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The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes

Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes

Predicting Hall of Fame classes
Publish Date: 02/28/2021
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster

Predicting the Hall of Fame!

Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is the greatest individual honor a player can receive after retirement. The NFL announced the Class of 2021, which included three first-ballot inductees, less than a month ago. We have a long time before the next voting cycle begins, which means it’s the perfect time for making some long-term predictions.

In this article, I’ll break down my picks for the next five Hall of Fame classes, focusing specifically on the modern-era players. Up to five modern-era players earn gold jackets every year if they receive at least eighty per cent of the selection committee’s votes. The Hall of Fame requires a five-year retirement gap or period of inactivity for eligibility. After 25 years on the modern-era ballot, players move into the Senior Committee category, which is a much slower process with fewer annual inductees.

Some Important Info

At the end of the article, remaining candidates and the years in which several notable players become eligible. Keep in mind that the Class of 2026 is subject to change. At the time of this article’s writing, Drew Brees hasn’t announced his retirement. Once the 13-time Pro Bowler officially retires, we can add him as a first-ballot candidate in 2026.

All chosen candidates appear in their classes alphabetically based on their last names. The years they were active and the teams they spent most of their careers with accompany candidates.

Key

*First year of eligibility

+Final year of eligibility

^Selected for induction

Class of 2022

Tony Boselli, OT Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2001)

For three consecutive seasons, Boselli was the best-left tackle in the NFL. The former second overall pick played his entire career with Jacksonville. Unfortunately, a left shoulder injury led to his early retirement. While the Houston Texans selected Boselli in the expansion draft, he never played a down with the club.

Despite only playing five seasons in the 1990s, Boselli was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team.

Torry Holt, WR Los Angeles Rams (1999-2009)

All of the other significant members of the Greatest Show on Turf’s offense are already in Canton. Isaac Bruce joined Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk, and Kurt Warner as a member of the Class of 2020. That leaves Holt as the missing piece. The sixth overall pick in 1999, Holt made seven Pro Bowls and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team.

While Holt only made two All-Pro teams during his career, he led the NFL in receiving yards twice and was far more consistent during his prime than Bruce. He strung together six consecutive years with more than 1,300 yards and finished among the top-ten players in receiving yards eight times.

Holt’s enshrinement in 2022 serves multiple purposes. It honors one of the game’s best players and clears the way for the incoming crop of wide receivers, including Andre Johnson and Steve Smith Sr.

Sam Mills, LB New Orleans Saints (1986-1997)+

Mills enters his final year of eligibility as a modern-era player this coming voting cycle. If he doesn’t receive a gold jacket, then the former undrafted free agent joins the growing line of senior candidates. Several voters already expressed remorse over Clay Matthews not making the cut in his final year of eligibility this past cycle. Mills has more Pro Bowls (five) and total All-Pro selections (three) than Matthews, which should support the former Dome Patrolman’s candidacy.

Mills rose from the ranks of Montclair St. to dominating the NFL. He spent nine seasons with the Saints before finishing his career in Carolina. In his second to last season, Mills earned his only First-Team All-Pro selection.

While Mills earns his gold jacket in 2022, Steve Tasker fails to cross the threshold of Canton during his final year of modern-era eligibility. The special teams ace made seven Pro Bowls and played on all four Buffalo Bills Super Bowl teams in the 1990s. Mills’ teammate, Pat Swilling, runs out of modern-era eligibility in two years.

Zach Thomas, LB Miami Dolphins (1996-2008)

What’s the likelihood of the voters putting in two linebackers in the same class? Low. Very low. However, Thomas making the Hall of Fame likely makes it easier for the voters to put Mills in. It’s hard to see the former Saint jumping Thomas since the longtime Dolphin has seven Pro Bowls and five First-Team All-Pro selections to his name.

Thomas entered the NFL as a fifth-round selection in 1996. He started all 16 games as a rookie and quickly rose to fame. During his 13-year career, Thomas made seven total All-Pro teams and joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team.

The NFL officially credits Thomas with 948 tackles on its website. Since tackle data didn’t count until 2001, the Texas Tech product could have closer to the 1,720 tackles ESPN credits him with.

