TOP 20 PLAYERS NOT IN THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the most prestigious halls in all of sports. On February 8 the class of 2024 will be announced, prior to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Finalists must receive at least an 80% vote from the 50-person selection committee. Unfortunately only five modern-era player finalists get inducted each year, along with coaches, contributors, and senior committee finalists. This leaves many deserving legends waiting at Canton’s doorstep, here are the twenty best players not in the hall of fame (meeting the requirement of being hall of fame eligible for at least one year).

20. Randy Gradishar

MLB | 1974-1983

This spot could very well have gone to Gradishar’s Orange Crush teammate Tom Jackson, but I gave the nod to Gradishar. Drafted by the Denver Broncos 14th overall in 1974, Randy Gradishar would play ten seasons for the Broncos, serving as the workhorse of the infamous “Orange Crush” defense. In 1977 Joe Collier’s 3-4 defense was at it’s peak with Gradishar and Joe Rizzo as the inside linebackers, and Tom Jackson and Bob Swenson on the outside. Defensive ends Lyle Alzado and Barney Chavous feasted on opposing quarterbacks in a defense that allowed only 10.6 points per game. The 12-2 Broncos unfortunately came up short in Super Bowl XII.

It is always sad when a great player and team gets stuck with the tag of “great, but they didn’t win the big one”. If the Broncos had beaten the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII then Gradishar and Tom Jackson might both be in the hall right now. Gradishar was a 7-time Pro Bowl linebacker, 2-time First Team All-Pro, and won Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.

19. Sterling Sharpe

WR | 1988-1994

The story of Sterling Sharpe is a tragic one. Drafted 7th overall out of South Carolina in the 1988 NFL Draft, Sharpe was a perfect fit for a struggling Green Bay offense. After a quiet rookie season, Sharpe led the league with 90 receptions in 1989, for 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns. As “Magic Man” Don Majkowski settled into the role of starting QB, Sharpe settled into his role as WR1. In 1992 Sharpe recorded 108 receptions, 1,461 yards, and 13 touchdowns, leading the NFL in all three categories. Sharpe was cemented as an elite receiver after achieving the heralded receiving “Triple Crown”, quite possibly the best receiver in the league not named Jerry Rice.

It seemed that things were only going to get better for Sharpe when Brett Favre took over as Green Bay’s starter in 1993, a year in which Sharpe led the league in receptions for the third time in his career. In 1994 Sharpe recorded a career high 18 touchdowns, leading the league and earning him his fifth Pro Bowl nod. Everything was coming up Sharpe…or so it seemed. In week 16 Sharpe’s head snapped back while blocking on a run play against Atlanta. He didn’t know it then, but he had suffered an abnormal loosening of the first and second cervical vertebrae. His risk of re-injury was so high that he was forced to retire at the age of 29. During his seven seasons Sharpe hauled in 595 passes for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. While Sterling’s brother Shannon Sharpe was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2011 as a tight end, it seems Sterling is being held back by the brevity of his career. With Terrell Davis (7 seasons) and Tony Boselli (7 seasons) being inducted in recent years, the doors could soon be open to Sterling Sharpe.

18. Jimmy Smith

WR | 1992-2005

Jimmy Smith was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. While Smith did win a Super Bowl riding Dallas’ bench, he never made an impact on the field. Injuries derailed his career early as he didn’t play a single game in 1993 or 1994. In 1995 he joined the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. In the Jaguars offense Smith formed a dynamic receiving duo with Keenan McCardell. The two talented wideouts were known as “Thunder & Lightning”.

Smith was the “Lightning” and from 1996 to 2005 he averaged 1,200 receiving yards per season. During the ten-year stretch Smith only had one injury-shortened season in which he didn’t surpass a thousand yards. Smith’s consistency saw him earn five Pro Bowl honors. His 12,287 career receiving yards rank 25th all-time, and could have been much higher had he not essentially missed the first three seasons of his career.

17. Wes Welker

WR | 2004-2015

Wes Welker was a do-it-all offensive weapon during his time at Texas Tech, but the undersized wideout went undrafted in 2004. Standing at a mere 5’9”, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Welker. The undrafted rookie was used as simply a special teams player for the San Diego Chargers for only one game. After getting waived by the Chargers Welker was signed by the Miami Dolphins. Welker returned kicks and punts for Miami for the rest of his rookie year. In the next two seasons Welker began seeing time on offense, even hauling in 67 receptions off of 100 targets in 2006.

