Tag: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Will Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson help Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan reach Hall of Fame?

If Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan do, too.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will have a special 20-member class in 2020 in celebration of the NFL’s 100 years. The expanded class will include 15 “Centennial Slate” inductees, two of which are coaches.

Former Broncos coach Dan Reeves was among the finalists for the “Centennial Slate” but the voters choose former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson instead.

Many fans and pundits on Twitter were perplexed about Johnson and Cowher reaching the Hall of Fame over Reeves and another former Broncos coach, Mike Shanahan.

It’s debatable if Reeves and Shanahan were more deserving but one could make a strong case that they are at least as deserving.

Shanahan was a brilliant offensive mind that won two Super Bowls as a head coach and three overall. His style of offense is still seen around the NFL thanks to his impressive coaching tree that includes Gary Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan (his son), Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur.

If voters believe that Johnson and Cowher belong in the Hall of Fame, surely they must believe Reeves and Shanahan do as well, right? Unfortunately, that might not be the case, in part because of the voting process for the 2020 class.

Johnson and Cowher were selected by a special “blue-ribbon panel,” not the usual selection committee. That panel’s view on what’s deserving of Hall of Fame recognition might not line up with the selection committee’s view, so even if Shanahan and Reeves are just as deserving as Johnson and Cowher, Denver’s two former coaches might still face an uphill battle to Canton. Classes will go back to being selected by the usual committee in 2021.

While the Broncos won’t have a coach enter the Hall of Fame this year, the team does have three finalists: modern-era safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch and linebacker Randy Gradishar, a Centennial Slate candidate.

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Jimmy Johnson finds out he is a Hall of Famer with a great, live-on-TV surprise

Just awesome.

On Saturday, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher learned that he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a live surprise during the CBS pregame show for Titans-Ravens.

A day later, it was Jimmy Johnson’s turn.

During the halftime show for Sunday’s NFC Divisional matchup of Seahawks-Packers, the president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, David Baker, dropped by the Fox set and had some exciting news for Johnson.

Having seen what unfolded with Cowher on Saturday, Johnson — a two-time Super Bowl champion coach — immediately knew why Baker was visiting the set and grew overwhelmed with emotion. It was another fantastic moment and an even better surprise.

As the humbled Johnson was reacting to the news, the Fox broadcast showed a shot of a visibly tearful Troy Aikman at Lambeau Field.

Everything about the moment was executed wonderfully. Congratulations to Johnson.

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WATCH: Jimmy Johnson gets emotional after learning he is a Hall of Famer on the air for FOX

A day after Bill Cowher learned on CBS he would be a Hall of Famer, Jimmy Johnson found out on FOX.

Halftime usually is a good time to refresh. However, you missed a great moment if you stepped away from the FOX broadcast of the NFC Divisional round game between the Seahawks and Packers Sunday. Former Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson learned he is going to be part of the 2020 Class, much the way Bill Cowher did a day earlier.

Per NFL.com

Before entering the professional coaching ranks, Johnson spent 10 seasons as head coach of Oklahoma State and Miami (Fla.), during which he compiled an 81-34-3 record and led the Hurricanes to an undefeated season and national title in 1987.

In 1989, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys hired Johnson out of Miami to succeed Tom Landry as just the second coach in Cowboys history. Johnson won AP Coach of the Year for leading Dallas to a 7-9 mark in 1990. Dallas made the playoffs in 1991 and then secured back-to-back division titles in 1992 and 1993 en route to Super Bowl titles, as well. In Johnson’s five seasons in Dallas, the Cowboys went 44-36 in the regular season and 7-1 in the postseason. Five of his Cowboys players are also in the Hall of Fame (Aikman, Irvin, Smith, Larry Allen, Charles Haley).

Johnson parted ways with the Cowboys in the 1994 offseason, only to reemerge with the Dolphins in 1996 to replace another legendary coach in Don Shula. Johnson’s Dolphins never won the division but made the postseason three times and went 36-28 in four campaigns.

Johnson was emotional and moved, to say the least.

