Vikings Have Their Quarterback

J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray have been competing to be the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings since the spring. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced yesterday that the competition is over with Murray tapped as the starter. 

It’s actually a relief. Now, it feels like the Vikings can really get down to preparation for the 2026 season. Rather than splitting snaps, Kyler Murray can get the work necessary to really and completely get into the offense. Murray can get comfortable with the players around him and they can get comfortable with him. This is a good thing.

It’s a good thing but many in the media and a load of fans are bitching. They are bitching about this whole quarterback competition thing between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy being a sham. I didn’t realize that all of these experts were in the meeting rooms and on the practice fields. How was there room? From the moment he signed as a free agent in March, these football-knowers had Murray pegged as the eventual starter. Part of their reasoning was this belief that Murray wouldn’t have signed with the Vikings if he wasn’t guaranteed the starting spot. Any quarterback with confidence in his abilities wouldn’t need that guarantee. There was going to be a competition. There was a competition. You know how I know there was a competition? J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray split reps in the spring. They split reps in training camp through Sunday’s Night Practice. If there wasn’t a competition there wouldn’t have been a splitting of the reps. No one benefits from a sham competition. O’Connell doesn’t benefit. The team certainly doesn’t benefit when the starting quarterback is watching as often as repping. Most importantly, neither quarterback benefits. If Murray was signed and anointed the starter in March, there was no reason to ever split reps. Many disagree but I believe McCarthy deserved a chance to compete for the starting job. 

Speaking of J.J. McCarthy. Many are asking what’s next for J.J. McCarthy. Asking if he’ll be traded. Asking if he’d want to be traded. After the 2025 season ended, Kevin O’Connell said that he wanted to put together the strongest possible quarterback room. That shouldn’t have been a surprise as two of his four seasons as the Vikings head coach required four and three quarterbacks. Over those two seasons, seven different quarterbacks started multiple games. Two of the quarterbacks were late-round/undrafted rookies that weren’t remotely ready for the NFL. As expected, those two seasons were disasters. In the two seasons with healthy quarterbacks, the Vikings were a combined 27-7. In the two seasons with seven quarterbacks starting games, the Vikings were a combined 16-18. Is there really any surprise that O’Connell wants a deep quarterback room? When the Vikings have at least competent quarterback play, they win often. Three competent quarterbacks in that room was the goal. The Vikings built that strong quarterback room with the signing of Kyler Murray and the re-signing of Carson Wentz. Combine those two with McCarthy and the Vikings have three quarterbacks that can win football games. It’s a comforting thing. Will McCarthy be traded? That question is so tiresome. Why would the Vikings intentionally build a deep, competent quarterback room in the offseason and then blow it up in training camp? 

Congratulations to Kyler Murray. Now, go win a Championship. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings need J.J. McCarthy this season to achieve that ultimate goal. 

NFL Top 100

The countdown of the NFL Top 100 continues. Since the release has been so quiet, it’s easy to miss. As of Monday, the quiet release is through 29.

NFL Top 100 Players of 2026

100. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

  99. Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis Colts

  98. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers 

  97. Ernest Jones, LB, Seattle Seahawks 

  96. Travis Etienne, RB, New Orleans Saints

  95. Demario Davis, LB, New York Jets

  94. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs

  93. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns 

  92. Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, Houston Texans

  91. Montez Sweat, DE, Chicago Bears 

  90. Derrick Brown, DL, Carolina Panthers 

  89. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams 

  88. Jack Campbell, LB, Detroit Lions

  87. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

  86. Tuli Tuipulotu, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers

  85. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers 

  84. Byron Young, Edge, Los Angeles Rams 

  83. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans 

  82. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers 

  81. Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington Commanders

  80. A.J. Brown, WR, New England Patriots 

  79. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs 

  77. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  76. Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers

  75. Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals

  74. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

  73. Zach Allen, DL, Denver Broncos

  72. Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

  71. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

  70. Xavier McKinney, S, Green Bay Packers

  69. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

  68. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

  67. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Miami Dolphins

  66. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

  65. Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens

  64. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

  63. Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens

  62. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

  61. Kevin Byard, S, New England Patriots

  60. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

  59. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

  58. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans

  57. Dion Dawkins, OT, Buffalo Bills

  56. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

  55. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

  54. Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers

  53. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams

  52. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  51. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

  50. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers

  49. Joe Thuney, G, Chicago Bears

  48. Josh Hines-Allen, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

  47. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles 

  46. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

  45. Zack Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

  44. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

  43. Chris Jones, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

  42. Garrett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos

  41. T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

  40. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers 

  39. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

  38. Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

  37. Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions

  36. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

  35. Jared Verse, DE, Cleveland Browns

  34. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles 

  33. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

  32. Nic Bonitto, Edge, Denver Broncos

  31. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

  30. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

  29. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles 

There are ranking movement in the NFL Top 100 every year. Here some of the biggest drops and jumps this year. 

Lamar Jackson - 67 spot drop

A.J. Brown - 51 spot drop

Fred Warner - 38 spot drop

Travis Kelce - 42 spot drop

Budda Baker - 41 spot drop

Josh Jacobs - 41 spot drop

Xavier McKinney - 40 spot drop

Joe Burrow - 38 spot drop

Jalen Hurts - 37 spot drop

Brock Bowers - 36 spot drop

Saquon Barkley - 33 spot drop

Chris Jones - 31 spot drop

T.J. Watt - 30 spot drop

Baker Mayfield - 27 spot drop

Nico Collins - 26 spot drop

Roquan Smith - 25 spot drop

Penei Sewell - 24 spot drop

Tristan Wirfs - 24 spot drop

CeeDee Lamb - 20 spot drop

On the flip-side, here are some of the players that jumped the most.

Dak Prescott - 48 spot jump

Drake London - 31 spot jump

Aidan Hutchinson - 25 spot jump

Cooper DeJean - 22 spot drop

Jared Verse - 18 spot drop

Josh Sweat - 17 spot jump

Zach Allen - 17 spot jump

Josh Hines-Allen - 17 spot drop

Congratulations to the jumpers. Condolences to the droppers. 

The NFL Top 100 will quietly continue this week. 

Vikings Versatile Defenders

Brian Flores is entering his fourth season as the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator. A staple of his time with the team has been versatility. He’s crafted a versatile defense played by versatile football players. Perhaps he learned the benefits of doing a lot of different things while playing defensive back and linebacker at Boston College. Maybe it was the 11 years with the New England Patriots learning from and coaching with Bill Belichick. When he got his head coaching shot with the Miami Dolphins in 2019, creating chaos for quarterbacks was the key to his defenses. He did that with blitzing and coverage. Quarterbacks didn’t know who was coming or dropping. A key to that indecision was players with versatility and Flores started collecting those players. He’s collected, or created, a few of them during his time in Minnesota. 

When thinking about a Brian Flores defense, it’s impossible not to think about all of the possibilities. The defense seems limitless because of the varied abilities of the football players that play in it. As training camp opened, the Vikings announced the signing of long-time impact safety Jamal Adams. It was a curious signing as everyone surrounding the Vikings, fans and media, have been waiting for a play/retirement decision from Harrison Smith. Was Adams coming in because Smith wasn’t? Who knows? Those questions seemed to be answered when Adams was given a #54 jersey. It looked like he was coming to Minnesota as a linebacker. Despite being a safety his entire NFL career, he’d mostly played linebacker last year with the Las Vegas Raiders. His Raiders snap distribution:

ILB: 254 snaps

Slot CB: 124 snaps

Left Edge: 38 snaps

Right Edge: 28 snaps

S: 2 snaps

Wide CB: 2 snaps

He only played two snaps at the position he spent all of his NFL days playing. So, the Vikings added a linebacker. Well, Adams was handed a new jersey over the weekend. #32. While the league has loosened jersey # requirements in recent years, some restrictions remain. Defensive backs not being able to were #s in the 50s are one of those restrictions. That’s too restricting for a player that was brought in for his versatility. 