Over the course of his first three seasons, Welker recorded 6,216 all-purpose yards. He would be traded to the New England Patriots ahead of the 2007 season. In New England he was the secret weapon that nobody expected. With Bill Belichick calling the plays and Tom Brady delivering the ball, the undersized Welker would go on to revolutionize the slot receiver position. Welker led the league in receptions in 2007 (112), 2009 (123), and 2011 (122). Welker earned five Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro honors during his six-year stint in New England. Although old age and multiple concussions began to derail his career in Denver and St. Louis, he still recorded a career high 10 touchdown receptions at the age of 32. While Welker’s receiving numbers may not pop off the page, his run of dominance in the slot from 2007 to 2012 left its mark on modern offenses.

16. Roger Craig

RB | 1983-1993

One of the original do-it-all backs, Roger Craig was ahead of his time in the 49ers dynasty of the eighties. A second round draft pick in 1983, Craig was the perfect fit for Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense. Craig became the first player ever to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. In 1985 he rushed for 1,050 yards and 9 touchdowns while also adding 1,016 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. During the process Craig also led the league in receptions with 92 as a running back!

In 1988 Craig led the league in all-purpose yards with 2,036, just a shade under his career high of 2,066 from ‘85. Craig won 1988 Offensive Player of the Year and came in third place in MVP voting. Although Craig only rushed for over a thousand yards three times in his career, he was a vital part of the 49ers high-powered offenses. Craig was a one-time First Team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler. He won three Super Bowls with the 49ers before riding out the twilight years of his career with the Vikings and Raiders. To this day only two other players (Marshall Faulk & Christian McCaffrey) have ever rushed and received for a thousand yards each in a single season.

15. Neil Smith

DE | 1988-2000

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Nebraska defensive lineman Neil Smith 2nd overall in the 1988 NFL Draft. In 1989 they used the 4th overall draft pick on Alabama linebacker Derrick Thomas. Smith and DT made for one of the most dominant pass-rushing duos in NFL history. Thomas led the league in sacks in 1990, Smith led the league in sacks in 1993.

Smith made five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro during his time with the Chiefs. Unfortunately the Chiefs suffered six playoff exits during Smith’s time there. Smith never made it to a Super Bowl. He made his sixth Pro Bowl during a three-year stint with the Denver Broncos before retiring as a member of the San Diego Chargers in 2000. He was later named to the Hall of Fame’s All-90’s Team. Officially Smith is one of only 42 players to record 100 career sacks. Smith’s 104.5 career sacks are more than Hall of Famers Charles Haley, Warren Sapp, Bryant Young, and Howie Long among others.

14. Dwight Freeney

DE | 2002-2017

With the 11th pick of the 2002 NFL Draft the Indianapolis Colts selected Syracuse’s All-American defensive lineman Dwight Freeney. Freeney was an absolute menace at defensive end for the Colts for the next eleven years. He missed out on Defensive Rookie of the Year honors despite recording more sacks than the winner Julius Peppers, and leading the league with 9 forced fumbles. Freeney also led the league with 20 tackles for a loss, as a rookie. In 2004 Freeney led the league with 16 sacks en route to the first of three First Team All-Pro honors in his career.

In 2006 the Indianapolis Colts, ever the bridesmaids, finally got over the hump when they defeated the New England Patriots 38-34 in the AFC Conference Championship. The Colts went on to win Super Bowl XLI 29-17 over the Chicago Bears. With a Super Bowl ring, 7 Pro Bowl honors, and a spot on the All-2000’s Team on his resume, Freeney should find himself in Canton one day. He played for five different teams during the final five seasons of his career and retired with 125.5 career sacks, ranking 18th all-time. Freeney had one of the deadliest spin moves in the game and was a master of the strip sack, making him not only one of the greatest pass rushers of his generation, but of all-time.

13. Chad Johnson

WR | 2001-2011

Chad Johnson is one of those players that people love, or love to hate. The living embodiment of the stereotypical “diva receiver”. Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Randy Moss, and Chad Johnson were the four horsemen of the “diva receiver” phenomenon that swept the league in the early 21st century. Johnson was as famous for his antics as he was for his spectacular route running ability and exploits on the field.

