New HOF Process: Sayonara Seniors?

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Congratulations, Roger Craig. You may be the last of your kind. The Hall closed the Seniors door behind you — but left the Coach and Contributor lanes open.

With sweeping changes beginning with the Class of 2027, every eligible player goes into one pool after the five-year waiting period. That means long-overlooked All-Decade players, multiple All-Pros, MVPs and stars from earlier eras now compete directly with recently retired names still fresh in everyone’s memory.

Meanwhile, Coaches and Contributors still get separate subcommittees and one finalist each.

That is the contradiction worth exploring. There are a handful of impressive coach and contributor candidates — yes, led by Bill Belichick despite issues at North Carolina. But there are dozens of players who should be in discussions about their HOF worthiness. It is amazing some are not aleady in the Hall.

We went franchise by franchise and cherry-picked viable Hall of Fame candidates whose path to Canton may now become almost impossible unless the remaining selectors take a broader historical perspective to the job. There are probably legitimate HOF prospects that we left off. Let us know in comments.

Changes in the process are insensitive to this large backlog of valid veterans from years or decades ago. The new process exacerbates an already difficult situation created by the complexity of a game that involves so many disparate positions.

Not only are there huge differences in the necessary abilities to be a quarterback, wide receiver, running back, pass rusher, linebacker, . . .But the constant evolution of a game’s rules and a strategic pendulum that constantly swings, make it very difficult to guage the impact among players from different eras.

Will the remaining selectors attend webinars of various eras hosted by the Hall of Fame? Surely, vociferous HOFamer Deion Sanders will explain these variables.

Does the Hall of Fame care? Or do Hall admins believe these players formerly known as seniors should just evaporate behind a foreboding process? We remember distinctly that one high-ranking Hall administrator asked “How is it that a player gets little attention for 16-17 years and then suddenly gains traction, and is maybe inducted in year 19 or 20?”

Wow. It seems that recency bias, and the blindness that goes with it, is contagious. Anybody involved in the process should clearly see what happens. Highly-touted first and second year eligibles leverage their recent fame. That precludes the need for some selectors to consider the aging stars from a fading era who may predate their football experience. The old 20-year Modern era window was constantly abused or ignored.

We discussed this trend in an earlier story and offered a complete list of all inductees since the Hall of Fame launched in 1963. It is a revealing document.

Now pro football removed its special lane for the men who helped build a struggling league — many playing for salaries that required offseason jobs — while other major U.S. sports halls still provide either a veteran pathway or structural protection for earlier eras.

Here is our list of players worthy of HOF consideration, listed by franchise. We add another category of candidates who can get lost for entirely different reasons. You may think some of these players are already in the HOF.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE (AFC)

AFC East

• Buffalo Bills: Mike Stratton (Six-time AFL All-Star linebacker), Fred Smerlas (Five-time Pro Bowl defensive anchor inside), Kent Hull (Three-time Pro Bowl center who orchestrated the K-Gun offense).
• Miami Dolphins: Richmond Webb (Seven-time Pro Bowl tackle who neutralized elite edge rushers for a decade), Jake Scott (Super Bowl VII MVP safety), Bob Kuechenberg (Rugged six-time Pro Bowl guard with four Super Bowl appearances).
• New York Jets: Mark Gastineau (Devastating pass rusher who set the single-season sack record), Wesley Walker (Deep-threat receiver with 71 career touchdowns), Pat Leahy (Pro Bowl kicker, 18 seasons rewriting franchise scoring dockets), Larry Grantham (5-time 1st team All Pro Linebacker; 2nd team 3 times)
• New England Patriots: Stanley Morgan (Four-time Pro Bowl deep threat who averaged an astounding 19.2 yards per catch), Gino Cappelletti (1964 AFL MVP kicker/receiver), Julius Adams (Rugged defensive lineman who anchored the front for fifteen seasons).

AFC North

• Cleveland Browns: Clay Matthews Jr. (Four-time Pro Bowl linebacker who played 278 games), Dick Schafrath (Six-time Pro Bowl tackle who cleared paths for Jim Brown), Michael Dean Perry (Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle).
• Baltimore Ravens: Matt Stover (Pro Bowl kicker who actually moved with the original 1996 Browns roster), Rob Burnett (Pro Bowl defensive end who also moved from Cleveland and won the 2000 Super Bowl), Peter Boulware (Four-time Pro Bowl linebacker drafted right after the franchise reset).
• Pittsburgh Steelers: L.C. Greenwood (Six-time Pro Bowl defensive end with four Super Bowl rings), Andy Russell (Seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker), Gerry Mullins (Secret weapon interior lineman of the 1970s dynasty).
• Cincinnati Bengals: Ken Anderson (Former NFL MVP and four-time passing accuracy champion), Boomer Esiason (NFL MVP award in 1988, Offensive POY; Led the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII; Threw 27,149 yards in Cincinnati, finishing with 37,920 total career passing yards with Bengals, Jets, and Cardinals) .Louis Breeden (Elite cornerback with 34 career interceptions), Tim Krumrie (Powerhouse nose tackle who anchored two Super Bowl fronts).