Since the arrival of Brian Flores in Minnesota, Joshua Metellus has been the embodiment of the Vikings defensive versatility. Every snap has been a process of “Where’s #44?” for opposing offenses. Prior to the arrival of Flores in 2023, Metellus was a standout special teams player. Since, he’s been an impact defender, captain, and key to Flores’ dream of a defense not defined by positions. The Vikings added new versatile players each season since. The first was a reunion of Flores and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel from their days in Miami. At times, Metellus’ versatility isn’t obvious. Van Ginkel’s versatility often is. He can wreck offenses from a variety of positions. One play, he’s wrecking a play on the line of scrimmage. The next play, he’s disrupting a screen. The next, he’s downfield in coverage. Every snap is an opportunity for Van Ginkel to rip up on an offense and flip a game. For most of his nine years in the league, Eric Wilson was a special teams standout and rotational/backup linebacker. His first four years in the league were in Minnesota. Then he went on something of a league walkabout with the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and Green Bay Packers. He returned to Minnesota last season and Flores discovered a new versatile defender. Wilson was dynamite as a pass rusher up the middle and off the edge. He was solid in coverage. An injury put him on the field and his untapped ability to do just about everything kept him on it. It also got him the first solid contract extension of his career. 

Joshua Metellus, Andrew Van Ginkel, Eric Wilson, and now Jamal Adams are perhaps the most obvious examples of the Vikings versatile defenders. There are more.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Drafted as a defensive lineman, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins showed the ability at Georgia to play across the front. As a rookie last season, he showed some of that ability. He spent this past offseason redefining his body. It’s made him quicker, more agile. As a result, he’s shown the potential to extend his play to outside linebacker. Now, he’s considered a starter contender within the front trio and rotational support with the outside linebackers. 

Jake Golday

The Vikings selected Jake Golday in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was listed as a linebacker for the draft. The Vikings have much more in mind. He might be the eventual heir to Andrew Van Ginkel. That’s a lot to ask. There aren’t many football players like Van Ginkel. Golday appears to be one of them. It looks like the rookie is going to be on the field a lot because he can do a lot. 

Linebacker Blake Cashman is the heart of the Vikings defense. He’s primarily the signal-caller in the middle but he can play across the second and first levels. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. can play on the outside and move to the inside. Fifth-round rookie corner Chuck Demmings has been one of the breakout stars of training camp. His size and speed probably puts him on the outside. His freaky athleticism and quickness gives the ability to potentially play on the inside as well. 

Without even considering the possible return of Harrison Smith for his 15th season, the Vikings can potentially play nine defenders that have to be located on each snap. They could be found in a variety of positions on the field. The final two spots can be filled by defensive linemen Jalen Redmond and Caleb Banks that can play any defensive line spot. With so many players able to do so much, it might look like the Vikings are playing with more than 11 players. 

Brian Flores didn’t have a lot of defensive options when he arrived in Minnesota in 2023. Now, he does. He also has options with those options. I can’t wait to see those options causing chaos for opposing coordinators, quarterbacks, and offenses. 

Final Thoughts On The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was a fun class.

Larry Fitzgerald

Adam Vinatieri

Luke Kuechly

Roger Craig

Drew Brees

All were fun players. Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly were two of my favorite players of their era. Of any era. Each of the speeches was fun, interesting, entertaining, etc., etc. 

The only thing that would’ve made the class better was to have Bill Belichick be a part of it. AS HE SHOULD”VE BEEN. The idiot voters that kept this from happening should not be Hall of Fame voters. It’s insane. If Belichick isn’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer, no one is. What are we doing? What are those voters doing?

