For 15 men next season, their NFL journey will culminate in the donning of the official gold jacket that symbolizes their induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After a Super Bowl championship, this is easily the next highest and most sought after honor of a player’s career. Perhaps that’s why there’s so much overlap between the two.
Thursday, the NFL released the 122 names of former players all eligible for induction. In November, a 48-member committee will pick 25 men from that list, then weed it down to the 15 who will be announced in January.
BREAKING: The Modern-Era nominees for the Class of 2020 have been released. The list is comprised of 122 players and coaches. Among the group announced are eight first-year eligible players. Click the link to see the list https://t.co/8Az63vLDnw #PFHOF20 pic.twitter.com/xACf57JANG
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) September 12, 2019
What’s notable about this list is how weak it is at quarterback. There are seven possible nominees; Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Boomer Esiason, Jeff Garcia, Jeff Hostetler, Dave Krieg and Donovan McNabb and none of them should make it.
At running back, of the possible nominees, only Eddie George should be a shoe-in. Herschel Walker and Ricky Watters are probably outliers.
Wide receivers could dominate the dais, with former Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams Henry Ellard, Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt all making a strong case for the hall. Hines Ward will likely be a first-ballot and Reggie Wayne could be as well.
Seven former #LARams among 2020 NFL HOF nominees:
WR Isaac Bruce (1994-2007)
WR Torry Holt (1999-2008)
WR/PR Henry Ellard (1983-1993)
DT La’Roi Glover (2006-2008)
DL Leslie O’Neal (1996-97)
P Sean Landeta (1993-96, 2003-04)
LB London Fletcher (1998-2001) https://t.co/z7AAijfzpt
— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) September 12, 2019
On the offensive line, Willie Anderson and Jeff Saturday both could make the cut. I don’t see a defensive lineman on the list that has a compelling case. Your linebackers like Carl Banks, Cornelius Bennett, London Fletcher, Wilbur Marshall, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest, Sam Mills and Darryl Talley are all worth a look.
For the defensive backs, I can’t see Ronde Barber not walking in and if Troy Polamalu isn’t a first-ballot guy, then no one is.
I don’t see a kicker or punter breaking through this season, but this could be the year for Steve Tasker, the former Buffalo Bill, to slide on the gold jacket as a special teamer.
H/T NFL.com