At the 40-second mark below you can see Johnson’s former quarterback with the Cowboys, Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, getting misty, too.

The announcement came a day after former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was surprised on the air for CBS.

 

Former Steelers HC Bill Cowher selected for HOF

Check out Bill Cowher being surprised on set as he joins the HOF.

There were probably plenty of Pittsburgh Steelers fans who weren’t even watching football on Saturday night. So if you happened to miss the CBS broadcast, you missed former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher being given the news he was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of their Centennial class.

Cowher was in the midst of a breakdown with his CBS crew when David Baker, President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame came out on set to give Cowher the news. It was an amazing sight and you got to see some serious emotion from Cowher. He was then joined by his family who was of course in on the whole thing.

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WATCH: Bill Cowher finds out he is a Hall of Famer while on air for CBS

Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Most of the time when you learn you are a Pro Football Hall of Famer you learne by a knock on the hotel door from David Baker. Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, however, found out he will be inducted with the 2020 Class while on the air working for CBS Saturday.

Cowher has a career 149-90-1 record over 15 seasons with the Steelers and a Super Bowl on his resume. He’s won eight division titles and advanced his team to the playoffs 10 times. He’s only had three losing seasons in his entire coaching career and has reached double-digits in victories in nine seasons.

 

How many former Steelers will make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020?

Could the Steelers get four in the HOF this year?

When the Pro Football Hall of Fame announces its 2020 class, this will look a little different. In addition to the typical modern-era nominees, the HOF will also welcome in 15 members of the centennial class as well. What this means for the Pittsburgh Steelers is the potential of three former players and one former coach all going in at the same time.

Here are the four finalists from Pittsburgh.

Offensive guard Alan Faneca

Safety Troy Polamalu

Safety Donnie Shell

Coach Bill Cowher

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If I were a betting man, I’d bet on two making it. I think for Polamalu it’s an easy choice. During his time in the league he was one of the two best safeties in the game. He should go in on the first ballot.

As for the other, I’m holding out hope the Hall finally gets it right puts Shell in. He is one of the four best defensive backs to ever play for the Steelers and was a vital piece of the Steelers defenses of the 1970s.

Cast your vote and tell us how many guys you think get in this year.

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Deshaun Watson says it’s a ‘great honor’ to have Warren Moon say he has Hall of Fame potential

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson says that it is ‘a great honor’ for Warren Moon to say that he has Hall of Fame potential.

If Warren Moon is going to keep giving Deshaun Watson compliments, the Houston Texans quarterback is going to humbly accept them.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, who played for the Houston Oilers from 1984-93, says that Watson has the same potential to end up in Canton, Ohio, himself when his career is over.

“It’s definitely a great honor and recognition from a guy that’s done a lot for this league and a guy that’s done a lot for this community,” Watson told reporters Wednesday. “Just being able to be recognized for that and — it’s definitely a long ways away.”

The Texans drafted Watson with the 12th overall pick in Round 1 of the 2017 NFL draft. At 24 years old and on the verge of completing his third NFL season, the expectation is that the former Clemson Tiger’s career still has a full decade of high level performance before discussions of retirement and legacy are a subject of regular discussion.

In between now and when Watson is ready to hang them up, the two-time Pro Bowler knows he can’t rest on his laurels.

“I have a lot more to improve on and I know that he knows that,” said Watson. “But it’s pretty cool to have guys to encourage me. Can definitely use it as motivation.”

Moon has been an encouraging figure from the Houston sports community that has publicly and privately helped Watson. Ahead of the Texans’ wild-card playoff game with the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 4, which the Texans won 22-19 in overtime, Moon sent a supportive message to Watson. If Watson is able to capitalize on such encouragement, as he did against the Bills, then putting together a Hall of Fame resume shouldn’t be too big of a task for Watson when it is time for Hall of Fame consideration years from now.

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Pete Carroll: Bobby Wagner is on his way to the Hall of Fame

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes Bobby Wagner is on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his fifth All-Pro nomination.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner was recognized as an All-Pro first teamer for the fifth time in his illustrious career – the most in franchise history, passing left tackle Walter Jones.