Speaking of first-ballot Hall of Famers, Luke Kuechly shouldn’t have been part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. He should’ve been a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The only knock on his career was that it was only eight years. In those eight years, he was first-team All-Pro five times. He was second-team All-Pro two times. The only year he wasn’t first- or second-team All-Pro he was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. So, he had high-end postseason honors every single season of his eight-year career. He packed into eight years what takes many first-ballot Hall of Famers 10-12, or more, seasons to achieve. Being outstanding, like best in the league outstanding, for every year of an eight-year career is first-ballot Hall of Famer stuff. Luke Kuechly was one of the best linebackers of my lifetime. He should’ve been a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

So, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027.

There are a few players in their first-year of eligibility that will have a first-ballot discussions. Arguably, the top contenders:

Adrian Peterson

Rob Gronkowski

Ben Roethlisberger 

Richard Sherman

Antonio Brown

Cam Newton

Gerald McCoy

In my opinion, Adrian Peterson and Rob Gronkowski are automatic. But I thought that about Luke Kuechly last year and Bill Belichick this year. If it were up to me, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027 would look like this:

Adrian Peterson

Rob Gronkowski

Bill Belichick

Tory Holt

Kevin Williams

Under the current idiotic voting format, four modern players, and a coach, is a lot. I’ll add two senior that should’ve been in long, long ago but probably have no shot with current voters. 

Verne Lewellen 

Al Wistert

Adrian Peterson, Rob Gronkowski, and Bill Belichick should be in Canton a year from now. I can only hope that’s the case. With these voters, you never know. 

Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famers

Today’s Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions have me thinking about the Hall of Fame. In particular, the inductions have me thinking about the Minnesota Vikings presence in the Hall of Fame. 

The Minnesota Vikings have had 14 players, one coach, and one administrator inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famers (in order of their inductions)

Fran Tarkenton, QB (1986)

Alan Page, DT (1988)

Bud Grant, Coach (1994)

Jim Finks, GM (1995)

Paul Krause, S (1998)

Ron Yary, T (2001)

Carl Eller, DE (2004)

Gary Zimmerman, T (2008)

Randall McDaniel, G (2009)

John Randle, DT (2010)

Chris Doleman, DE (2012)

Cris Carter, WR (2013)

Mick Tingelhoff, C (2015)

Randy Moss, WR (2018)

Steve Hutchinson, G (2020)

Jared Allen, DE (2025)

The Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame history is one of patience. Randy Moss is the only Vikings Hall of Famer that didn’t have to wait. He made it in his first year of eligibility. Fran Tarkenton retired in 1978 holding every career passing record. He held those records longer than any quarterback ever has. Holding those records has always been a measure of greatness. Since Y.A. Tittle, every quarterback that’s held those records has made it in their first year of eligibility. Tittle waited a single year. If the three Super Bowl losses are the reason for Tarkenton’s three-year wait, Tittle lost all three of his title appearances. Dan Marino made it in his first year and lost his only Super Bowl appearance. Tarkenton had to wait three years for the voters to get it right. Alan Page had to wait a year. Both should’ve made it in their first year. Three years and one year aren’t long waits. Neither Tarkenton nor Page deserved to wait but they didn’t have to wait long. Cris Carter would’ve loved a three- or one-year wait. He waited six years. I get that there’s been a receiver logjam for the past twenty years but Carter shouldn’t have waited more than three years. I believe the five-year run from 2008-12 in which Gary Zimmerman, Randall McDaniel, John Randle, and Chris Doleman made it to Canton may have worked against Carter. Two Vikings in a single season? Can’t have that. If that was the case, there was an opening in 2011. But six years is nothing compared to these ludicrous waits.

