Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Finalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 Modern-era Finalists for the Class of 2023 on Wednesday. 

The Finalists: 

• 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 Raven
• Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Dwight Freeney, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions
• 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
• Albert Lewis, Cornerback – 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
• Darrelle Revis, Cornerback – 2007-2012 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs
• Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle – 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
• 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
• Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

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Three of the finalists are in their first year of eligibility:

Dwight Freeney

Darrelle Revis

Joe Thomas

Ten of the finalists were finalists in 2022:

Jared Allen

Willie Anderson

Ronde Barber

Devin Hester

Torry Holt

Andre Johnson

Zach Thomas

DeMarcus Ware

Reggie Wayne

Patrick Willis

Two are finalists for the first time after very long waits:

Albert Lewis

Darren Woodson

Albert Lewis is in his 20th year of eligibility. Woodson is in his 15th year of eligibility. This is Lewis’ first and only shot before he plunges into the very crowded Senior Pool. 

So, which of the deserving finalists will be in Canton next summer? Here’s a guess.

Joe Thomas

Darrelle Revis

Jared Allen

Devin Hester 

Patrick Willis

Joe Thomas and Darrelle Revis should sail through in their first year of eligibility. After those two, things get a little tricky. With Dwight Freeney joining annual finalists Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware, a logjam of pass rushers is forming. Julius Peppers will soon join them. All are deserving of a Hall of Fame bust. All should get one soon. Allen has been waiting the longest. In my opinion, he’s up first. I’ve been wrestling with the Hall of Fame credentials of Devin Hester. He touched the ball only a handful of times each game. Despite limited opportunities, few players impacted a game more. As a Minnesota Vikings fan, Hester scared the hell out of me. Every punt return. Every kick return. That feels like a player that should be honored in Canton. Patrick Willis has been a Hall of Fame puzzle. In my opinion, he should’ve made it in his first year of eligibility. He was the best off the ball linebacker I’d seen since Jack Ham. Yet, in four years of eligibility, he’s been a finalist twice. Twice! It’s a mystery. His weird wait should end. 

The five Modern-era players should be joined by Senior Finalists:

Chuck Howley

Joe Klecko

Ken Riley

and Contributor Finalist:

Don Coryell

Giving a nine-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023:

Joe Thomas

Darrelle Revis

Jared Allen

Devin Hester 

Patrick Willis

Chuck Howley

Joe Klecko

Ken Riley

Don Coryell

I like that Pro Football Hall of Fame Class. If that’s the Class, I might have to make a trip to Canton in August.