for 9,763 receiving yards and 63 touchdowns during his 10-year career in the NFL.

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20 former NFL players with Washington ties among nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Brian Mitchell and London Fletcher lead the list of Washington nominees for 2025 HOF class.

Is this finally the year a Washington legend makes it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

On Wednesday, the NFL released the list of 167 modern-era nominees for induction into the Hall of Fame class of 2025, and several former Washington legends made the cut.

Here’s the full list.

  • QB Rich Gannon
  • QB Donovan McNabb
  • RB Shaun Alexander
  • RB Stephen Davis
  • RB Clinton Portis
  • RB Terry Allen
  • RB/PR/KR Eric Metcalf
  • FB Larry Centers
  • WR Irving Fryar
  • TE Vernon Davis
  • OL Mark Schlereth
  • OL Dave Szott
  • LB Jessie Armstead
  • LB London Fletcher
  • LB Ken Norton Jr.
  • CB DeAngelo Hall
  • CB Troy Vincent
  • K David Akers
  • P Matt Turk
  • ST/RB/KR/PR: Brian Mitchell

All but Norton played in Washington at some point. Norton is now the linebackers coach for head coach Dan Quinn. Fletcher, Mitchell, Hall, Stephen Davis, Allen and Portis are best known for their outstanding careers in Washington.

If you’re wondering where Joe Jacoby or Larry Brown are, they remain senior candidates for the class. Six prominent former Washington players, including Doug Williams, Earnest Byner, Wilber Marshall, Joe Theismann, Jacoby, and Brown, are senior candidates. Jacoby appears to have the best chance of being inducted.

Of the modern-era nominees, Fletcher and Mitchell appear to have the best chances of being inducted. Regardless of who you talk to, Fletcher, Mitchell and Jacoby belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL.com outlines the selection process for the modern-era nominees:

Twenty Finalists will be presented to the full 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting to choose the Class of 2025. Those candidates will consist of 15 Modern-Era Players Finalists, three Seniors Finalists, a Coach Finalist and a Contributor Finalist.

The Selection Committee will meet next year (on a date still to be determined) in advance of Super Bowl LVIX. While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the selection process bylaws provide that between four and eight new members will be selected.

Finalists must receive at least 80% support from the Selection Committee to join the Class of 2025. The Modern-Era Player Finalists will be trimmed during the annual selection meeting from 15 to 10, then to seven. Committee members then will vote for five of the seven Finalists.

The 2025 class will be announced in February.

First year eligible Marshawn Lynch one of 15 former Raiders among Hall of Fame nominees

Marshawn Lynch has been nominated for the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He is one of 15 former Raiders to make the list

Each year around this time, the process for the following year’s Hall of Fame class begins. It starts with a long list of that year’s nominees.

That list was released this morning by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It consists of 167 NFL greats. Among them are 15 former Raiders players, which includes Marshawn Lynch who has been nominated in his first year of eligibility.

Here is the full list of 15 former Raiders among the modern era nominees:

QB Rich Gannon
RBs Charlie Garner, Marshawn Lynch
WR’s Jordy Nelson, Andre Rison
OL Lincoln Kennedy (T), Steve Wisniewski (G)
DL La’Roi Glover (DT/NT), Chester McGlockton (DT), Justin Tuck (DE), Ted Washington (NT/DT)
LB’s NaVorro Bowman, Bill Romanowski
CB Eric Allen
P Shane Lechler

Marshawn spent two seasons with his hometown Oakland Raiders in 2017-18. He built his his Hall of Fame caliber career over his first eight seasons split between the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks.

His best years were in Seattle where Beast Mode made four straight Pro Bowls, was named an All Pro once and won a Super Bowl. And should have won a second had Pete Carroll had called for him to get the ball near the goal line instead of notoriously calling for Russell Wilson to throw it only to have it intercepted.

Lynch retired after his tenth season in 2015, but came out of retirement for the chance to suit up and play in front of his hometown fans. Thus adding another 1300 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns to his resume before retiring for good in 2019 at the age of 33.

16 former Panthers named preliminary nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame

16 former Panthers, and a current assistant coach, were named amongst the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 167 preliminary nominees for the 2025 class.