Paul Krause - 13 years

Ron Yary - 13 years

Carl Eller - 19 years

Mick Tingelhoff- 31 years

What are we doing? Paul Krause’s 81 career interceptions is one of the most unbreakable of the NFL’s career records. As a roving safety, he did Ed Reed things about 25 years before Ed Reed did them. Ron Yary was a 6x First-team All-Pro. He was the best right tackle in the league for more than a decade. Carl Eller was a 5x First-team All-Pro. From 1969-71, he was third, fifth, and ninth in MVP voting. Not Defensive Player of the Year. MVP voting. During that snapshot of his great 16-year career he was one of the very best football players in the NFL. A 19-year wait? Come on! Eller does in the 2000s what he did in the 1960s and 1970s and he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Jason Taylor’s career, a first-ballot guy, wasn’t remotely close to Eller’s career.  Then we get to Mick Tingelhoff’s insane wait. How does the best NFL center of the 1960s slip through the cracks?

Those Super Bowls. From 1969-76, the Minnesota Vikings lost four Super Bowls. If they win even one of those games, perhaps none of those players with ridiculous waits have to wait. If they win even one of those games, perhaps Jim Marshall and Chuck Foreman have busts in Canton. There’s a strong argument that each should still have that bust. Especially Chuck Foreman. 

Vikings that Could Be/Should Be Hall of Famers

Jim Marshall

Chuck Foreman

Joey Browner

I’m not going to get into the arguments for Jim Marshall and Chuck Foreman. Too much time and space is needed for that. Unfortunately, those arguments always go nowhere. In my opinion, Foreman is the more deserving of the two and is the Vikings biggest Hall of Famers snub. Joey Browner was one of the league’s best safeties in the 1980s. At his best, he was equal of Hall of Fame peers Ronnie Lott and Kenny Easley. If his career hadn’t been shortened by injuries, Browner would probably already have a bust. 

Vikings that Will Be Hall of Famers 

Adrian Peterson

Kevin Williams

In January, Adrian Peterson will be the second Vikings player to make it to the Hall in his first year of eligibility. I suppose nothing is guaranteed with a voting clown show that doesn’t vote for Bill Belichick but Peterson will be in Canton next year.

A dream 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class would include:

Adrian Peterson

Kevin Williams

Chuck Foreman

I’ll be in Canton next year for Adrian Peterson. It’d be a dream if Kevin Williams and Chuck Foreman are with him. The two greatest running backs in Vikings history going in together. That would be beautiful. If it is a Vikings-centric day, it’s much more likely to be Williams with Peterson. Williams was a finalist last year. The voters finally seem to have noticed his five-time First-team All-Pro, All-Decade career. 

Another Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster Projection

Yesterday brought another day off at Minnesota Vikings training camp. The idle day allowed thinking about 53-man roster projections. 

This projection includes a projection that Harrison Smith returns to continue his brilliant career. All offseason I was convinced that he was coming back. I was also convinced that he would be present at the start of training camp. I just didn’t see Smith as one of those players that would skip the preseason work and just stroll into the regular season. If he was coming back for another season of football, he’d be coming back for all of it. Anyway, I’m still hoping that he returns. I’m not ready for a Vikings defense that doesn’t include #22. 

Another Too Early Minnesota Vikings 53-man Roster Projection

Offense (25)

Quarterback (3)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Running Back (3)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Not including Zavier Scott is difficult. 

Fullback (1)

Max Bredeson

Wide Receiver (5)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

After the signing of Jauan Jennings, the top five receivers felt pretty straightforward. Jones, Dontae Fleming, and perhaps Dillon Bell are changing that feeling. 

Tight End (3)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Offensive Line (10)

Christian Darrisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Caleb Tiernan

Michael Jurgens

Joe Huber

Delby Lemieux

The five starters, Ryan Van Demark, Caleb Tiernan, and Joe Huber are easy. The competition for the final 2-3 spots looks wide open. 

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (6)

Jalen Redmond

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Levi Drake Rodriguez 

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

This is becoming my favorite position group on the team. 

