Changes To The Pro Football Hall of Fame Voting Process

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has long had a senior problem. The pool of worthy senior candidates for the Hall is enormous. The number of senior candidates that became Hall of Famers each year is tiny. With each year, the pool gets larger. When Jim Porter took over as president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame last October he said that he was open to changes to the voting process. In particular, he was open to changes in the process of electing senior candidates. Yesterday, changes were made. 

With Porter’s support, the Hall’s Board of Trustees approved changes to it’s bylaws for the next three years. From 2023-2025, the number of senior finalists will increase from one to three. Over the next three years as many as nine senior candidates might become Pro Football Hall of Famers. At the very least, more candidates are getting a shot at the Hall. In addition to the increase in the number of senior finalists, 12 senior candidates will be presented as semifinalists to the Hall’s senior committee. Again, more senior players will be discussed at greater length than in past election meetings. According to Talk of Fame Network’s Rick Gosselin, there are 58 All-Decade seniors waiting for their Hall call. 53 of those seniors have not been discussed as finalists. That’s been the biggest problem. It’s way too easy to forget about a player that’s 25 years removed from their playing career. It’s even easier when they are never discussed in a setting that can make a difference. At the very least, all All-Decade players should have their case discussed. It’s shocking that the vast majority haven’t received even that. Actually, “shocking” isn’t the right word. “Failure” is more accurate. 

The Hall’s Board of Trustees also approved a merger of the coaches and contributors into one category. The bylaw changes will boost a possible Hall of Fame Class size to nine. Five modern era players, three senior players, and one coach/contributor. It’s important to remember that all of these changes are currently only for the next three years. 

The Hall also decided to expand the senior and coach/contributor sub-committees by three voters, from nine to 12 each. This could allow for the introduction of persons outside the board of selectors to the voting process. More specifically, the introduction of actual football historians. 

Finally. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is addressing their senior problem. 

So, who’s at the top of the senior candidate list? I’d start with the following.

Lavvie Dilweg, End, Green Bay Packers

Al Wistert, T, Philadelphia Eagles

Ox Emerson, G, Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions/Brooklyn Dodgers

Vern Lewellen, Back, Green Bay Packers/New York Yankees

Pat Harder, FB, Chicago Cardinals/Detroit Lions

All played the majority of their career during the league’s first three decades. A couple played during the first decade. Their Hall wait has been so long. So damn long, that it’s difficult to think about players that played in the 1960s or 1970s before taking care of them.