Johnson gifted himself a prop Hall of Fame jacket during a 2007 game against the Baltimore Ravens, but he has yet to get a formal call from Canton. Johnson recorded seven seasons of 1,000 yards in an eight-year stretch during his prime. In 2006 Johnson led the league with 1,369 yards, and in 2007 recorded a career high 1,440 yards. Johnson was voted to six Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro honors, but will always be remembered best for his creative touchdown celebrations.

12. Tiki Barber

RB | 1997-2006

The twin brother of Hall of Fame defensive back Ronde Barber, Tiki Barber is still waiting at Canton’s doorstep. Barber was a late-bloomer of sorts as the 1997 second round draft pick didn’t find his way into the New York Giants starting lineup until 2000. Barber really began to hit his stride in 2002 at the age of 27.

The speedy duel-threat receiving back averaged over 95 rushing yards per game from 2002 to 2006 (80 games played). Barber added nearly 33 receiving yards per game during that stretch as well. Barber recorded a career high 13 rushing touchdowns at the age of 29 and a career high 1,860 rushing yards at the ripe age of 30. Barber’s successes at his advanced age at the running back position was unprecedented. Barber recorded over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his final three seasons, even leading the league in ‘04 and ‘05. Barber currently ranks 17th all-time in all-purpose yards, but only having three Pro Bowls to his name does little to justify how much he deserves his place among the greats.

11. John Hadl

QB | 1962-1977

While a quick google search will tell you that Hadl threw more interceptions (268) than touchdowns (244) in his career, it is important to note the era in which he played in. It was very common for quarterbacks to throw more picks than TDs in their career during Hadl’s time. Hadl led a revolutionary offense with Hall of Famers Lance Alworth at receiver and head coach Sid Gillman drawing up innovative plays.

Most of Hadl’s glory years came in the AFL before merging with the NFL. Hadl led the AFL in passing yards twice and touchdowns once, and after the merger he led the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and attempts in 1971. In 1973 Hadl had one of the best seasons of his career with the LA Rams, separated from Gillman, Alworth, and star Charger backs Paul Lowe and Keith Lincoln. At age 33 Hadl led the Rams to a 12-2 record, passing for 22 touchdowns vs 11 interceptions, leading the league with 14.9 yards per completion, and boasting a career best 88.8 passer rating. Hadl finished second in MVP voting that year, and retired in 1977 with six Pro Bowls to his name.

10. Fred Taylor

RB | 1998-2010

Fred Taylor is a shining example of a great player being overlooked for playing in a small market. As the offensive staple of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, Taylor currently ranks 17th all-time in career rushing yards. Unfortunately a knock on Taylor is that he only made one Pro Bowl in his career.

In his rookie season Taylor rushed for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns. In 2000 Taylor rushed for 12 touchdowns and led the league in rushing yards per game with 107.6 in 13 games. From 2002 to 2004 Taylor averaged 1,744.3 yards from scrimmage per season. Taylor was not voted to the Pro Bowl in any of these seasons. Taylor retired with seven seasons of 1,000+ rushing yards in his stellar career. Every running back ahead of Taylor on the all-time rushing list is in the Hall of Fame, with the exception of the recently retired Frank Gore and the still active Adrian Peterson.

9. Steve Smith Sr

WR | 2001-2016

It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, its’s about the size of the fight in the dog. Just don’t tell Steve Smith Sr that, much like a rabid chihuahua, the 5’9” Smith didn’t seem to know he was a little guy. He didn’t play receiver like one either. Smith was a player that loved to talk, he took no BS and took no prisoners on the football field, playing with the intensity of Ray Lewis.

Smith made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player his rookie season, then came into his own as a premier starting receiver. After playing in only one game in 2004 due to a broken leg, Smith won Comeback Player of the Year in 2005. In his ‘05 I’m Back! tour Smith led the league in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563), and receiving touchdowns (12), all of which were career highs. Smith recorded eight seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards, and four seasons of 1,900+ all-purpose yards. As one of the faces of a generation of great receivers, Smith ranks 8th all-time in receiving yards, and 9th in all-purpose yards. He was a 5-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro.

8. Tom Nalen

C | 1994-2007

While guys like Steve Smith get counted out for being “undersized”, guys like Tom Nalen get slept on for flying under the radar on draft night. In 1994 the Denver Broncos used the 218th overall pick in the draft on Boston College offensive lineman Tom Nalen. As a 7th rounder, expectations were low for Nalen, who took over the starting center role in 1995.