Outside Linebacker (4)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Chaz Chambliss

Most pundits believe the Vikings will supplement the outside linebacker group with a veteran free agent. I’m beginning to believe that Brian Flores will dip into the linebacker group to support outside linebacker starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Eric Wilson and rookie Jake Golday will play some on the edge. Versatile defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins may also factor into the edge rotation. 

Linebacker (5)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Jamal Adams

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jake Golday

The late addition of Jamal Adams changes this group and perhaps the entire defense. 

Cornerback (4)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Chuck Demmings

Safety (6)

Harrison Smith

Josh Metellus

Jay Ward

Theo Jackson

Jakobe Thomas

Tavierre Thomas

Still hoping for Harrison Smith’s return. 

Special Teams (3)

Kicker (1)

Will Reichard

Punter (1)

Johnny Hekker

Until I’m convinced that undrafted rookie Brett Thorson can consistently snap the ball, I’m going with Johnny Hekker. 

Long Snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola

Each Team’s Top Pro Football Hall of Fame Candidate

This weekend’s Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions has me thinking about future inductions. Here’s a look at a top Hall of Fame Candidate for each team. I tried to pick candidates that have been waiting for a while. Some have been waiting since the inductions started in 1963. 

NFC

Minnesota Vikings

Chuck Foreman, RB

A lot of Vikings fans probably have Jim Marshall at the top of the list. For me, Chuck Foreman is the most deserving and has been waiting the longest. If his career hadn’t been cut short by injuries, he would’ve made it to Canton long ago. His first five seasons were spectacular. I felt that he was the best back in the league for most of those five seasons. He was certainly the most versatile back. Foreman was the Lenny Moore and Marshall Faulk of his day. Moore and Faulk were easy Hall of Famers. For most of his seven years with the Vikings, Foreman was their equal. 

Green Bay Packers

Lavvie Dilweg, End

I often flip between Verne Lewellen and Lavvie Dilweg as the biggest Packers snub. Lewellen isn’t just one of the Packers biggest Hall snubs. He’s one of the league’s biggest Hall snubs. He should’ve made it to Canton in one of the first dozen Classes. I was stunned when he wasn’t a part of the Centennial Class. A reason for that giant Hall Class was to correct voter oversights (mistakes) like those that buried Dilweg for decades. He was one of the best football players of his era. His era being 1926-34 shouldn’t matter. The Packers won three titles during Dilweg’s run with the team. He was a big reason for that success. Imagine overlooking a star player from a three-time Super Bowl champion. Voters don’t know how to handle players with no highlights or stats. It’s called research. 

Detroit Lions

Buddy Parker, Coach

Most football talking heads consider Paul Brown one of football’s best coaches. Buddy Parker had Brown’s number. Parker routinely topped Brown in exhibition games, regular season games, and most importantly in the 1952 and 1953 title games. Legions of fans and talking heads bellyached for decades about Tom Flores not making Canton despite winning two titles. Parker has waited longer. Flores inherited a contender. Parker built one. I’m not saying that Flores doesn’t deserve to be in Canton. I’m saying that Parker deserves to join him there. 

Chicago Bears

Ken Kavanaugh, End

A long history and a lot of success give the Bears a few candidates. Rick Casares and Joe Fortunato among them. I’m picking Ken Kavanaugh due to his being among the best at his position during the era he played. He was a three-time champion (1940, 1941, 1946) and was named to the 1940s All-Decade Team. For his career, he averaged a ridiculous 22.4 yards per catch. 

New York Giants

Charlie Conerly, QB

Quarterbacks with an NFL title and a league MVP aren’t usually waiting for that Hall of Fame call. Charlie Conerly was one of the league’s elite players during the 1950s. Plus, he was the Marlboro Man! 

Philadelphia Eagles

Al Wistert, T

Al Wistert’s Hall of Fame absence is nearly as mind-numbing as Lavvie Dilweg’s absence. There were five players that I was certain would be part of the Centennial Class. Dilweg, Duke Slater, Wistert, Mac Speedie, and Alex Karras. Dilweg and Wistert are still waiting. They shouldn’t be waiting. 