DeMarcus Ware, OLB Dallas Cowboys (2005-2016)*

Ware joined the Cowboys as the 11th overall pick in 2005. By his third season, the Troy product was a First-Team All-Pro. In his 12-year career, Ware made nine Pro Bowls, seven total All-Pro teams, and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team. His 138.5 career sacks rank ninth in league history.

Only the best players in NFL history make the Hall of Fame, and even fewer are first-ballot inductees. Ware deserves the honor for his consistent high-end production. He finished in the top ten for sacks seven times, and Pro Football Reference credits him with leading the NFL in tackles for loss three times. Ware took home sack crowns in 2008 and 2010.

If those numbers alone don’t justify Ware as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he averaged more sacks per year than Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene, Bruce Smith, Jason Taylor, Lawrence Taylor, and Derrick Thomas. Ware also averaged more sacks per game than all of those legends except for Lawrence (if we exclude his unofficial numbers).

Class of 2023

Darrelle Revis, CB New York Jets (2007-2017)*

While Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman built their legacies in recent years, no corner held a candle to Revis during his 11-year career. The former 14th overall pick endured a torn ACL in his prime and rebounded with three subsequent years of elite play. While his game suffered a significant drop-off in 2016 and 2017, Revis still deserves the title of his generation’s top shutdown corner.

Revis retired with 29 interceptions and 139 passes defensed. He would’ve had more turnovers, but Revis Island often deterred quarterbacks from even looking in his direction. The Pittsburgh product made seven Pro Bowls and was a four-time First-Team All-Pro. He also made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team.

Richard Seymour, DE/DT New England Patriots (2001-2012)

One of the often-forgotten members of New England’s dynasty, Seymour joined the Patriots as the sixth overall pick in 2001. The Georgia product was a Pro Bowler by his second season and built a Hall of Fame résumé during his 12-year career. Seymour got the Bill Belichick treatment after the 2008 season. New England shipped him to Oakland, where the South Carolina native spent his last four seasons.

Seymour amassed 57.5 sacks and 498 tackles during his career. A dominating presence, the 6-6 lineman went to seven Pro Bowls, made five total All-Pro teams, and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team. Seymour’s basic stat line doesn’t fully encapsulate his impact in New England, where he won three Super Bowls and earned three consecutive First-Team All-Pro nominations.

Steve Smith Sr., WR Carolina Panthers (2001-2016)

At 5-9, 195 lbs., Smith became synonymous with toughness during his 16-year career. The former third-round pick joined Carolina in 2001 and immediately earned a First-Team All-Pro selection as a kick returner. He later made two more All-Pro teams as a wide receiver. A surprisingly dominant presence on special teams during his first three seasons, Smith is still Carolina’s all-time leader in punt return yards and touchdowns.

By his third season, Smith was a 1,000-yard receiver. He missed 15 games in 2004 with a broken leg before leading the NFL with 103 receptions, 1,563 yards, and 12 touchdowns in a Comeback Player of the Year campaign. Smith went on to author eight total 1,000-yard seasons. His 1,031 receptions are 12th all-time, and his 14,731 receiving yards rank eighth.

Perhaps the best part about Smith’s career was the way he played the game. From trash-talking corners until they mentally checked out to blocking like a tight end, Smith endeared himself to fans and Hall of Fame voters alike. It also helps that his 19,180 all-purpose yards are ninth all-time, trailing only Tim Brown and Jerry Rice among Pro Bowl wide receivers.

Joe Thomas, OT Cleveland Browns (2007-2017)*

If Revis is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, then Thomas is too. By far the best tackle and arguably the best offensive lineman of his era, Thomas played 10,363 consecutive snaps before an injury in 2017 cut his season and career short. In his 11 years with the Browns, Thomas only missed the Pro Bowl in 2017. He easily made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team.

From 2009 through 2015, Thomas made six out of seven All-Pro First-Teams. He retired with eight total All-Pro selections, only missing out in 2007 (rookie year), 2016, and 2017. Unfortunately, Cleveland never made the playoffs and only experienced one winning season (2007) during Thomas’s career.

Patrick Willis, LB San Francisco 49ers (2007-2014)

A controversial legend whose selection is only possible because Canton enshrined Zach Thomas in 2022, Willis closes out the Class of 2023. The former 11th overall pick wasn’t even a finalist this past voting cycle, which is ridiculous considering his incredible eight-year career. In 112 games, Willis amassed 950 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and 60 tackles for loss.

