Which current NFL players will be in the Hall of Fame?

November 20, 2008

Which current NFL players will be in the Hall of Fame?

12 Comments

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I'll be fortunate to tell my grandchildren one day that I saw most of the future Hall of Famers listed below. Not on TV, but in person, watching them in games with my binoculars focused on them and observing their actions. Whenever any of them are playing in the NFL stadium closest to you, I hope you'll take advantage of the opportunity to go see them.

The primary criteria I used in selecting these players is not how their stats compare to others already in the Hall, but how they compare to their contemporaries. The players who were the best in their era are the most deserving to be inducted one day. This is measured best, in my opinion, by the number of Pro Bowl appearances and first-team All-Pro honors garnered. Please also note that I am measuring these players by their entire body of work. If a player's career ends today, would he be HOF worthy? There are a lot of younger players in the league who are excellent, but I haven't included them because they haven't done enough yet. A couple of good years aren't sufficient.

Quarterbacks: The only position where Super Bowl championships make a difference boasts three current players who have a ring and will be in the Hall of Fame. Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have all won Super Bowls. Favre has been to nine Pro Bowls and was named to three All-Pro teams. Manning has eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro Bowl honors. Brady has won three Super Bowls, which makes him a virtual lock. Every other quarterback who has won three or more Super Bowls is enshrined in Canton.

Running backs: Every eligible running back with over 10,000 yards rushing is in the Hall. Two current backs, LaDainian Tomlinson and Edgerrin James should be enshrined when they become eligible. Little LT has five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro designations, while the Edge is the leading active rusher.

Receivers: Marvin Harrison has caught 1,081 balls for 14,378 yards and 129 TDs, with eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro honors. Terrell Owens is in the same class with 922 receptions, 13,575 yards and 135 scores. Tack on 11 Pro Bowls and All-Pro designations for T.O.. Randy Moss is also a no-brainer, with 820, 12,808 and 129. He's a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro. Isaac Bruce is third on the career receiving yards list.

Tight ends: Two names stick out -- Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Gonzalez has longevity and better stats, while Gates is younger and will continue to excel. Both have numbers that most wide receivers would love to have. Gonzalez has 13 Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections, while Gates already has seven.

Offensive linemen: Walter Jones and Alan Faneca are both easy selections. They each have a dozen Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. Orlando Pace has ten and Steve Hutchinson has eight in just eight years.

Linebackers: Junior Seau, Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher can all count on being in Canton. Collectively, they have 57 Pro Bowl appearances and All-Pro selections, and the youngest of them, Urlacher, will probably add to that total.

Defensive back: Champ Bailey has been selected for eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.

Others: Kurt Warner, Fred Taylor, Warrick Dunn, Torry Holt, Willie Anderson, Richard Seymour, Jason Taylor, Ty Law and Brian Dawkins will receive strong consideration, for various reasons, but probably need to do a little more to get into the Hall without buying a ticket.

If you haven't seen any of the above players in person, I urge you to do so.

Who's on your list?

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Discussion

12 Comments on "Which current NFL players will be in the Hall of Fame?"

Posted by Tim Daloisio, November 20, 2008 10:07 PM

Very nicely done...it's interesting...I really don't look back on Edge's career and think "there's a hall of famer".

Posted by Patrick Patterson, November 21, 2008 5:52 AM

I think that Kurt Warner's run was way too short to garner serious HoF consideration.

Posted by Troy, November 21, 2008 1:18 PM

For Safetys I think Darren Sharper should be in there, along with Ed Reed.

I also agree in thinking that Edge wasn't ever a HOF guy, maybe for the longeivty aspect.

For DT's I think Albert Haynesworth and Kevin Williams will get strong consideration.

For DE Julius Peppers is still relatively young, but I think he has the best opportunity along with Jason Taylor.

Kickers - Adam Vinateri.

Punters - Shane Lechlar.

For fullbacks lol - Lorznzo Neal and Tony Richardson... MAYBE Mack Strong.

Posted by Ryan Tennant, November 21, 2008 1:26 PM

I don't think Urlacher's making it. Two years ago? Mortal lock. Now he's just . . . bleah. Remember, it's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good, and with the drop off in Urlacher's play I don't know if he's going to make it.

Posted by DJ Butta Ball, November 21, 2008 11:34 PM

Simeon Rice and Jason Taylor

Posted by Boss Roc, November 23, 2008 12:23 PM

Troy Polamalu?

Posted by David Myers, November 25, 2008 2:12 PM

Zack Thomas should be in as well. He currently has several Pro Bowl and All Pro awards and has more tackles right now than any current HOF member. Another couple of years of playing should make him a no-doubter.

Posted by MIKE, November 30, 2008 5:00 AM

CHAMP BAILEY IS A LOCK.NOT SINCE DEON SANDERS HAS ONE PLAYER CONTROLLED THE FLOW OF THE GAME AND SHUT DOWN HALF THE FIELD!!

Posted by Mike, November 30, 2008 5:04 AM

Please don't put any NEW ENGLAND PATROITS on this list they just friggin cheated and still do, enough said!

#10

Posted by Trey, December 21, 2008 12:32 AM

Troy Palamaulo should most def be in the hall of fame one day. And after a few years and a superbowl ring I thind Drew Brees will join Tom and Peyton as well as a few more notable great players who play the game.

#11

Posted by Trey, December 21, 2008 12:41 AM

How can you not put any Pats on the list. There is no proof of cheating what so ever besides of one little incident. If no one but one person from the team goes then that should most def and will be Tom Brady. His all time record is 100-27, he has the record for 50 TD'S, he has 3 Superbowl Rings and more to come. He has taken the team to 6 playoffs out of 7, 5 Afc championship games, 4 superbowls and and 18-0 record with a chance at 19-0 if only defense could have held mighty for 2 more minutes. He was 26 for 28 setting a record in the playoffs. He has had perfect qb ratings The guy is remarkable. He has broken tons of records, and will break many more. He might even give the Pats a chsnce at that 19-0 record again. He has most likely 7 more years or more of play and with 4 superbowls in the first 7, he most def could bring them to 4 or more in the nxt. Go Bray he has played for and earned his spot well, and will most likely go down as the greatest player in NFL history. And Moss will go to with 23 td's in a season. Come on man.

#12

Posted by Jim, January 12, 2009 12:19 PM

Bradys probably done, his play will never be the same again, hes a bit of a wuss and wont start playing untill after the preseason next year, hell be very limited in preseason, he wont be the same and weve seen the pats without him and they blow, they lost to many people. oh well, we'll see.