Washington Football Team

Gene Brito, End

Gene Brito was one of the NFL’s first great pass rushers. He was overshadowed by the ends of his era that played on better teams, such as Gino Marchetti, Andy Robustelli, and Len Ford. 

Dallas Cowboys

Cornell Green, CB

The Dallas Cowboys have a few candidates, Harvey Martin and Darren Woodson among them. Cornell Green was a starting corner for the Cowboys from 1963-69. He went to three Pro Bows and named first-team All-Pro twice. He was second-team All-Pro in two of the seasons he didn’t go to a Pro Bowl. In 1970, he moved to safety and made two more Pro Bowls. Durning his career, the Cowboys defense evolved from a leaky, expansion unit to one of the league’s best. Green was a big reason for that improvement. 

New Orleans Saints

Pat Swilling, LB

If Pat Swilling’s entire 12-year career was more like the five middle seasons, he would’ve had a bust in Canton years ago. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the New Orleans Saints had one of the most disruptive linebacker groups in league history. Sam Mills and Rickey Jackson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At the group’s peak, Swilling was the most dominant of the group. He was Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. 2x First-team All-Pto. 2x Second-team All-Pro. Five Pro Bowls. I guess the voters see three linebackers from a single group as excessive. It’s the only explanation for Swilling’s exclusion. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Simeon Rice, DE

Simeon Rice was a very good player during his five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Then he joined a Tampa Bay Buccaneers that was just getting started. He had 11 sacks in that first season. 15.5 sacks, First-team All-Pro, and a Pro Bowl in his second season as the defense led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title. Rice was the overwhelming pass rusher that defense needed to become special. 

Atlanta Falcons

Mike Kenn, OT

The Falcons candidate comes down to Tommy Nobis, George Kunz, Bill Fralic, and Mike Kenn. It was tough. I’m going with Kenn simply because I felt that he was among the league’s best at his position for a longer period than the other three players. 

Carolina Panthers

Steve Smith, WR

The first time Steve Smith touched the football in the NFL he returned a kick for a touchdown. Unfortunately, that was against the Minnesota Vikings. He was just getting started. Smith was one of the most fun receivers to watch in all my years of watching football. Receivers have a tough road to Canton. There’s always a logjam and it grows each year. Smith made need patience but he deserves to get there. 

San Francisco 49ers

Frankie Albert, QB

Frankie Albert is another player that’s a little more of a personal pick than an accurate one. Albert was one of my father’s favorites. I grew up to stories of Albert, the early 49ers, and the All America Football Conference. He was a magician with the football. 

Cleveland/Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams

Riley Matheson, OG/LB

Riley Matheson was named All-Pro on both sides of the ball. His blocking was integral to the Cleveland Rams 1945 NFL Championship.

Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals

Marshall Goldberg, Back

Marshall Goldberg was a big part of the Cardinals’ great backfield of the late-1940s. A backfield that brought home the 1947 NFL title. He’s been on the doorstep of Canton as a finalist. Of any deserving Cardinals candidate, he’s been waiting the longest. 

Seattle Seahawks

Shaun Alexander, RB

Shaun Alexander’s five-year run from 2001-05 was Hall of Fame-caliber. It’ll probably be enough to eventually get him there. 

AFC

Baltimore Ravens

Jamal Lewis, RB

Jamal Lewis was All-Pro once and played in one Pro Bowl. Those accolades came in 2003 when he rushed for 2066 yards. Seeing as he had three more seasons with over 1300 yards and six other seasons with more than 1000 yards it’s surprising that he didn’t receive more season honors. A decade of rushing consistency, if not excellence, did earn him 2nd-team All-Decade for the 2000s. For his career, Lewis rushed for 10,607 yards. If he hadn’t missed the 2001 season to injury, he might’ve passed 12,000 yards. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

L.C. Greenwood, DE

The Hall of Fame voters should be able to find room for another member of the Steel Curtain. 