Wagner’s only NFL coach, Pete Carroll, recognizes the greatness he has seen out of his star linebacker, and believes his career will end with him alongside Jones, Steve Largent and other Seahawks greats with a bust in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“That’s an amazing stat,” Carroll said on Monday. “That’s recognition in a really broad sense that you’re the best of the best. What a great recognition for him. He’s been such a fantastic player for us. So consistent and so rock solid at everything. Every aspect. I mean, he’s just everything. He’s on his way. He’s on his way to going to the Hall of Fame someday and this is the stuff that you do that puts you in line for that stuff. It’s a joy to coach a guy like that.”

Wagner is Seattle’s all-time leader in tackles, having broke the record back in Week 8 against the Falcons.

Wagner’s contributions on the field for the last eight years have been immense, but Carroll recognizes the person he is beyond that as well.

“All I can tell you is he does everything,” Carroll continued. “He does it by living a great example. Living great. Family guy. Takes care of his daughter in a great fashion. Just exemplifies what you want. In the community, he’s extraordinary. Everybody loves him. He’s true blue and straight forward. You know what you’re getting, and you know who you’re dealing with. He’s an extraordinary man and that carries over to all his football as well. He does everything in exemplary fashion. We’re just lucky we got him.”

Wagner is Seattle’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his numerous charitable endeavors, which include paying for groceries at a local Safeway and starting a charity for stroke victims called Walk for Wagner.

Whether Wagner’s career finishes with him elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which it should, he will no doubt be a Ring of Honor member and one of the most well-remembered Seahawks in franchise history when all is said and done.

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Brian Urlacher: Hall of Fame candidates Lance Briggs, Olin Kreutz were snubbed

Bears HOF LB Brian Urlacher isn’t happy that former teammates Lance Briggs and Olin Kreutz not named Hall of Fame finalists in 2020.

The NFL Hall of Fame announced the modern-era finalists for Class of 2020 on Thursday, but there’s someone that wasn’t too happy with the list.

Bears Hall-of-Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher expressed his disappointment in the finalists that didn’t include two of his former teammates in linebacker Lance Briggs and center Olin Kreutz.

Briggs ended his 12-year Bears career with 16 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, seven fumble recoveries, 16 forced fumbles, 15 sacks and seven Pro Bowls.

“He elevated not only my game but the entire defense — his enthusiasm was contagious,” Urlacher said in his Hall of Fame induction speech. “We’ll be back here in a couple years for your induction, ‘Big Time.'”

In his 13 seasons with the Bears, Kreutz was a six-time Pro Bowler and was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2000’s second team. He holds the record for most games played by an offensive lineman in Chicago.

“Olin Kreutz is the epitome of a Hall of Famer,” former Bears running back Thomas Jones tweeted last March. “One of the most talented and ferocious interior lineman to ever play the game. The definition of a football player. This man needs to be in Canton now!”

Briggs and Kretuz were among the 122 modern-era nominees, but both failed to make the semifinalist cut in November. Still, Urlacher made it clear that he believes both Briggs and Kreutz belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Will Donnie Shell finally make the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Donnie Shell should have made the Hall of Fame years ago.

This year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have a special Centennial class for 2020. This will include 10 former players not among the regular finalists recently announced and will all be players who played more than 25 seasons ago. One name on the list who we are all excited to see if former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Donnie Shell.

Shell was a dominant player during his time who was known to the splash play before the media even coined the phrase. He had 51 career interceptions and was just as intimidating as a run stopper.

The fact Shell isn’t already in the Hall of Fame is confounding but likely had to do with time. Shell joined the Steelers during their greatest decade. But personally, I think it’s because he came after many of the other Steeler greats already in the Hall. And because Shell played on past those Super Bowl runs, he got lost in the mix. But maybe this year the HOF will finally make amends and put in Shell, who I believe is the fourth-best defensive back in franchise history.

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