AFC South

• Indianapolis Colts (Including Baltimore Era): Mike Curtis (Ferocious middle linebacker who clinched Super Bowl V. Famously leveled fan who ran on field)), Bert Jones (1976 NFL MVP quarterback with legendary elite arm talent), Lydell Mitchell (Three-time Pro Bowl running back who out-gained and out-rushed teammate Franco Harris in college).
• Houston Texans: Owen Daniels (Two-time Pro Bowl tight end), Johnathan Joseph (Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback with 31 career interceptions), Chris Myers (Two-time Pro Bowl center).
• Jacksonville Jaguars: Jimmy Smith (Five-time Pro Bowl receiver with over 12,000 yards), Keenan McCardell (Two-time Pro Bowl weapon with 882 career catches), Rashean Mathis (Pro Bowl cornerback and franchise interception leader).
• Tennessee Titans (Including Houston Oilers Era): Ray Childress (Five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, in 1992 had 13 sacks, 90 tackles as DT. Career prime coincided with Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Cortez Kennedy), Billy “White Shoes” Johnson (Dyamic receiver, returner , 3-time All Pro, 1970s, 1980s All-Decade, NFL 100th Anniversary team. Popularized end zone celebrations), Eddie George (Franchise-leading rusher with 10,009 yards, 1996 Rookie of Year), Chris Johnson (aka CJ2K after rushing 2,006 yards in 2009 as Offensive POY)

AFC West

• Las Vegas Raiders (Including Oakland & LA Eras): Jack Tatum (Fierce, hard-hitting defensive enforcer who defined the soul of the secondary), Lester Hayes (1980 Defensive Player of the Year with 13 interceptions, five more in playoffs. Six time HOF semifinalist; 4-time finalist. On All-Decade team.). Steve Wisniewski (Eight-time Pro Bowl guard whose interior nastiness anchored the line — on All-Decade team), Jim Plunkett (The only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback locked out of Canton. Made dramatic comeback after being on two bad teams). Art Powell (Finalist in 2024; Superstar from 1960s, still in top seven on several all-time NFL records).
• Denver Broncos: Louis Wright (All-Decade shutdown cornerback), Karl Mecklenburg (Six-time Pro Bowl utility linebacker), Dennis Smith (Six-time Pro Bowl enforcer safety).
• Kansas City Chiefs: Deron Cherry (Six-time Pro Bowl safety and member of the 1980s All-Decade Team), Ed Budde (Dominant AFL-era guard who locked down the interior for fourteen seasons), Otis Taylor (Wide receiver who revolutionized the position’s physical boundaries; in 1966, he averaged 22.4 yards per reception), Albert Lewis (CB with 4 Pro Bowls, 2 All Pro. Jim Tyrer (On ballot as first year eligible, but never a finalist again after killing wife and himself. Doctors recently attributed post-career issues as CTE related).
• Los Angeles Chargers (Including San Diego Era): Leslie O’Neal (Three-time All-Pro pass rusher with 132.5 sacks), John Hadl (AFL Champion quarterback who dominated passing yards lists), Gary Garrison (Four-time Pro Bowl deep threat).

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE (NFC)

NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys: Everson Walls (Three-time NFL interception leader), Lee Roy Jordan (All-Pro middle linebacker anchor), Harvey Martin (1977 Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP),
• Washington Commanders: Joe Jacoby (Four-time Pro Bowl founding member of the Hogs offensive line), Pat Fischer (Three-time Pro Bowl shutdown corner), Dave Butz (All-Decade defensive tackle with two rings).
• Philadelphia Eagles: Maxie Baughan (Nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker), Al Wistert (Four-time All-Pro tackle from the 1940s dynasty), Seth Joyner (Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker who defined the Buddy Ryan defense).
• New York Giants: George Martin (Defensive end with 96 career sacks), Carl Banks (All-Decade linebacker who anchored the Big Blue Wrecking Crew front), Phil Simms (Super Bowl MVP quarterback whose passing metrics are buried by modern statistics).

NFC North

• Green Bay Packers: Gale Gillingham (Dominant two-time All-Pro guard who anchored the post-Lombardi trenches), Boyd Dowler (Five-time NFL champion wide receiver and member of the 1960s All-Decade Team), Fred Carr (Ferocious linebacker who dominated the late 60s and 70s).
• Chicago Bears: Jay Hilgenberg (Seven-time Pro Bowl center who anchored the historic 1985 offense), Lance Briggs (Seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker completely shadowed by Brian Urlacher), Gary Fencik (All-time franchise interception leader and cerebral safety).
• Detroit Lions: Lomas Brown (Seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle), Chris Spielman (Four-time Pro Bowl defensive anchor). Roger Brown ( Dominant DT, 6 Pro Bowls, 2 All Pro 1st team, 1 second team)
• Minnesota Vikings: Jim Marshall (Legendary Iron Man defensive end who started 270 consecutive games), Joey Browner (Six-time Pro Bowl safety who stood as the most punishing defensive back of his era), Matt Blair (Pro Bowl linebacker who dominated coverage and special teams blocks).

