Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe make up 2025 Pro Football

[7sinVegas7]

No Eli.


https://www.nfl.com/news/pro-footbal...-at-nfl-honors

[Dallas Cowboys]

Not surprised Eli didn’t get in. I think he will eventually but to me he was never a first ballot.

[JWBlue]

I thought Sharpe was already in.

[7sinVegas7]

Fun FACT.



Gates never played a down of college football. He played basketball at Kent State.

Think about it, is there another example in the modern era of a pro athlete making it to the NFL HOF and never played the sport in college?

[slyguy]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

Not surprised Eli didn’t get in. I think he will eventually but to me he was never a first ballot.

I was much more surprised no Adam Vinitieri.
Dude is all time NFL scoring and FGs leader, hit many big playoff and SB winners. Brady and Belly regularly credit him before most other Pats' stars... and then he was quite good on Colts too.
MANY lesser kickers are in HOF. But apparently the voters wanna say PK aren't first ballot? Adam would've been deserving.

It was a very weak year on 2025 finalists... so those who didn't get in this year (Vini, Eli, Holt, SmithJr, Suggs, Keuchly, Wayne, etc) could struggle to get in at all. Eli likely will in time. Vinitieri is 100% in pretty soon.

Good for Gates and Allen. They were exciting players who dominated their position many years they played.

[rats60]

I am surprised that some of the first year guys didn't get in. Some of them will make it soon. It was a weak group of finalists. Not electing a full class of 5 modern candidates is bad news for the guys who have been on the ballot for a while. Most of them probably aren't getting in. It feels like the Football Hall of Fame just became a lot harder to get in.

[packman80]

Lot of people who must have never watched football crying saying why did Sharpe get in Holt or Wayne were better. Sharpe was a top 2 or 3 WR during his days. Had over 8K in 7 seasons during a era were running the ball was the focus of the offense. He also played on some average to bad Packer teams during his time. Had no real stud QB as he only played with Favre his last couple years and even then Favre was a young QB learning to play and not his MVP self yet. I think had Sharpe not got hurt and played with Favre for another 6-8 seasons he would be considered a top 5 WR of all time. He probably waited longer then he should have after guys like TD and Megatron got in off short careers.

Also IMO I would have put in Steve Smith over Holt and Wayne for the HOF. Personally next year none of the 3 get in as the HOF only puts in one WR and that's 1st year ballot Larry Fitzgerald.

Also seeing people asking why Eli did not get it. Only reason they can come up with is he beat Brady twice in the Super Bowl!. Yeah so big deal. Being a 1st ballot HOF'er means you are special you were elite. Eli Manning and elite are words never said in the same sentence. Eli will get in some day but he was not a 1st ballot worthy player.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by slyguy

I was much more surprised no Adam Vinitieri.
Dude is all time NFL scoring and FGs leader, hit many big playoff and SB winners. Brady and Belly regularly credit him before most other Pats' stars... and then he was quite good on Colts too.
MANY lesser kickers are in HOF. But apparently the voters wanna say PK aren't first ballot? Adam would've been deserving.

It was a very weak year on 2025 finalists... so those who didn't get in this year (Vini, Eli, Holt, SmithJr, Suggs, Keuchly, Wayne, etc) could struggle to get in at all. Eli likely will in time. Vinitieri is 100% in pretty soon.

Good for Gates and Allen. They were exciting players who dominated their position many years they played.

I agree with this entire sentiment.

[rdaveigajr]

I was really hoping for Suggs this year, mostly because I have the only PSA 10 Chrome RC listed on eBay.

[ThunderingHerd]

So glad Eric Allen finally got the call. He should have been in years ago.

[matt roberson]

Originally Posted by rdaveigajr

I was really hoping for Suggs this year, mostly because I have the only PSA 10 Chrome RC listed on eBay.

Cool story!

[rats60]

Originally Posted by packman80

Lot of people who must have never watched football crying saying why did Sharpe get in Holt or Wayne were better. Sharpe was a top 2 or 3 WR during his days. Had over 8K in 7 seasons during a era were running the ball was the focus of the offense. He also played on some average to bad Packer teams during his time. Had no real stud QB as he only played with Favre his last couple years and even then Favre was a young QB learning to play and not his MVP self yet. I think had Sharpe not got hurt and played with Favre for another 6-8 seasons he would be considered a top 5 WR of all time. He probably waited longer then he should have after guys like TD and Megatron got in off short careers.

Also IMO I would have put in Steve Smith over Holt and Wayne for the HOF. Personally next year none of the 3 get in as the HOF only puts in one WR and that's 1st year ballot Larry Fitzgerald.

Also seeing people asking why Eli did not get it. Only reason they can come up with is he beat Brady twice in the Super Bowl!. Yeah so big deal. Being a 1st ballot HOF'er means you are special you were elite. Eli Manning and elite are words never said in the same sentence. Eli will get in some day but he was not a 1st ballot worthy player.

I don't think the issue is does Eli deserve to be a first ballot HoFer. The issue was what 5 guys are going to get in out of this weak class. The answer that only 3 get in is something no one (or very few) saw coming.

Agree on your WR take. Wayne x3 All Pro, Holt 2x All Pro. Hines Ward is more deserving, with not only 3x All Pro but a SB MVP and 2 rings instead of 1. Those guys benefited from having a HOF receiver on the other side giving them more opportunities. I don't see Smith as any better with his 3x All Pro. A lot of good receivers, but not HOF worthy in my opinion.

[mjekase]

Originally Posted by slyguy

Good for Gates and Allen. They were exciting players who dominated their position many years they played.

