2025 Pro Football HOF Nominees
SDSportsFan
Posts: 5,142 ✭✭✭✭✭
The Pro FB HOF just announced the 25 candidates in the Contributor category, to be considered for induction in the class of 2025. One of them will become a finalist for induction.
I have to say, if these are the candidates, the standards are getting very weak.
Here are brief bios on the 25 candidates:
• K.S. “Bud” Adams: During his 54 years as founder, owner, chairman of the board, president and CEO of the Titans/Oilers franchise, Adams was a pivotal figure in the NFL.
• Roone Arledge: Television industry executive and producer whose creativity, leadership and technical innovations revolutionized the presentation of both news and sports.
• Chris Berman: One of America’s most respected, popular, and in many ways, most beloved sportscasters.
• Howard Cosell: A member of ABC’s original “Monday Night Football” broadcasting team, Cosell worked alongside football legends Don Meredith and Frank Gifford from 1970-1983.
• Otho Davis: Served as associate athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts in 1971 and the head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973-1995.
• John Facenda: Beginning his career at NFL Films in 1965 until his death in 1984 at age 71, Facenda narrated numerous films and weekly highlights packages.
• Mike Giddings: Former player, coach and scout who created the NFL talent evaluation and analytics company called Proscout.
• Ralph Hay: Owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918-1922 and hosted the NFL’s formational meeting in his automobile dealership in downtown Canton.
• Frank “Bucko” Kilroy: Worked in player personnel and scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He was the Patriots’ general manager from 1979-1982 and vice president from 1983-1993.
• Don Klosterman: Built successful teams in three leagues (Chargers, Chiefs and Oilers in the AFL; Colts and Rams of the NFL; and the L.A. Express in the USFL).
• Eddie Kotal: Scout for the Los Angeles Rams from 1947-1961 and was one of the first to scout Black colleges and universities.
• Robert Kraft: Owner, chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots from 1994 to present.
• Virginia McCaskey: Owner of the Chicago Bears from 1983 to present.
• Rich McKay: General manager, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1994-2003; general manager, Atlanta Falcons, 2003-2008; president/CEO, Atlanta Falcons, 2008 to present.
• John McVay: Joined the 49ers in 1979 as the team's director of player personnel and spent 21 seasons there, ultimately presiding over five Super Bowl-winning seasons as vice president/director of football operations.
• Art Modell: Owner of the Cleveland Browns from 1961-1995 and Baltimore Ravens from 1996-2011.
• Lee Remmel: A sportswriter and columnist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette for 29 years, Green Bay Packers director of public relations from 1974-2004 and Packers’ historian from 2004-07.
• Eddie Robinson: Credited with sending dozens of players to the NFL as coach at the HBCU Grambling State.
• Art Rooney Jr.: Employed with the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1961; from 1964-1986, he worked in the Steelers’ Scouting Department. Currently a Steelers vice president and member of the board of directors.
• Jerry Seeman: Worked as a line judge, head linesman, referee and director of officiating in a career spanning from 1975-2000.
• Seymour Siwoff: Owner and president of Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the NFL, from 1952-2019.
• Amy Trask: CEO of the Oakland Raiders from 1997-2013.
• Jim Tunney: NFL official from 1960-1991. Worked as a field judge from 1960-67 and a referee from 1968-1991.
• Doug Williams: Career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978-1982) and Washington Redskins (1986-89) included historic moment as first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl (XXII) with an MVP performance; credited with creating opportunities for future Black athletes.
• John Wooten: Director of pro scouting for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975-1991. Created player development programs for the NFL in 1991. Vice president/player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 and assistant director, pro/college scouting for the Baltimore Ravens until his retirement in 2002.
Steve
Comments
John Facenda Was The Man...
lol I knew Groc was going to mention Facenda lol
I'm with you bro, he was a LEGEND
I got to comb through some of these guys to see what they did since I'm not all that familiar with some of them but it looks like these guys had a big amount of input to Pro Football.