Nalen remained fully entrenched in the Broncos lineup until he retired after the 2007 season. Nalen made 5 Pro Bowls and was a 2-time First Team All-Pro. He won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos in ‘97 and ‘98. Nalen was the best player on the Broncos during the turn of the century, until Champ Bailey arrived on the scene.

7. Jeff Saturday

C | 1999-2012

His disastrous interim coaching tenure aside, Jeff Saturday is one of the best Colts of all-time. The former North Carolina Tarheel went undrafted in 1998, but found himself as the starting center for the Indianapolis Colts in 2000. Saturday was entrusted with protecting the Colts rising star, third-year QB Peyton Manning. Saturday and Manning would develop a special friendship. From 2000-2010 Saturday only missed six starts, while Manning missed none.

During the 2010’s the Colts had one of the most prestigious offenses of all-time, at the center of it (literally) was Jeff Saturday. During the decade Indy finished 1st or 2nd in points scored five times. In 2012, at the age of 37, Saturday played his final season with the Green Bay Packers, making his 6th Pro Bowl in the process. Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts in 2006, and was snubbed in favor of Olin Kreutz (I seriously question what goes through these voters’ minds) for the Hall of Fame 2000’s All-Decade Team. While being snubbed for the all-decade team is criminal in and of itself, it would pale in comparison to the injustice of not one day inducting Saturday in Canton.

6. Patrick Willis

MLB | 2007-2014

There are many comparisons, hyperboles, and analogies you can attempt to make to do justice to just how good Patrick Willis was. I think the best one is this; many football fans have grown up playing the Madden video games, and we have all at some point created a player and maxed out all of his attributes (99 speed, 99 strength, 99 awareness, etc.), Patrick Willis was that player in real life. Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 11th overall out of Ole Miss in 2007, Willis didn’t have to adjust to the NFL…it had to adjust to him. The inside linebacker is often the leader of the defense, and the clean-up guy, and Willis played the role perfectly.

As a rookie he led the league with 174 total tackles and 136 solo tackles, running away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Willis also led the league in tackles in 2009. In 2011 Willis finished 5th in D.P.O.Y. voting, playing in one of the most dominant defenses of the decade with fellow linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks. After playing in only six games in 2014, the only season he didn’t make a Pro Bowl, the 29-year old surprisingly retired. In only eight (well seven and a half) seasons, Willis recorded 950 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and 13 takeaways. He retired as a 7-time Pro Bowler, 5-time First Team All-Pro, and despite playing only 64 qualifying games Willis was named to the Hall of Fame 2010’s All-Decade Team.

5. Jared Allen

DE | 2004-2015

A living indictment of NFL scouting prowess, Jared Allen was deemed nothing more than a journeyman-esque role player, a 64th man. To paraphrase Allen himself, “obviously they don’t judge talent”. Coming out of little ol’ Idaho State, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Allen in the 4th round of the 2004 season. In 2006 Allen recovered 6 fumbles on defense, the most in the league. In 2007 Allen led the league with 15.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, playing in just 14 games. Also in ‘07, seven years before J.J. Watt, Allen lined up at tight end and caught 2 passes for 2 touchdowns.

He joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2008 and racked up 2 safeties and 14.5 sacks in his first season with his new team. In 2011 Allen led the league with 22 sacks, only two players (Michael Strahan & T.J. Watt) have recorded more sacks in a single season. During his prime years from ‘07 to ‘12 Allen averaged 15 sacks per season. He retired with 136 career sacks (12th all-time), 6 interceptions, 19 fumble recoveries, and 4 safeties. He was a 5-time Pro Bowler and 4-time First Team All-Pro. He played his final two seasons with the Bears and Panthers. He never won a Super Bowl, his best chance came when he was traded to the Panthers in 2015, but the Panthers would go on to lose Super Bowl 50 to the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos. Just like The Sheriff, Allen rode off into the sunset after that game.

4. Reggie Wayne

WR | 2001-2014

Reggie Wayne was a great receiver who seems to get unfairly overlooked for playing in stellar offenses with Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Edgerrin James, Joseph Addai, anchored by Jeff Saturday, and commanded by Peyton Manning. Recording 755 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior on one of the most stacked college teams ever, the 2000 Miami Hurricanes, Wayne was drafted 30th overall by the Colts in 2001. From one juggernaut to one on the rise.

