Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Finalists
The 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 were revealed yesterday. In any given year, the finalists are always highlighted by those in their first year of eligibility. This year, those players are Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Finalists
Eric Allen, Cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
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
Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
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
Antonio Gates, Tight End — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
Rodney Harrison, Safety — 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots
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
Julius Peppers, Defensive End — 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers, 2010-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-16 Green Bay Packers
Fred Taylor, Running back — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Patrick Willis, Linebacker — 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Like Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers, the quartet of Eric Allen, Jahri Evans, Rodney Harrison, and Fred Taylor are finalists for the first time. Unlike Gates and Peppers, they are finalists after a combined 40 years of eligibility.
The 15 finalists will join Coach/Contributor nominee Buddy Parker and Senior nominees Art Powell, Randy Gradishar, and Steve McMichael for final discussions by the 50-person Selection Committee in advance of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The Pro Football Hall Fame Class of 2024 will be announced live on the “NFL Honors” telecast on February 8.
Times as a Finalist
Eric Allen: 1, 2024
Jared Allen: 4, 2021-24
Willie Anderson: 3: 2022-24
Jahri Evans: 1, 2024
Dwight Freeney: 2, 2023-24
Antonio Gates: 1, 2024
Rodney Harrison: 1, 2024
Devin Hester: 3, 2022-24
Tory Holt: 5, 2020-24
Andre Johnson: 3, 2022-24
Julius Peppers: 1, 2024
Fred Taylor: 1, 2024
Reggie Wayne: 5, 2020-24
Patrick Willis: 3, 2022-24
Darren Woodson: 2, 2023-24
Years of Eligibility
1st: Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers
2nd: Jahri Evans, Dwight Freeney
3rd: Devin Hester, Andre Johnson
4th: Jared Allen
5th: Reggie Wayne, Patrick Willis
9th: Fred Taylor
10th: Torry Holt
11th: Rodney Harrison, Willie Anderson
16th: Darren Woodson
18th: Eric Allen
What I think the Selection Committee should do with any group of Hall of Fame finalists and what they will do is always different. The voters repeatedly show an urgency to jam through players in their first year of eligibility. I feel that making it in the first year should be reserved for the players for which there are no doubts. If there’s even the slightest hint of a debate, the player waits. In my opinion, only Julius Peppers should make it in his first year. I’m pretty sure that the voters will push both Peppers and Antonio Gates through. After that, Jared Allen makes it in his fourth year of eligibility. If he had been able to wrestle that Defensive Player of the Year award from Terrell Suggs in 2011, Allen would’ve made it earlier. His frustrating four year wait should end. Patrick Willis finally makes it to Canton. I still don’t understand how he wasn’t through in his first or second year. He wasn’t even a finalist until his third year. Willis was more deserving of first year consideration in 2020 than Gates is this year. Willis was the best in the league at his position for nearly all of his eight-year career. I never once thought that Gates was the best at his position. Tony Gonzalez pretty much had that title. Jason Witten was in there as well. Willis was the best off-the-ball linebacker I’d seen since Jack Ham. His Hall of Fame journey has been a complete mystery to me. Anyway, a receiver should round out the modern-era class. Unfortunately, the two receivers that I feel are most deserving didn’t make it to the finalist stage. That would be Steve Smith Sr. and Hines Ward. Of the actual receiver finalists, I feel that the voters will go with Andre Johnson.
So, that gives us a Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 that looks something like this:
Julius Peppers
Antonio Gates
Jared Allen
Patrick Willis
Andre Johnson
Randy Gradishar
Steve McMichael
Art Powell
Buddy Parker
That’s a fine Class. With Allen it, I’ve gotta start making plans to be in Canton in August.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Finalists
Eric Allen, Cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
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
Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
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
Antonio Gates, Tight End — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
Rodney Harrison, Safety — 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots
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
Julius Peppers, Defensive End — 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers, 2010-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-16 Green Bay Packers
Fred Taylor, Running back — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Patrick Willis, Linebacker — 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Like Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers, the quartet of Eric Allen, Jahri Evans, Rodney Harrison, and Fred Taylor are finalists for the first time. Unlike Gates and Peppers, they are finalists after a combined 40 years of eligibility.
The 15 finalists will join Coach/Contributor nominee Buddy Parker and Senior nominees Art Powell, Randy Gradishar, and Steve McMichael for final discussions by the 50-person Selection Committee in advance of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The Pro Football Hall Fame Class of 2024 will be announced live on the “NFL Honors” telecast on February 8.
Times as a Finalist
Eric Allen: 1, 2024
Jared Allen: 4, 2021-24
Willie Anderson: 3: 2022-24
Jahri Evans: 1, 2024
Dwight Freeney: 2, 2023-24
Antonio Gates: 1, 2024
Rodney Harrison: 1, 2024
Devin Hester: 3, 2022-24
Tory Holt: 5, 2020-24
Andre Johnson: 3, 2022-24
Julius Peppers: 1, 2024
Fred Taylor: 1, 2024
Reggie Wayne: 5, 2020-24
Patrick Willis: 3, 2022-24
Darren Woodson: 2, 2023-24
Years of Eligibility
1st: Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers
2nd: Jahri Evans, Dwight Freeney
3rd: Devin Hester, Andre Johnson
4th: Jared Allen
5th: Reggie Wayne, Patrick Willis
9th: Fred Taylor
10th: Torry Holt
11th: Rodney Harrison, Willie Anderson
16th: Darren Woodson
18th: Eric Allen
What I think the Selection Committee should do with any group of Hall of Fame finalists and what they will do is always different. The voters repeatedly show an urgency to jam through players in their first year of eligibility. I feel that making it in the first year should be reserved for the players for which there are no doubts. If there’s even the slightest hint of a debate, the player waits. In my opinion, only Julius Peppers should make it in his first year. I’m pretty sure that the voters will push both Peppers and Antonio Gates through. After that, Jared Allen makes it in his fourth year of eligibility. If he had been able to wrestle that Defensive Player of the Year award from Terrell Suggs in 2011, Allen would’ve made it earlier. His frustrating four year wait should end. Patrick Willis finally makes it to Canton. I still don’t understand how he wasn’t through in his first or second year. He wasn’t even a finalist until his third year. Willis was more deserving of first year consideration in 2020 than Gates is this year. Willis was the best in the league at his position for nearly all of his eight-year career. I never once thought that Gates was the best at his position. Tony Gonzalez pretty much had that title. Jason Witten was in there as well. Willis was the best off-the-ball linebacker I’d seen since Jack Ham. His Hall of Fame journey has been a complete mystery to me. Anyway, a receiver should round out the modern-era class. Unfortunately, the two receivers that I feel are most deserving didn’t make it to the finalist stage. That would be Steve Smith Sr. and Hines Ward. Of the actual receiver finalists, I feel that the voters will go with Andre Johnson.
So, that gives us a Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 that looks something like this:
Julius Peppers
Antonio Gates
Jared Allen
Patrick Willis
Andre Johnson
Randy Gradishar
Steve McMichael
Art Powell
Buddy Parker
That’s a fine Class. With Allen it, I’ve gotta start making plans to be in Canton in August.
