Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Finalists

The 15 modern-era player finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 have been revealed. The list includes three players in their first year of eligibility. 

DeMarcus Ware

Andre Johnson

Devin Hester

Another player hit the finalist stage for the first time in his ninth year of eligibility.

Willie Anderson

The remaining 11 players have been through this before. 

The 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022:

• Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
• Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
• Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tony Boselli, Offensive Tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
• LeRoy Butler, Safety – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
• Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens
• Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
• Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
• Sam Mills, Linebacker – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
• Richard Seymour, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
• Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
• DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos
• Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
• Patrick Willis, Linebacker – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
• Bryant Young, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers

It’s a fine group of 15. I’ve often thought that I should have a say in the Hall of Fame process. I thought that each of the six years that Cris Carter had to wait for his Hall knock. I have a strong passion for professional football’s past. I feel that my knowledge of that past is greater and more broad than that of many of the voters. When I see the above list and the difficult task of whittling it to five players, I’m actually kinda glad that I don’t have a say in the process. The Hall voters have a difficult job. A very difficult job. 

There is one thing that I’d like to say to the voters. Stop jamming through players in their first year of eligibility. Making it in the first year has to mean something. If there’s even the slightest debate on a first-year player, that player waits. DeMarcus Ware is the only first-year player among these finalists that should be seriously considered. I think that he makes it in his first year. I think that he deserves to make it in his first year. I also think that Andre Johnson should join the receiver logjam and Devin Hester should wait at least a year to be the first returner to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Considering the first-year tendencies of the voters, I wouldn’t be surprised if they jammed Johnson and Hester through. I sure hope that they don’t. If the voters were so keen on first-year players, why did Steve Smith Sr. not make the Final 15? Personally, I think that he’s more deserving of first-year receiver consideration than Johnson. It looks like Smith is getting the perplexing Patrick Willis treatment. Each had a career that was deserving of immediate Hall of Fame consideration. Neither made it to the finalist stage in their first year of eligibility. I didn’t get it with Patrick Willis. I don’t get it with Steve Smith Sr. Willis is one of the best linebackers of my lifetime. Smith is one of the best receivers of my lifetime. Neither making it to the finalist stage in their first year of eligibility makes zero sense. 

There are 354 bronze busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s a sound bet that 8 more will be added to that spectacular room in August. Senior nominee Cliff Branch, coach nominee Dick Vermiel, and contributor nominee Art McNally should sail through the vote process. The Class of 2022 unknown is the modern-era players. I wouldn’t be surprised if each of this year’s 15 finalists eventually find their way to Canton. It’s a fine group. Which five of the 15 should make it in 2022? 

This is my guess:

DeMarcus Ware

Tony Boselli

Richard Seymour

Jared Allen

Torry Holt

The biggest problem that I have with those five is that Zach Thomas and Patrick Willis aren’t among them. In my opinion, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 must include DeMarcus Ware, Tony Boselli, and Richard Seymour. The receiver logjam grows each year. There must be a receiver in this Class. There probably needs to be at least one receiver in each Class from now until forever. Football’s current focus on the passing game has forced this. I’d like to see Allen in Canton in August. I’ll be there if he is. Hell, I’d love to be there no matter who makes it. Canton is a magical place during Hall of Fame week. I’m sure that it’s magical every day but I only know Canton during Hall of Fame week. It’s so damn magical. The people of Canton are spectacular. Back to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022. I can see the Hall voters leaning toward a Class that looks a little something like this:

DeMarcus Ware

Devin Hester

Andre Johnson

Zach Thomas

Reggie Wayne

If this is the Class, Canton in August will be a “U” free-for-all.