Willis made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons while amassing five First-Team All-Pro selections and a Second-Team selection. He led the NFL in tackles in 2007 and 2009 and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year. After an injury-shortened 2014 season, Willis retired at only 30 years old. He later made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team.

To put Willis’ success in perspective, he played the same number of seasons as Luke Kuechly and has the same number of Pro Bowls and First-Team All-Pro seasons. No one questions that Kuechly is a Hall of Famer. Let’s not overthink Willis’ case.

Class of 2024

Ronde Barber, CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997-2012)

Barber patrolled the secondaries of Tampa Bay’s memorable early 2000s defense alongside recent Hall of Fame inductee John Lynch. Tampa Bay picked Barber in the third-round of the 1997 NFL Draft. While he only appeared in one game as a rookie, the Virginia product started every game for the Buccaneers from 2000 until his retirement over a decade later.

Barber led the league with ten interceptions in 2001 and made his first Pro Bowl. That year, he earned the first of three First-Team All-Pro selections. By the time he hung up his cleats, Barber had five Pro Bowls and five All-Pro campaigns to his name. The mainstay in Tampa Bay’s secondary amassed 47 interceptions, 28 sacks, 12 defensive touchdowns, and over 1,200 tackles in his 241 appearances.

Databases differ on some of Barber’s career numbers, but ESPN has him down for 205 passes defensed, 1,029 solo tackles, and three blocked kicks. Barber won Super Bowl XXXVII with Tampa Bay and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team.

LeRoy Butler, S Green Bay Packers (1990-2001)

Butler’s eligibility ends in 2026, so he has two more rounds of voting before his Hall of Fame candidacy ends up on life support. However, the former second-round pick is potentially blocking other safeties from having their cases heard. Eric Berry enters his first year of eligibility in 2024, Eric Weddle follows in 2025, and Darren Woodson enters the senior committee pool in 2028. If Earl Thomas doesn’t sign with a new team, he becomes eligible in 2025 as well.

While Butler’s enshrinement clears the way for younger candidates, the career Packer has some notable accomplishments on his résumé. He made four Pro Bowls during his 12-year career and earned First-Team All-Pro selections to go along with each trip to Hawaii. The Pro Football Hall of Fame named Butler to the All-1990s First Team, along with recent inductee Steve Atwater.

Antonio Gates, TE Los Angeles Chargers (2003-2018)*

One of the greatest undrafted free agents in NFL history, Gates went from playing basketball at Kent St. to catching passes from Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. Beginning in his second season, Gates strung together three consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl appearances. From 2004 through 2009, he averaged 972 yards and nearly ten touchdowns per year.

Gates remained productive into his 30s, last appearing with the Chargers during his age 38 season. He never suited up for another franchise. The former basketball player tallied ten seasons with more than 700 receiving yards and 11 seasons with at least seven touchdowns. His 955 receptions (17th), 11,841 yards (29th), and 116 touchdowns (seventh) still rank among the top 30 all-time.

During his 16-year career, Gates made five All-Pro teams, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame selected him as a member of the All-2000s Team.

Andre Johnson, WR Houston Texans (2003-2016)

A quiet superstar in the NFL for years, Johnson earned four All-Pro selections, more than either Torry Holt or Steve Smith Sr. A seven-time Pro Bowler from Miami, Johnson spent 12 of his 14 seasons with the Texans, catching passes from David Carr, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Matt Schaub. Even with average to below-average quarterback play, Johnson authored some incredible seasons.

The former third overall pick led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards twice and receiving yards per game three times. His 73.5 receiving yards per game rank 15th all-time, ahead of Isaac Bruce, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens. Johnson’s 1,062 receptions and 14,185 receiving yards are both the 11th most in league history.

While he didn’t make an all-decade team, Johnson remains one of the most undervalued receivers of the modern era. From 2004 through 2014, he caught 37 more passes than Larry Fitzgerald for 470 more yards in 17 fewer games.

Julius Peppers, DE Carolina Panthers (2002-2018)*

The Panthers made the right decision selecting Peppers second overall. Right after the Texans picked David Carr and before the Lions took Joey Harrington, Peppers found the team that he’d spend ten of his 17 seasons with. Over the years, the UNC product amassed nine Pro Bowl appearances and six All-Pro selections.