Despite playing second fiddle to Harrison for most of their time together, Wayne averaged over 1,000 yards per season from 2001 to 2008 with Harrison commanding most of the looks. This included career highs 12 touchdowns in 2004, and leading the league in receiving yards with 1,510 in 2007. After Harrison retired, Wayne, entering his thirties, boasted three more Pro Bowls and 1,000-yard seasons. Wayne retired as a 6-time Pro Bowler, 1-time First Team All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion. Wayne’s 14,345 career receiving yards rank 10th all-time (just behind Harrison at 9th).

3. Andre Johnson

WR | 2003-2016

The Houston Texans are the youngest franchise in the NFL. If you were to pick a player in it’s short history to be the face of the franchise, it would either be J.J. Watt, or Andre Johnson. While the 2000’s were the era of superstar diva receivers, Johnson was the antithesis of the 21st century receiver. Much like Larry Fitzgerald and Marvin Harrison, Johnson let his play do the talking. Another member of the 2000-2002 Miami Hurricanes, Johnson was drafted 3rd overall by the Houston Texans in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Johnson started all 16 games as a rookie, and made his first Pro Bowl in his second season. In 2006 Johnson led the league with 103 receptions. From 2008 to 2009 Johnson recorded a staggering 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns off 216 receptions. In that two-year stretch he led the league in receptions once, yards twice, scrimmage yards per touch twice, and receiving yards per game once. Johnson was a 7-time Pro Bowler, 2-time First Team All-Pro, and three seasons of 1,500+ receiving yards. His 14,185 career receiving yards is 11th all-time, and most impressively is that he did it all without the aid of a true franchise quarterback. Much like Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith Sr, Johnson spent the majority of his career playing with a forgettable cast of run-of-the-mill journeyman quarterbacks.

2. Ken Anderson

QB | 1971-1986

One of only two players to ever be drafted out of Augustana College in Illinois, Anderson was selected in the third round of the ‘71 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. In only his third season he led the Bengals to the playoffs, and he led the league in passing yards in his fourth and fifth seasons. Anderson was one of the most efficient passers of the seventies, but arguably did his best work in the eighties.

In 1981 Anderson completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns. He led the league in passer rating with a career high 98.4, led the Bengals to a 12-4 record, and won the NFL M.V.P. award. The Bengals would lose Super Bowl XVI to the San Francisco 49ers 26-21, and Anderson would retire ringless. Anderson led the league in passer rating four times, completion percentage three times, and passing yards twice. He retired with a career record of 91-81, 32,838 passing yards, and 197 touchdowns vs 160 interceptions. Anderson was a 4-time Pro Bowler and was ahead of his time as a quarterback.

1. Jim Marshall

DE | 1960-1979

Before Brett Favre came along, Jim Marshall was the quintessential Ironman of the NFL. The fourth round rookie out of Ohio State played in twelve games, starting seven of them for the Cleveland Browns in 1960. In 1961 Marshall joined the expansion Minnesota Vikings, and would go on to start in every regular season and playoff game for the next nineteen seasons. Marshall never missed a game with the Vikings, and was a crucial part of the fabled “Purple People Eaters”.

With Marshall and Carl Eller on the ends, and Alan Page and Gary Larsen in the middle, the Vikings fielded one of the greatest defensive lines of all-time. Marshall played from 1960 to 1979, playing in 282 games, the most ever by a defensive lineman. He racked up 130.5 sacks, unofficially as sacks weren’t a recorded statistic until 1982. Marshall’s 30 fumble recoveries are the second most by a defensive player behind Rod Woodson’s 32. Unfortunately one fumble recovery in particularly has tainted his legacy.

In a 1964 game between the Vikings and 49ers, Marshall recovered a fumble and returned it 66 yards to the endzone…his own endzone. Marshall’s infamous wrong way run resulted in a safety for the 49ers, and an unfortunate nickname for Jim, “Wrong Way Marshall”. For many people the folly is the first thing they think of when thinking about Marshall, not his NFL Championship, not his two Pro Bowls, not his then-record 29 other fumble recoveries, and not the fact that he played twenty years in the NFL.