Cincinnati Bengals

Ken Anderson, QB

The voters sure seem to have an easy time overlooking Cincinnati Bengals players. With Ken Riley finally making it in 2023, Ken Anderson becomes the team’s new top snub. He was one of the league’s best, most accurate quarterbacks in the 1970s and into the 1980s. 

Cleveland Browns

Jim Ray Smith, G

The number of Browns players already in the Hall and a couple years lost to military service are probably the reasons that Jim Ray Smith isn’t already honored in Canton. Those aren’t very good reasons. 

New York Jets

Larry Grantham, LB

Larry Grantham is one of the AFL greats that’s slipped through the Hall of Fame cracks. 

Buffalo Bills

Mike Stratton, LB

Tom Sestak, Mike Stratton, George Saimes, Butch Byrd, Jim Dunaway. The Buffalo Bills defense of the mid-1960s was dominant. They are have a Hall of Fame argument. I’ll go with Stratton as the one first deserving of a bust.

New England Patriots

Bill Belichick

Come on. There wasn’t a single reason for Bill Belichick not making it in his first year of eligibility. Third in league history in wins. Six championships as a head coach. Two more as a defensive coordinator. If he isn’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer, no one is. The Hall voters often show suspect judgement. This snub isn’t about a player/coach slipping through the cracks of the process. It’s about the voters being petty or stupid, or both. 

Miami Dolphins

Bob Kuechenberg, OL

Bob Kuechenberg, Jake Scott, or Dick Anderson? I could make a Hall of Fame case for either Miami Dolphins safety. I’ll go with the one player that played on all five of the Dolphins Super Bowl teams. Kuechenberg was one of the best guards of the 1970s. 

Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts

Alan Ameche. FB

In an era of great fullbacks Alan Ameche may have trailed only Jim Brown. Ameche’s touchdown in the 1958 NFL Championship game may be the most replayed touchdown in league history. 

Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans 

Charlie Hennigan, WR

Charlie Hennigan had a couple seasons in the early 1960s that would fit well in today’s pass-happy NFL. 82 catches for 1746 yards and 12 TDs in 1961. 1961! 101 catches for 1546 yards and 8 TDs in 1964. 1964!

Jacksonville Jaguars

Fred Taylor, RB

Excluding Chuck Foreman. Fred Taylor might be the most underrated running back of my lifetime. When he was healthy, he was one of the best running backs of his era. Navigating those injuries, Taylor still managed to put up seven 1000-yard seasons. And they weren’t Mike Evans-1000 yard season. Six of the seven were over 1200 yards. The one that wasn’t was 1146. 

Houston Texans

Arian Foster, RB

The Texans haven’t been around long enough to really have any Hall snubs. Andre Johnson was the only player eligible Texans player with a Hall argument and he quickly made it. J.J. Watt will make it as soon as he’s eligible. I guess Arian Foster is the closest to maybe having a Hall discussion. 

Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders

Jim Plunkett, QB

Most quarterbacks with two Super Bowl wins have an easy path to a bust. There was nothing easy about Jim Plunkett’s NFL career. It started great as the first pick in the 1971 NFL Draft. The 1970s were a rocky ride and then he finally found a home with the Oakland Raiders in 1978. Super Bowl win in 1980. Another in 1983.  

Denver Broncos

Rich “Tombstone” Jackson

Rich Jackson is the pick here simply for his terrific nickname. If his entire seven-year career was the quality of his 1968-70 seasons, Tombstone would be in the Hall of Fame.

Kansas City Chiefs

Jim Tyrer, OT

As a player, Jim Tyrer should already have a bust in Canton. 

San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

Earl Faison, DL

It’s a coin flip between Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd. Both were freakishly sized for their day and could probably play today. The early 1960s Chargers teams were known for their offense. With Faison and Ladd on the line, their defense was a force.