Peppers retired with Carolina following the 2018 season. His 159.5 sacks are the fourth-most of all-time, and he only trails the late Kevin Greene for third by half a sack. Peppers recorded at least ten sacks on ten separate occasions and seven or more sacks 15 times. He walked away with 719 tackles, 11 interceptions, 52 forced fumbles, 21 fumble recoveries, and six defensive touchdowns.

While he never won a Defensive Player of the Year award, Peppers was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s and All-2010s teams.

Class of 2025

Jared Allen, DE Minnesota Vikings (2004-2015)

Allen’s Hall of Fame case doesn’t come without controversy. He didn’t make an All-Decade team, win a Super Bowl, or play long enough to have all-time great totals like Julius Peppers. However, the 12-year veteran still built an impressive résumé on the back of a dominant run from 2007 through 2013.

In those seven years, Allen made five Pro Bowls and was a First-Team All-Pro four times. That’s more First-Team selections that Dwight Freeney or Peppers amassed and the same that DeMarcus Ware accumulated. Allen also led the NFL in sacks twice, including a 22-sack campaign in 2011 that was half a sack shy of Michael Strahan’s single-season record.

Between 2007 and 2013, Allen ran rampant across the league, tallying 101 sacks in 110 games. In comparison, Aaron Donald had 85.5 sacks in his first 110 appearances, and J.J. Watt had 95.5 sacks over his past 112 games (2012-2020). It even took Lawrence Taylor 120 games to reach 107 sacks between 1983 and 1990. Ware is the best recent comparison. The longtime Cowboy recorded 103 sacks in 112 games between 2006 and 2012.

Allen’s seven-year peak from a production standpoint matches up with those of other all-time greats.

Dwight Freeney, DE Indianapolis Colts (2002-2017)

Unlike Jared Allen, Freeney has some hardware that could unlock the doors to Canton. The 16-year veteran won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis, where he spent his entire prime. Freeney also went to seven Pro Bowls and made four total All-Pro teams while playing alongside Peyton Manning. He led the NFL in sacks in 2004 and tallied seven seasons with at least ten sacks during his first nine years in the league.

A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team alongside Julius Peppers, Michael Strahan, and Jason Taylor, Freeney sits in elite company. It feels inevitable that he’ll eventually earn a bronze bust in Ohio. Perhaps 2025 is too soon for both Allen and Freeney, but the two star pass rushers have the production and All-Pro selections to justify induction.

Freeney also has history on his side. Three of the defensive ends from the All-1990s team, all four from the All-1980s team, two from the All-1970s squad, and the only three included on the All-1960s roster are in the Hall of Fame.

Luke Kuechly, LB Carolina Panthers (2012-2019)*

Kuechly retired early, walking away after only eight seasons. We’ve seen that decision work against Patrick Willis early in the former 49ers’ modern-era eligibility. However, Kuechly feels like a slam dunk first-ballot Hall of Famer. He went to seven Pro Bowls and made seven total All-Pro teams. His five First-Team All-Pro appearances surpass Brian Urlacher’s four, and the career Bear was a first-ballot inductee.

Kuechly won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award before turning around and claiming Defensive Player of the Year honors in his second season. While the former ninth overall pick never claimed another end-of-season award, he became one of the league’s most recognizable faces.

In 118 appearances, Kuechly tallied 1,092 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 18 interceptions, and 66 passes defensed. Touted as one of the NFL’s smartest players, he thrived in pass coverage and endlessly pursued running backs. For eight years of dominance, the Hall of Fame rewarded Kuechly with a spot on the 2010s All-Decade Team.

Shane Lechler, P Las Vegas Raiders (2000-2017)

I hope you’re ready to get crazy. Lechler is the first of three special teams players in this article to make the Hall of Fame. After signing with the then Oakland Raiders as a fifth-round selection in 2000, Lechler went on to establish himself as one of the two best punters in NFL history. In 18 seasons, the Texas A&M product made seven Pro Bowls and nine total All-Pro teams.