As far as Doug Williams goes as a QB alone he is not worthy but as a pioneer for black QB's I guess I can understand that but I'd like that to be on his HOF plaque rather than he gets in and it not being mentioned.
"Autumn Wind" by Facenda is one of my favorites, quintessential NFL. The voice of God he was called and fittingly so.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
There are many days when I'll have John Facenda talking... I'll put in a VHS...
turn up the volume to about 19-20 on the TV... start some laundry, maybe get some lifting in, spend some time here on the forum, or even get a game of Tudor in...
Some members here are aware that I'm Heavily into Tudor Electric Football 🔌🏈...and when I'm PM'ing one of my guys; I'll post up my Tudor Highlights, and I Do My Best how John Facenda would narrate that particular screenshot...
🔌🏈
Rebels with a Cause: The Story of the American Football League
There's a few interviews with Bud Adams as with Don Klosterman...
Highly Recommend... Rebels with a Cause: The Story of the American Football League...
If any you guys can't find that video On-Line... just stop over...Yep Got It On VHS...
🏈📺👍
hey grote...
got the Autumn Wind there on VHS...
👍🏈📺
Unhealthy obsession with electronic football aside that’s a cool NFL films collection.
Apologies to GRP but even as a kid electric football wasn’t much fun. Hit the juice and you have 22 toy figures who look like they’re actually being electrocuted to death gyrating around spasmodically in all directions. If a player actually went forward it was a major victory. 🥳
I favor Roone. Got us an extra day of televised football on Monday night.
Unless you are a Tudor Master like he is
Trust me he has that game down solid I've talked to him about it and there are dials at the base that you set to make the players move how you want them
of course I never knew that as a kid because I just played and never read instructions lol
i used to have one of those electric football games and wore it out. mine was all NFC North (at the time) -- Chicago, Minnesota, Green Bay, Detroit, Tampa Bay. i never could quite figure the dials out. i'd attach that minuscule foam ball to the arm of a player and if it fell off after i electrocuted those guys, i considered that a fumble.
sometimes i'd wait half an hour for a recovery because players were going in circles, trying to run off the field, playing grab-ass, etc. it accurately represented real-life Bears' games back then
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
"Art Modell: Owner of the Cleveland Browns from 1961-1995 and Baltimore Ravens from 1996-2011."
Are you kidding me? Not after the disgraceful late night shenanigans he pulled in Cleveland.
hey D,
I got it down almost Perfect to a:
Packers Trap or A Ghost to the Post... although sometimes I'll have a a little trouble running the 65 Toss Power Trap... I need to message Hank Stram & Lenny Dawson...
hey Galaxy, so far my Bears team is doing 1/2 way decent...
hey ya Perkdog...
Thank you...
Um...No spoilers from this mornings game out in 3 Rivers...
Later my brother...
your Speed Control was Too Tight...
That's 1 reason why I'm Slightly Screwed Up...
🤣🙃
@galaxy27
here ya go...
🔌🏈
And here are the coaching finalists who were announced today. As with the contributors, this list will be whittled down to one nominee for enshrinement:
Bill Arnsparger: Longtime defensive coordinator. Won two Super Bowl titles with Miami Dolphins and appeared in two other Super Bowls (Miami and San Diego). Also head coach of New York Giants.
Tom Coughlin: Spent 20 years as an NFL head coach with Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2002) and New York Giants (2004-2015), totaling 170 wins and leading the Giants to two Super Bowl titles.
Jeff Fisher: NFL head coach for 22 seasons with Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.
Alex Gibbs: Assistant head coach and/or offensive line coach for 27 NFL seasons with seven different Clubs.
Mike Holmgren: Head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98 and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999-2008. Won a Super Bowl and appeared in another as a head coach.
Chuck Knox: NFL Coach of the Year in 1973, 1980 and 1984. He went 186-147-1 during 22 regular seasons as an NFL head coach for the Rams, Bills and Seahawks.
