Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021: 25 ranked semi-finalists



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25) Bryant Young, defensive tackle (San Francisco 49ers, 1994-2007): Young was an incredible defensive tackle during his time in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl. He was a part of the All-Decade team in the 1990s. But when I look at his peers on that team, I’m not quite sure he lives up to Hall of Famers Cortez Kennedy, John Randle and Warren Sapp. Look, I like Winston Zeddemore as much as the next one – he was really great. But he was not at the Hall of Fame level of the other three Ghostbusters.

24) Hines Ward, wide receiver (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1998-2011): Ward may be the only person on this list who both won Super Bowls and appeared in a Christopher Nolan Batman film. So he has that for him. I loved his physicality and the way he played the game. But when I look at the receivers on this list, I got him at the bottom. No disrespect. It’s like being the worst of the Hemsworth brothers. It sucks to be the last – even if you are still quite beautiful.

23) Tony Boselli, offensive tackle (Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995-2001; Houston Texans (injured reserve), 2002): We have to figure out whether Boselli comes in or not, because it doesn’t seem cool to keep doing that to this man. The multi-year runner-up was an incredible talent who could have been considered the best to have ever done – had he stayed in good health. Voters have to decide if this is going to be the thing that keeps him on the sidelines, or if they are just going to judge him based on what he did during his time on the pitch.

22) Clay Matthews, linebacker (Cleveland Browns, 1978–1993; Atlanta Falcons, 1994-96): Matthews built a successful career on his own for nearly two decades. But do you know how the WWE Hall of Fame will induct, like The Four Horsemen or The Hart Foundation? I wish the NFL would do that here, and induct the Matthews family in total. I mean, if you took that kind of format change, even Eli Manning could come in! (Joke!)

21) Fred Taylor, running back (Jacksonville Jaguars, 1998-2008; New England Patriots, 2009-2010): Wait, if we’re doing this for the Matthews family, then maybe we can extend the rule to include members of the dominant running back tandems? I loved watching Taylor and my guy Maurice Jones-Drew during the day. Taylor was great! However, while I’m not going to take anything away from what he may have done, compared to everyone on this elite roster, this is where he ends up. Which, believe me, is still amazing.

20) Round Barber, cornerback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1997-2012): I love Ronde, but I think it’s hard for him to stand out in a position filled with Hall of Fame members, whether you’re talking about the 1990s (Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Darrell Green and Aeneas Williams) or 2000s (Champ Bailey and Ty Law). He really needed to participate last year, because this year he will be partly ousted by the presence of Charles Woodson, probably inducted in the first round of voting.

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