Lechler retired on a high note, leading the league in total punt yards for the fourth time. He also led all punters in yards per attempt five times. His 1,444 punts and 68,676 punt yards are the second-most all-time, trailing Jeff Feagles’ totals. However, Lechler’s 47.6 yards per punt remain the most in NFL history.

Lechler made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s First-Team for the 2000s and joined Johnny Hekker on the All-2010s Team. With two All-Decade teams under his belt and a spot on the NFL’s 100 All-Time Team alongside Ray Guy, Lechler is more than qualified for a spot in Canton.

Adam Vinatieri, K Indianapolis Colts (1996-2019)*

Speaking of a Hall of Fame special teamer, it’s impossible to put Lechler in Canton without including Vinatieri as well. During his ten seasons in New England and 14 in Indianapolis, Vinatieri developed a reputation for making clutch kicks, some of which sealed Super Bowls and playoff games.

Vinatieri’s path to Canton becomes murkier if you exclude those clutch kicks. However, the South Dakota St. product made three Pro Bowls and was a First-Team All-Pro three times during his lengthy career. On top of winning four Super Bowls and making the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team, Vinatieri also made the NFL’s 100 All-Time Team alongside Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud. Check out the best bookmakers for betting on the NFL!

With 365 regular-season appearances, Vinatieri ranks second all-time in games played behind Morten Anderson. His 32 playoff games also rank second, trailing Tom Brady’s 45. After his last game with the Colts, Vinatieri sat first all-time with 599 made field goals and 2,673 points scored. He surpassed Anderson’s previous scoring record by over 100 points despite playing in 17 fewer games.

Two special teams players entering Canton during the same voting cycle seems highly unlikely, but the Hall of Fame exists to reward players that dominated their eras. Lechler and Vinatieri were the standard-bearers at their positions for two decades. They deserve this.

Class of 2026

Devin Hester, KR/PR Chicago Bears (2006-2016)

Now you understand why Lechler and Vinatieri had to go in with the Class of 2025. If we’re opening Canton to special teams players at a more reasonable level than the trickle of past years, then the game’s most lethal return man deserves a spot. Hester doesn’t rank too high on the all-time return yardage lists, but his 20 return touchdowns are the most in NFL history.

Hester broke onto the scene as a rookie in 2006, earning his first of four total All-Pro selections as a returner. The Miami product quickly earned the moniker Anytime, paying homage to Deion Sanders’ iconic Prime Time nickname. During his 11-year career, Hester led the league in punt return yards twice, kick return yards twice, punt return touchdowns three times, and kick return touchdowns twice.

Hester’s most well-known return came in front of flashing bulbs in Miami as Adam Vinatieri booted away Super Bowl XLI’s opening kickoff. Ninety-two yards later, Hester toppled into the end zone and gave Chicago an early lead. The Bears lost, but Hester made sure everyone knew he could change a game in an instant.

Marshawn Lynch, RB Seattle Seahawks (2007-2015, 2017-2019)

There are several running backs knocking on the Hall of Fame’s doorstep with peaks greater than Lynch’s. Shaun Alexander won an MVP, Priest Holmes scored 48 rushing touchdowns in 30 games, and Jamal Lewis ran for over 2,000 yards in a season. However, Lynch has a few things that set him apart from other Hall of Fame candidates.

How many players can say they had a run so iconic that it led to fans creating a mini earthquake in response? I’ll guess one. Lynch’s Beast Quake run against the defending champion New Orleans Saints in the 2010 playoffs still gives me chills when I see it. A few years later, Lynch served as the engine of Seattle’s offense as the team flattened Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Lynch became an icon for his love of skittles and personality that instilled grit in Seattle’s offense during Russell Wilson’s early years. From 2011 through 2014, the former 12th overall pick made four of his five Pro Bowl appearances and earned both of his All-Pro selections. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team, Lynch left the sport with 10,413 rushing yards and 85 rushing touchdowns.

Eli Manning, QB New York Giants (2004-2019)

Manning is one of the most polarizing Hall of Fame candidates in recent memory. On one hand, he was the MVP in two Super Bowl upset bids against Tom Brady and the Patriots. On the other, Manning led the NFL in interceptions three times and retired with a 117-117 record. While he’s eighth all-time in completions and passing yards and ninth in passing touchdowns, Manning never made an All-Pro team.

