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A slew of gold vests and bronze busts have already been made in preparation for this year’s Hall of Fame ceremonies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s Hall of Fame class of 20 will be celebrated in Canton, Ohio this summer. Additionally, the 2021 induction class will also be inducted in August.
This year’s class, announced at Saturday night’s NFL Honors, features some of the most prominent players in league history. This year’s induction class includes two members of the first ballot: Peyton Manning and Calvin Johnson. Manning, Johnson and the rest of this year’s Hall of Fame class will be announced at Saturday’s NFL Honors show. The 2020 Hall of Fame class will be honored in Canton from August 5-8. The 2021 class will be in the spotlight from August 6 to 9.
Here’s a look at this year’s class, as well as the finalists who didn’t make the cut.
Hall of Fame Class of 2021
OL Alan Faneca (1998-2007): Nine-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro, Faneca was a key member of the 2005 Steelers Championship squad. A member of the NFL All-2000s squad, Faneca also played a pivotal role in the title race. of the 2009 Jets AFC.
WR Calvin Johnson (2007-2015): “Megatron” was six-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and member of the NFL All-2000s team. Two-time receiving champion, Johnson’s 1,964 yards are the highest one-season total in league history.
QB Peyton Manning (1998-2015): The league’s only five-time MVP, Manning retired as the NFL’s all-time career leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. The first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises, Manning’s 55 touchdown passes in 2013 are still a single-season record.
DB John Lynch (1993-2007): Lynch has been a Pro Bowler and solid safety five times and has also been a Pro Bowler in each of his four free safety seasons. Lynch played a key role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl XXXVII victory.
DB Charles Woodson (1998-2015): A former Heisman Trophy winner, Woodson’s achievements in the NFL include rookie of the year, defensive player of the year, nine Pro Bowls, four All-Pro selections and a member of the All-2000s team from the NFL. Woodson was also a key contributor to two Super Bowl teams which included the 2010 Super Bowl winning team from Green Bay.
Senior Inductee: WR Drew Pearson (1973-1983): Three-time All-Pro, Pearson is the only member of the NFL All-1970s team who is not already registered in Canton. The recipient of the NFL’s first Hail Mary assist, Pearson helped lead the Cowboys to seven NFL Championship games, three NFC titles and one Super Bowl XII victory.
Contributor: Bill Nunn: Prior to being known as the Steelers’ “Super Scout”, Nunn was a successful sports writer and editor of The Pittsburgh Mail, which was one of the most influential black publications in the country. Nunn used his extensive knowledge of historic black college football programs to create an annual “All-America Black College Team”.
In 1968, Nunn joined the Steelers as the team’s assistant personnel manager. Nunn is credited for acquiring the Steelers players who would contribute to the team’s 1970s dynasty. These players include Joe Greene, Mel Blount, LC Greenwood, Dwight White, Ernie Holmes, John Stallworth, Donnie Shell, Joe Gilliam and Frank Lewis, among others. Nunn, who died in 2014, is one of the few members of the Steelers organization to have played a role in each of the team’s six Super Bowl wins.
Coach: Tom Flores: Assistant to the Raiders’ first Super Bowl championship team, Flores was promoted to head coach after John Madden retired after the 1978 season. In 1980, the Raiders became the first wild team to win the Super Bowl after shaking the Eagles favorites at Super Bowl XV. Three years later, Flores led the Raiders to yet another Super Bowl upheaval, as the Raiders shocked Washington (the defending champion) at Super Bowl XVIII, 38-9. The first Latino quarterback in NFL history, Flores is also the first Latino head coach to win the Super Bowl. He’s just one of 12 head coaches to have multiple Super Bowl wins and one of two coaches (Bill Belichick being the other) to defeat two Super Bowl-winning coaches in the big game.
Miss the cut
Jared Allen (2004-2015): Five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Allen’s 136 career sacks sit 12th on the all-time list. Allen led the league in the sacks in 2007 and 2011.
DB Ronde Barber (1997-2012): The former Buccaneer is a member of the NFL All-2000s team. A key member of the Tampa Bay Premier League team, Barber led the NFL in interceptions in 2001.
OL Tony Boselli (1995-2001): A member of the NFL All-1990 team, Boselli was five times Pro Bowler and three times All-Pro. His presence helped the Jaguars reach two AFC title games in the franchise’s first five years.
S Leroy Butler (1990-2001): The Packers’ versatile defensive back was a member of the NFL All-1990 team. Four-time All-Pro and esteemed member of the 1996 Green Bay Championship team, Butler had 38 interceptions, 20.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles and 10 recovered fumbles.
WR Torry Holt (1999-2009): Holt helped the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” win a Super Bowl during their rookie season. Seven-time Pro Bowler and a member of the NFL All-2000s team, Holt led the NFL hosting in 2000 and 2003.
LB Clay Matthews (1978-1996): Four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews recorded a whopping 1,595 tackles during his career. Matthews, who is also credited with 69.5 career sacks (individual sacks only became an official statistic in 1982), played a key role in a Browns team that reached three games for the title. AFC over a four-year period.
LB Sam Mills (1986-1997): A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills led the Saints to four playoff appearances from 1987 to 1992. A member of the Panthers’ inaugural squad, Mills anchored a Carolina defense that qualified for the NFC title game in its second year of existence.
DL Richard Seymour (2001-2012): A Pro Bowler in both defensive tackle and the end, Seymour has been a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and a member of the NFL All-2000s team. He played a key role in a Patriots team that won three Super Bowls over a four-year span.
LB Zach Thomas (1996-2008): Thomas was a tackle who racked up 1,734 tackles over his 13-year career. A key member of Miami’s talented mid-90s defense, Thomas was a seven-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, and a member of the NFL’s All-2000s team.
WR Reggie Wayne (2001-2014): Unfairly portrayed as the Robin from Marvin Harrison’s Batman, Wayne has carved out his own niche in Indianapolis. Six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLI champion Wayne dominated the NFL in 2007..
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