Not surprised Jared Allen is a Hall of Famer, but mildly surprised Kuechly didn’t make it. Kuechly was more “dominant” in his time. Probably won’t take him 5 years like Allen. Three more All-Pro teams in 4 fewer seasons than Allen, and a DPOY, which Allen doesn’t have.

Happy to see Eric Allen make it.

[McSizzle81]

Originally Posted by slyguy

I was much more surprised no Adam Vinitieri.
Dude is all time NFL scoring and FGs leader, hit many big playoff and SB winners. Brady and Belly regularly credit him before most other Pats' stars... and then he was quite good on Colts too.
MANY lesser kickers are in HOF. But apparently the voters wanna say PK aren't first ballot? Adam would've been deserving.

It was a very weak year on 2025 finalists... so those who didn't get in this year (Vini, Eli, Holt, SmithJr, Suggs, Keuchly, Wayne, etc) could struggle to get in at all. Eli likely will in time. Vinitieri is 100% in pretty soon.

Good for Gates and Allen. They were exciting players who dominated their position many years they played.

I agree. How in the he'll is Vini not a 1st ballot Hall of Famer? I know he's a kicker, but he's the best ever at his position, as clutch as they come. He should have been in this year without a doubt

[Grid]

No Adam Vinatieri is a slap in the face to every special teams player. And proof kickers are 2nd class citizens

To not let the guy, who scored the most points in the history of the league in 1st ballot is a joke. The league put him on their list of 100 greatest players of all time. Yet not great enough for the Hall?

Was 4 super bowl wins not enough? Most consecutive games played not enough? Only one All Decade team, not good enough?

[davz13]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

I thought Sharpe was already in.

Not Sterling Sharpe. His brother Shannon Sharpe was already in.

Now, I believe, they are the 1st brothers to be inducted
(when Eli Manning makes it, that'll be the 2nd pair. Maybe some day Tiki will join Ronde Barber)

[davz13]

I thought Gates would have made it last year. Glad he's in this year

[Natsfan32]

I believe this was the smallest class in years. I still don't understand why Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt aren't in. This was a perfect opportunity with no 1st ballot guys. The Pro Football HOF selection process seems very random to me. the fact that Joe Jacoby is still not in is unforgivable. Any player who makes an all-decade team should be in.

[2010GBPackers]

The HoF seems like they're tightening their standards, although, Eric Allen got in.

I wonder what this means for folks like Holt, Wayne, Eli, Big Ben, etc. from here on out. For some reason, SB's (in fan's minds) are the end-all-be-all for QB's, but are in effect insignificant in the minds of HoF voters (like with all other positions). Not only did Eli not get in, he missed the cut down to 7 and the cut down to 10.

Here's another problem. The next 3 years will have QB's on the ballot with better resumes than Eli, so his next real chance is probably 2029. I don't see a scenario where a HoF class has two QB's getting in, unless two inner ring candidates retired simultaneously - i.e., Brady/Brees, Rodgers/Brady, Brees/Rodgers, but that never came to pass.

2026: Brees
2027: Big Ben
2028: Brady
2029: no sure-fire Hof QB

[mjekase]

Originally Posted by Natsfan32

I believe this was the smallest class in years. I still don't understand why Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt aren't in. This was a perfect opportunity with no 1st ballot guys. The Pro Football HOF selection process seems very random to me. the fact that Joe Jacoby is still not in is unforgivable. Any player who makes an all-decade team should be in.

They get docked for being second fiddle to other HoF WRs, and playing with HoF passers. Only a handful of All-Pro nods between the two of them. They'll get in eventually, but I think voters are prioritizing other positions on a year-to-year basis.

Re: Jacoby...2nd team All-Decade isn't a lock. There are a good number of those guys who aren't in and probably won't get in.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

The HoF seems like they're tightening their standards, although, Eric Allen got in.

I wonder what this means for folks like Holt, Wayne, Eli, Big Ben, etc. from here on out. For some reason, SB's (in fan's minds) are the end-all-be-all for QB's, but are in effect insignificant in the minds of HoF voters (like with all other positions). Not only did Eli not get in, he missed the cut down to 7 and the cut down to 10.

Here's another problem. The next 3 years will have QB's on the ballot with better resumes than Eli, so his next real chance is probably 2029. I don't see a scenario where a HoF class has two QB's getting in, unless two inner ring candidates retired simultaneously - i.e., Brady/Brees, Rodgers/Brady, Brees/Rodgers, but that never came to pass.

2026: Brees
2027: Big Ben
2028: Brady
2029: no sure-fire Hof QB

Agree, HOF has had at least one head scratcher every year for me. Eric Allen seems even more so with tightening of the voting. Don't get me wrong, Allen was a great player. I put him in the same bucket as the likes of Deron Cherry, Nolan Cromwell, Troy Vincent, Everson Walls, Joey Browner, etc. I don't see that group as HOFers. Some of made finalist lists which is deserving. I wonder the fact that this was the last year of eligibility for Allen put him over the top. That might be something to pay attention to going forward.

[bigdog2003]

Glad to see Gamecock legend Sterling Sharpe get in.

[mjekase]

Agreed. Guy was pretty dominant, even if it was relatively short-lived because of the neck injury. Surprised that his 18 TDs in his final season is still third all-time, given how receiving numbers have exploded since then.

[jcp2]

I always felt if TD got in Sterling should get in. That being said, Allen is a stretch. Great player but not sure if he is a HOFer. IMO there are way too many comps to Eric Allen and it would water down the hall if they all got in.

[mjekase]

I was mildly surprised Allen got in, even as an Eagles fan. I would say being the only CB in history with 58 ints and 9 pick-6's (regular and postseason) helped. Ronde Barber's resume is similar, and he got in sooner.