The younger Manning also has a career 60.3 completion percentage, an 84.1 passer rating, and 244 interceptions. Those marks are all significantly worse than the other elite quarterbacks from the 2004 NFL Draft. However, Manning has a higher passer rating in the playoffs (87.4) and a better postseason winning percentage than either Philip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger.

Manning first becomes eligible for induction in 2025. He’s certainly not in first-ballot range, but the voters can’t leave him on the board for too long. With Rivers and potentially Drew Brees becoming eligible in 2026 and Roethlisberger nearing retirement, the Hall of Fame could face a quarterback logjam.

Manning’s playoff heroism and career totals are enough to warrant enshrinement despite his otherwise flimsy résumé.

Kevin Williams, DT Minnesota Vikings (2003-2015)

For a player whose name rarely gets mentioned nowadays, Williams has a stuffed résumé. He entered the NFL as the ninth overall pick in 2003 and immediately recorded 10.5 sacks. While Williams only topped the ten-sack threshold one other time, he made six Pro Bowls and was a five-time First-Team All-Pro during his 11 seasons with Minnesota.

Williams spent the final two years of his career in New Orleans and Seattle, but his noteworthy accomplishments came from 2003-2010. In total, Williams compiled 528 tackles, 63 sacks, and five interceptions. While his production doesn’t jump off the page similar to the last three candidates mentioned, Williams was a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s Team along with La’Roi Glover, Warren Sapp, and Richard Seymour.

Steve Wisniewski, G Las Vegas Raiders (1989-2001)+

This is Wisniewski’s final year of eligibility as a modern-era candidate before he disappears into the senior committee pool. While being a senior candidate isn’t the death knell of a player’s Hall of Fame aspirations, the backup is worse than at your local DMV. Things don’t always function the way they should. Luckily, Wisniewski doesn’t have to test those uncertain waters.

A second-round pick in 1989, back when the NFL only had 28 teams, Wisniewski quickly ascended the league’s ranks. He was a Second-Team All-Pro by his second season and didn’t cease playing at that level until a decade later. The Penn St. product went to eight Pro Bowls and tallied eight total All-Pro selections. Wisniewski made the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1990s Team and only missed two starts during his 13-year career.

With Alan Faneca and Steve Hutchinson recently getting bronze busts, the path seems relatively clear for Wisniewski to take his place among the all-time greats. As the career Raider enters Canton, he clears the way for Logan Mankins and Marshal Yanda to make their cases.

Best Remaining for Class of 2027

Shaun Alexander, RB Seattle Seahawks (2000-2008)

Résumé: 3x Pro Bowler, 2x All-Pro, 2005 OPOY, 2005 MVP, 2000s All-Decade Team

Eric Berry, S Kansas City Chiefs (2010-2018)

Résumé: 5x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 2015 Comeback Player of the Year, 2010s All-Decade Team

Résumé: 3x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro

Jahri Evans, G New Orleans Saints (2006-2017)

Résumé: 6x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade Team, 1x Super Bowl champ

James Harrison, OLB Pittsburgh Steelers (2002-2017)

Résumé: 5x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro, 2008 DPOY, 2x Super Bowl champ

Priest Holmes, RB Kansas City Chiefs (1997-2007)

Résumé: 3x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 2002 OPOY, 1x Super Bowl champ

Logan Mankins, G New England Patriots (2005-2015)

Résumé: 7x Pro Bowler, 6x All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade Team

Robert Mathis, DE Indianapolis Colts (2003-2016)

Résumé: 5x Pro Bowler, 1x All-Pro, 1x Super Bowl champ

Haloti Ngata, DT/NT Baltimore Ravens (2006-2018)

Résumé: 5x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro, 1x Super Bowl champ

Maurkice Pouncey, C Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-2020)*

Résumé: 9x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade Team

Philip Rivers, QB Los Angeles Chargers (2004-2020)*

Résumé: 8x Pro Bowler, 2013 Comeback Player of the Year

Terrell Suggs, OLB Baltimore Ravens (2003-2019)

Résumé: 7x Pro Bowler, 2x All-Pro, 2003 DROY, 2011 DPOY, 2x Super Bowl champ

Hines Ward, WR Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2011)