Which Carolina Panthers great could be joining Julius Peppers in Canton, Ohio? Well, 16 of them will at least have a shot.

On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 167 preliminary nominees for their 2025 class. Among those listed were 16 former Panthers.

Those players are as follows:

  • QB Jake Delhomme
  • RB Stephen Davis
  • RB/WR Eric Metcalf
  • WR Muhsin Muhammad
  • WR Steve Smith Sr.
  • TE Wesley Walls
  • TE Jeremy Shockey
  • OT Jordan Gross
  • C Ryan Kalil
  • DE Jared Allen
  • LB Jessie Armstead
  • LB Luke Kuechly
  • LB Lee Woodall
  • S Eugene Robinson
  • CB Charles Tillman
  • K John Kasay

Headlining the group is Kuechly, who is now in his first year of eligibility for the honor. The 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Pro spoke about the possibility of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer back in February.

“I think when you think about the Hall of Fame, it’s obviously awesome,” Kuechly said on an episode of Up & Adams. “It’s the highest honor that you can have as a football player on an individual basis. And you look at the guys that got in there at the linebacker position, the guys I grew up watching—Derrick Brooks, Brian Urlacher, Ray Lewis, obviously Pep got in. Those three guys that I mentioned and then Patrick [Willis]. And all of ’em were a little bit different.”

Former cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who is currently the assistant defensive backs coach for Carolina, was also one of the 167 nominees.

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Herman Moore, Jason Hanson among Lions nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Herman Moore, Jason Hanson among Lions nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class of 2025

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has revealed the initial nominees for the induction class of 2025. Among the 167 players making the cut are several players with Detroit Lions ties.

Most notable is wide receiver Herman Moore, who has been nominated before but keeps getting snubbed as the voting progressed to finalists. Moore’s three-year career peak stands up against any other wideout in NFL history.

Kicker Jason Hanson is also on the list again. Hanson played in Detroit from 1992 to 2012 and finished in the top-5 in scoring, field goals, field goal attempts and made FGs from beyond 50 yards.

Venerable left tackle Lomas Brown is back for another nomination. Brown is another who should merit stronger consideration from voters to at least advance to the list of 25 finalists. Cornerback Dre Bly is also nominated again.

None of the first-time nominees on the list for 2025 ever played for the Lions. Other nominees who spent some time in Detroit but are primarily known for their NFL careers elsewhere include:

WR Anquan Boldin

DT Haloti Ngata

QB Jeff Garcia

OL T.J. Lang

LB Julian Peterson

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Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch nominated for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch nominated for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

It is never too early to start thinking about who should be Canonized in Canton, Ohio. On Wednesday morning, the initial list of nominees to be considered for the 2025 Hall of Fame class was released. Among the 167 players nominated, there are several first time nominees, including a face quite familiar to fans of the Seattle Seahawks.

Beloved running back Marshawn Lynch, for the first time, has been nominated as a potential enshrinee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a player needs to be at least five full seasons removed from when they last played in the NFL. For Lynch, who last took the field for the Seahawks for the final three games (one regular season, two playoff outings) of the 2019 season, this certainly meets the eligibility requirement.

Lynch played for three teams, but should he make it to Canton he will undoubtedly go in as a Seattle Seahawk. Of the 12 years of his career (fitting, isn’t it?) he was certainly best known for his seven in Seattle. He was the undispited face of the franchise, the man who put the new-era Seahawks on the map with his iconic “Beast Quake” run in the 2010 playoffs… only to do it again in the 2014 season with another similar run.

During his career, Lynch barreled his way to 10,413 yards, 85 rushing touchdowns and nine more through the air. In the playoffs, Lynch accoutned for another 970 yards on the ground with 12 (again, fitting) touchdowns. Lynch has also technically received some recognition from Canton, as he is a member of the 2010’s All-Decade Team.