NFC South

• New Orleans Saints: Pat Swilling (1991 Defensive Player of the Year with 107.5 sacks), Vaughan Johnson (Four-time Pro Bowl member of the legendary Dome Patrol), Jari Evans (Four-time All-Pro guard).
• Atlanta Falcons: Tommy Nobis (All-Decade middle linebacker who averaged 16 tackles a game), Jeff Van Note (Six-time Pro Bowl center who played 18 seasons), William Andrews (Four-time Pro Bowl fullback with elite peak metrics), George Kunz (Seven Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro, two second-team All-Pro; elite right tackle with Atlanta, Baltimore).
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hardy Nickerson (Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who built the Tampa 2 foundation), Simeon Rice (Three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher with 122 career sacks), James Wilder (Workhorse running back who held the single-season touches record).
• Carolina Panthers: Muhsin Muhammad (Two-time Pro Bowl receiver who led the NFL in catches and yards), Mike Minter (Hard-hitting safety who anchored the 2003 championship defense), Wesley Walls (Five-time Pro Bowl tight end mismatch).

NFC West

• Los Angeles Rams (Including St. Louis Era): Roman Gabriel (1969 NFL MVP quarterback), Nolan Cromwell (All-Decade safety who anchored the secondary), Isiah Robertson (Six-time Pro Bowl linebacker), Ottis (O, J.) Anderson, also NYG. (10,273 rushing; 3,062 receiving and 86 total TDs; 1979 NFL UPI MVP, 1979 NFL; AP, UPI, PFWA, SN ROY; **1990 NFL Super Bowl MVP**).
• Seattle Seahawks: Jacob Green (Pro Bowl pass rusher with 97.5 career sacks), Dave Brown (Pro Bowl cornerback with 62 career interceptions), Curt Warner (Three-time Pro Bowl workhorse running back).
• Arizona Cardinals (Including St. Louis & Chicago Eras): Jim Hart (Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback), Roy Green (Two-time Pro Bowl receiver who put up historic 1980s metrics), Jim Bakken (All-Decade kicker who defined special teams consistency).
• San Francisco 49ers: John Brodie (NFL MVP quarterback who completely dominated the league’s passing charts), Garrison Hearst (Powerhouse running back who captured two Comeback Player of the Year titles); Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. Ferocious, eccentric middle linebacker who won two rings, anchored the young 1981 defense, and famously had the team form a protective circle around him so he could pee on the Pontiac Silverdome field during Super Bowl XVI), Billy Wilson (led league in receptions twice, on five PB teams, one 1st team All Pro and three 2nd team All Pros).
  

“NO MAN’S LAND” MERCENARIES

Here is the ultimate systemic blind spot of the voting room. It is the classic baseball infield dilemma: a pop-up drops harmlessly to the turf because three different fielders stand in a circle looking at each other saying, “You got it.”

When a superstar fragments an elite career across three heavy-hitting franchises, no single team takes PR ownership of their legacy. They lack a singular, fiercely loyal local beat writer to pound the table for them in the committee room. Because their greatness was divided, their institutional advocacy evaporated into thin air.

With the 25-year Modern Era safety net (five mandatory, 20 in old Modern Era) destroyed and the senior category completely eliminated, the door didn’t just close on these multi-team mercenaries—it was bricked over.

These nomadic warriors dominated the league, won championships, and rewrote record books—but because they never wore one helmet for too long, no single franchise stepped up to advocate for them.

Brian Mitchell (Washington, Philadelphia, NY Giants)

• The Case: He retired with a staggering 23,330 all-purpose yards, sitting comfortably at No. 2 all-time in NFL history behind only Jerry Rice. He holds a mind-blowing seven NFL return records.
• The Abandonment: Washington fans remember his peak, Eagles fans remember his rugged durability, and Giants fans saw the tail end. But when the ballots shrink to 25 voters, special teams aces need a fanatical organizational campaign to survive. Mitchell was left marooned without a primary flag-bearer.

Ricky Watters (San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle)

• The Case: The ultimate multi-system chameleon. He became the first running back in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards with three completely different franchises. Seven years over 1,000 rushing. Racked up 10,643 rushing yards, 91 total touchdowns, made five Pro Bowls, scored five touchdowns in a single playoff game, and won Super Bowl XXIX.
• The Abandonment: The 49ers treat him like a short-term mercenary and were more interested in a more likeable Roger Craig. Eagles never forgave him for his infamous “For who? For what?” press quote, and the Seahawks viewed him as a late-career savior. Despite numbers that beat multiple enshrined backs, he fell through every single regional crack.

Matt Millen (Oakland/LA Raiders, San Francisco, Washington)

• The Case: The ultimate championship glue guy who specialized in fixing locker room cultures. He won four Super Bowl rings across three entirely different legendary franchises (two with the Raiders, one with the 49ers, one with Washington).
• The Abandonment: He wasn’t a statistical compiler; he was a violent, interior linebacker general who sacrificed his body so stars around him could shine. Because he wasn’t a lifetime Raider, a permanent Niner, or a career Hog, his case required an administrative champion. Instead, his legacy was totally abandoned to the senior graveyard. Failure as Detroit GM shouldn’t count, but does it?