Résumé: 4x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champ, Super Bowl XL MVP

Reggie Wayne, WR Indianapolis Colts (2001-2014)

Résumé: 6x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 1x Super Bowl champ

Richmond Webb, OT Miami Dolphins (1990-2002)+

Résumé: 7x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro, 1990s All-Decade Team

Eric Weddle, S Los Angeles Chargers (2007-2019)

Résumé: 6x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade Team

Jason Witten, TE Dallas Cowboys (2003-2017, 2019-2020)*

Résumé: 11x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro, 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year

Darren Woodson, S Dallas Cowboys (1992-2003)

Résumé: 5x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 3x Super Bowl champ

Marshal Yanda, G Baltimore Ravens (2007-2019)

Résumé: 8x Pro Bowler, 7x All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade Team, 1x Super Bowl champ

Bryant Young, DE/DT San Francisco 49ers (1994-2007)

Résumé: 4x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro, 1999 Comeback Player of the Year, 1990s All-Decade Team, 1x Super Bowl champ

Eligible for 2022

Anquan Boldin, WR Arizona Cardinals

Trent Cole, DE Philadelphia Eagles

Arian Foster, RB Houston Texans

Devin Hester, KR/PR Chicago Bears^

Andre Johnson, WR Houston Texans^

Jake Long, OT Miami Dolphins

Nick Mangold, C New York Jets

Pat McAfee, P Indianapolis Colts

Robert Mathis, DE Indianapolis Colts

Tony Romo, QB Dallas Cowboys

Steve Smith Sr., WR Carolina Panthers^

DeMarcus Ware, OLB Dallas Cowboys^

Vince Wilfork, DT/NT New England Patriots

Eligible for 2023

NaVorro Bowman, LB San Francisco 49ers

Kam Chancellor, S Seattle Seahawks

Elvis Dumervil, DE/OLB Denver Broncos

Jahri Evans, G New Orleans Saints

Matt Forte, RB Chicago Bears

Dwight Freeney, DE Indianapolis Colts^

Tamba Hali, OLB Kansas City Chiefs

DeAngelo Hall, CB Washington Football Team

James Harrison, OLB Pittsburgh Steelers

Chris Johnson, RB Tennessee Titans

Shane Lechler, P Las Vegas Raiders^

DeMarco Murray, RB Dallas Cowboys

Carson Palmer, QB Cincinnati Bengals

Darrelle Revis, CB New York Jets^

Joe Thomas, OT Cleveland Browns^

Eligible for 2024

Eric Berry, S Kansas City Chiefs

Jamaal Charles, RB Kansas City Chiefs

Antonio Gates, TE Los Angeles Chargers^

Sebastian Janikowski, K Las Vegas Raiders

Derrick Johnson, LB Kansas City Chiefs

Andrew Luck, QB Indianapolis Colts

Brandon Marshall, WR Denver Broncos

Jordy Nelson, WR Green Bay Packers

Haloti Ngata, DT/NT Baltimore Ravens

Brian Orakpo, OLB Washington Football Team

Julius Peppers, DE Carolina Panthers^

Max Unger, C Seattle Seahawks

Kyle Williams, DT Buffalo Bills

Eligible for 2025

Vernon Davis, TE San Francisco 49ers

Travis Frederick, C Dallas Cowboys

Ryan Kalil, C Carolina Panthers

Luke Kuechly, LB Carolina Panthers^

Marshawn Lynch, RB Seattle Seahawks^

Eli Manning, QB New York Giants^

Clay Matthews III, OLB Green Bay Packers

Darren Sproles, KR/PR/RB Philadelphia Eagles

Joe Staley, OT San Francisco 49ers

Terrell Suggs, OLB Baltimore Ravens

Demaryius Thomas, WR Denver Broncos

Adam Vinatieri, K Indianapolis Colts^

Cameron Wake, DE Miami Dolphins

Eric Weddle, S Los Angeles Chargers

Marshal Yanda, G Baltimore Ravens

Eligible for 2026

Thomas Davis, LB Carolina Panthers

Greg Olsen, TE Carolina Panthers

Maurkice Pouncey, C Pittsburgh Steelers

Philip Rivers, QB Los Angeles Chargers

Jason Witten, TE Dallas Cowboys


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