Lynch’s 10,413 regular season yards are only 29th all time in the league for rushing yards, but they are more than other Hall of Famers in Joe Perry, Earl Campbell, Jim Taylor, Larry Csonka and Terrell Davis. I am also of the belief raw statistics alone should not be the only qualifying factor to make it to Canton. The Hall of Fame isn’t just a way to honor legends, it is a museum, a monument to the history of professional football. How one contributes to the overall story of professional football should absolutely be factored in. With that in mind, it is simply impossible to tell the story of the NFL without mentioning Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch also joins fellow Seattle Seahawks legend Shaun Alexander, who is once again a nominee for the Hall of Fame. I have been on the record for years that Alexander is more than deserving of enshrinement and remains one of the biggest snubs in recent memory.

Hopefully, the day will come where Lynch and Alexander will both have busts in Canton, as both have clearly earned it.

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Rod Smith among 19 former Broncos nominated for Hall of Fame

Rod Smith is one of eight Broncos Super Bowl champions who have been nominated for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced 167 modern-era finalists for the 2025 class. The list includes 19 former Denver Broncos players, including eight Super Bowl champions.

Former Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith headlines the list of players who won Super Bowls with Denver in the late 1990s. He is joined by center Tom Nalen, kicker Jason Elam, guard Mark Schlereth, linebacker Bill Romanowski and defensive lineman Neil Smith.

The Broncos also had two members of their Super Bowl 50 squad — late wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and cornerback Aqib Talib — nominated for the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Other players nominated include running backs Clinton Portis and Glyn Milburn, receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Marshall and cornerback Dré Bly. View the full list below.

Broncos Hall of Fame nominees

  1. WR Rod Smith
  2. C Tom Nalen
  3. K Jason Elam
  4. G Mark Schlereth
  5. LB Bill Romanowski
  6. DL Neil Smith
  7. WR Demaryius Thomas
  8. CB Aqib Talib
  9. WR Wes Welker
  10. RB Clinton Portis
  11. WR Brandon Marshall
  12. RB Glyn Milburn
  13. CB Dré Bly
  14. TE Vernon Davis
  15. DL Jamal Williams
  16. LB Keith Brooking
  17. RB Jamaal Charles
  18. DL Ted Washington
  19. DL Simeon Rice

The Broncos also have 11 senior candidates for the 2025 class, and former coach Mike Shanahan is expected to be a top candidate in the coach category. Voters will trim the list down to 20 finalists with 15 modern-era candidates, three senior candidates, one coach and one contributor. The selection committee will meet before Super Bowl LVIX to elect the 2025 class.

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Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda among 1st year Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees for 2025

Former Ravens Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda are amongst the first-year Hall of Fame eligible players for the 2025 class.

Baltimore has a rich history of NFL legends in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the organization could have two more superstars join that list.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced that Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda were two of 167 modern-era players nominated for the Hall of Fame. The list will be reduced to 50 in mid-October.

Suggs is a seven-time Pro Bowler and ranks eighth on the all-time sacks list with 139 over his 17 seasons.

Suggs won two Super Bowls: one with the Ravens in 2012 and another with the Kansas City Chiefs as a late-season addition in 2019. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003, logging 12 sacks. Suggs was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 when he had a career-high 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles.

An eight-time Pro Bowler who was dominant when healthy, Yanda was a two-time first-team All-Pro (2014 & 2015) and earned five second-team All-Pro nods.

He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

The duo now has a chance to join Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed as first-ballot Hall of Famers.

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Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle honored by city of Canton

The city announced they would have honorary Mayors for the city, and the former Vikings defensive lineman will be among those honored

Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer John Randle has had quite a busy schedule in recent weeks. From being at the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement to the Democratic National Convention, he has been there and back and again.

As it turns out, Randle is not yet done with the city of Canton, Ohio.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the city announced they would have honorary Mayors for the city, and the former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman will be among those honored. The city has a residency program and, in turn, will be out and about within the community.

They explain the program as an “initiative will bring 28 enshrinees to Canton for several days each time on a near-weekly basis from early April through November. Much of the visiting enshrinee’s time in Canton will be spent inside the museum, greeting guests and sharing his experiences and inspirational stories from the game with the fans who visit the Hall from across the country.”

Randle was inducted into the 2010 class alongside other players Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith. That class is considered among several considered to be one of the best of all-time.