Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Finalists

The 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 have been revealed. Six of the 15 are finalists for the first time. Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Calvin Johnson, and Jared Allen are in their first year of eligibility. Rhonde Barber is in his fourth year of eligibility. Remarkably, Clay Matthews Jr. is finally a finalist in his 20th year of eligibility. The remaining nine finalists have been through all of this a time or two or eight.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Finalists

Jared Allen

Rhonde Barber

Tony Boselli

LeRoy Butler

Alan Faneca

Torry Holt

Calvin Johnson

John Lynch

Peyton Manning

Clay Matthews Jr.

Sam Mills

Richard Seymour

Zach Thomas

Reggie Wayne

The Hall of Fame fate of the 15 finalists, senior finalist Drew Pearson, contributor finalist Bill Nunn, and coach finalist Tom Flores will be determined by the 48-member Selection Committee on the eve of Super Bowl LV. From four to eight new Hall of Famers will be selected. 

The Hall of Fame experience of the 15 Modern-era finalists:

Times as a finalist:

8: John Lynch

6: Alan Faneca

5: Tony Boselli

3: Richard Seymour

2: LeRoy Butler, Torry Holt, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, Reggie Wayne

1: Jared Allen, Rhonde Barber, Calvin Johnson, Peyton Manning, Clay Matthews Jr., Charles Woodson

Years of eligibility:

1st: Jared Allen, Calvin Johnson, Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson

2nd: Reggie Wayne

4th: Rhonde Barber, Richard Seymour

6th: Alan Faneca

7th: Torry Holt

8th: Zach Thomas

9th: John Lynch

15th: Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler

19th: Sam Mills

20th: Clay Matthews Jr.

Here’s a guess at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021:

Peyton Manning

Charles Woodson

Tony Boselli

Alan Faneca

Reggie Wayne

Drew Pearson

Bill Nunn

Tom Flores

Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson are easy. They’re in. Tony Boselli has been waiting too damn long. Injuries cut into the length of his career but he was among the league’s best offensive tackles, if not the best, for 4-5 years. He was among the best, if not the best, during an era populated by the likes of Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones, Orlando Pace, and Willie Roaf. Boselli should finally join his peers in Canton. Alan Faneca has been waiting too long as well. A receiver logjam is building again and Reggie Wayne is the next receiver in the queue. Ahead of Calvin Johnson. Watching Johnson from 2011-13 was watching a slam-dunk Hall of Fame receiver. His play was ridiculous. He was really good during the years before and after but he wasn’t the same receiving force that he was during those three years. Maybe it was expectations. I expected him to dominate his entire career like he did during those middle three years. Boselli had as many Hall of Fame-worthy years as Johnson and he’s waited 15 years. 

I’d love to see Jared Allen make it in his first-year eligibility. As a fan of the Minnesota Vikings, I want to see it. As a fan of the game’s history and the Hall of Fame, making it in the first year has to mean more than it has. It should be reserved for those that have no doubts. Some might debate Allen’s candidacy. There’s some debate on Calvin Johnson’s candidacy as well. Both had Hall of Fame careers. Both will make it to Canton. I just have doubts as to whether they should make it in the first year. Unfortunately, if there’s doubt they should wait. 

It’s time for Drew Pearson, Bill Nunn, and Tom Flores.