Richie Petitbon: Promoted to Washington’s defensive coordinator in 1981. Joe Gibbs ran the offense and Petitbon the defense on a team that would win three Super Bowls over the next 11 seasons.
Dan Reeves: Head coach of the Denver Broncos from 1981-1992, New York Giants from 1993-96 and Atlanta Falcons from 1997-2003.
Marty Schottenheimer: Head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984-88, Kansas City Chiefs from 1989-1998, Washington Redskins in 2001 and San Diego Chargers from 2002-06.
George Seifert: Two-time Super Bowl champion head coach with the San Francisco 49ers. Coached 11 years with 49ers and Carolina Panthers.
Mike Shanahan: Head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders from 1988-89, Denver Broncos from 1995-2008 and Washington Redskins from 2010-13. Won two Super Bowls.
Clark Shaughnessy: Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams from 1948-49 and assistant coach for the Washington Redskins from 1944-47 and Chicago Bears from 1951-1962
Steve
Some tough choices in this list.
Shanahan can thank Terrell Davis for the 2 SB wins.
Here are the 31 Seniors (players) who were announced today. This list will be whittled down to nine semifinalists, and then three finalists for enshrinement:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Jim Plunkett.
RUNNING BACKS (5): Ottis Anderson, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell, Paul “Tank” Younger.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Billy "White Shoes” Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (7): Ox Emerson, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob Kuechenberg, George Kunz, Jim Tyrer, Al Wistert.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (2): Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin.
LINEBACKERS (5): Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Larry Grantham, Clay Matthews Jr., Tommy Nobis.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (4): Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Everson Walls.
Steve
My picks:
Ken Anderson
Jim Marshall
Tommy Nobis
Jim Tunney
Mike Holmgren
Steve
Since Namath and Bradshaw are in Anderson should be as well
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007
1) Harvey Martin
Man...This is a Tough Call 4 my 2nd...Bob Kuechenberg
3) And the voice of God...
🏈🏈🏈
My picks
Gary big hands Johnson
Dave Brown
LC Greenwood
Andy Russell
Greg Lloyd
Phil Simms
Terry Bradshaw was AMAZING!!
Ignore list -Basebal21
Bob Kuechenberg should have already been in.
Finally, here are the 50 Modern-Era nominees. This list will be cut to 25; then those semifinalists will be further cut down until between four and eight (to include any contributors/coaches/old-timers) are selected for induction.
QUARTERBACKS (2): Eli Manning, Steve McNair
RUNNING BACKS (6): Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Eddie George, Marshawn Lynch, Fred Taylor*, Ricky Watters
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Anquan Boldin, Torry Holt*, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne*
TIGHT ENDS (2): Ben Coates, Antonio Gates*
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): Willie Anderson* (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Jahri Evans* (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Logan Mankins (G), Jeff Saturday (C), Joe Staley (T), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), Marshal Yanda (G)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (8): John Abraham (DE also LB), Jared Allen* (DE), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Neil Smith (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT)
LINEBACKERS (5): Cornelius Bennett, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs
DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Eric Allen* (CB), Kam Chancellor (S), Rodney Harrison* (S), Earl Thomas (S), Troy Vincent (CB), Darren Woodson* (S)
SPECIAL TEAMS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Adam Vinatieri (K)
Steve
Gates should have been in on the first ballot. Easily an elite TE of all time
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007
I'll Shut Up on the: Modern-Era nominees...
🤣🙃🤣🙃
The Contributor list has been cut to these nine:
K.S. “Bud” Adams
Ralph Hay
Frank “Bucko” Kilroy
Robert Kraft
Art Modell
Art Rooney Jr.
Seymour Siwoff
Doug Williams
John Wooten
The Coaches have been cut to these nine:
Bill Arnsparger
Tom Coughlin
Mike Holmgren
Chuck Knox
Dan Reeves
Marty Schottenheimer
George Seifert
Mike Shanahan
Clark Shaughnessy