Five modern-era inductees and three from special categories make up the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Come inside the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame selection meeting
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
It’s not easy to keep a secret in the sports world in the instantaneous information age of the Internet and social media, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame pulled it off.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2022 was determined 23 days ago in the annual selection meeting conducted via Zoom conference among the 49 voters and officials of the Hall of Fame.
It was the first meeting over which new Hall president Jim Porter presided, and a meaningful discussion took place during the 7 ½ hours about how the results would be kept secret for three weeks – except to the candidates themselves – so that the new class could be unveiled on the NFL Honors show broadcast on NFL Network Thursday night before Super Bowl 56.
Originally, an altered voting process was presented, which was disagreeable to the voters. After several periods of discussion and pointed live chatting throughout the meeting, Porter agreed to trust the voters and restore the old process, which allowed the voters to learn the results that cut the field to five modern-era finalists. Those five finalists still needed to receive 80 percent yes votes from the 49 selectors – or 40 yes votes to gain induction – in the final vote on each individual.
The results of the final yes/no vote have never been revealed to the selectors in the past, but it’s rare when a candidate who reaches the final five fails to receive the necessary 80 percent final approval. The last time it happened was in 2007.
So Porter trusted the voters not to leak the final five modern-era finalists, and that’s how the secret was kept until Thursday’s reveal on NFL Network.
Thus, the Class of 2022 was unveiled on cue.
The modern-era inductees for 2022 are offensive tackle Tony Boselli (Jaguars), safety LeRoy Butler (Packers), linebacker Sam Mills (Saints and Panthers), defensive lineman Richard Seymour (Patriots) and defensive lineman Bryant Young (49ers).
They joined receiver Cliff Branch (senior category candidate), Dick Vermeil (coach) and Art McNally (contributor).
It’s been a tradition of mine during my 20-plus years on the selection committee to peel back the curtain and give a peek inside the process. While abiding by confidentiality rules, here’s my review of this year’s meeting.
Time flies
This was the second year in a row the meeting was held via Zoom because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year’s meeting stretched to nearly 9 hours. This year’s was completed in a breezy 7 ½ hours, with breaks.
I always put a clock on the entire discussion of each candidate – from opening presentation, which now has a hard limit of 5 minutes, through the questions and comments generated among the entire body of selectors.
Here are the clockings of the 18 presentations, which were made in the following chronological order, and some insight on their discussions:
Cliff Branch, 13 minutes, 37 seconds: The former Oakland Raiders wide receiver was mired in the Senior pool for 12 years when his modern-era eligibility expired after 20 years.
Art McNally, 7:02: The “father of modern officiating,” who later was the first head of the league officiating department, fittingly became the first official inducted in the Hall via the Contributor category.
Dick Vermeil, 24:03: He is the second inductee (after Tom Flores) to get in via the Coach category that was created in 2021. Current bylaws have this special category in effect through 2024.
Rhonde Barber, 11:22: An overlooked candidate who never missed a game because of injury in 15 seasons – and compiled 13 career defensive touchdowns plus one on special teams. The Tampa Bay cornerback earned my vote but didn’t make the second cut from 10 to five finalists.
Torry Holt, 17:30: Despite overwhelming statistics, he came up short for the third time as a finalist. Unfortunately for him, he’s been preceded by six Hall of Famers (including Vermeil) from the “Greatest Show on Turf” team that won one Super Bowl in two appearances from 1999 to 2001.
Sam Mills, 16:11: The one-time Cleveland Browns training camp cut made it in his 20th and last year of modern-era eligibility. His inspirational and ultra-productive career first in the USFL and then with the Saints and Panthers made for quite a run for a 5-foot-9 linebacker.
LeRoy Butler, 17:03: Author of the Lambeau Leap, Butler rode the wave of an overdue appreciation of the safety position among voters. He’s the fourth safety added in the past three years.
Jared Allen, 20:43: He’s 12th on the all-time list with 136 sacks since it became an official statistic in 1982; he drops to 16th when unofficial sacks were tabulated since 1960. For the second year in a row as a finalist, he didn’t make the first cut to 10. His time will come.
Reggie Wayne, 22:15: The career leader in receptions (1,070), yards (14,345) and touchdowns (82) among the three receivers on the ballot, he joined Holt among the first cut from 15 to 10.
Bryant Young, 23:40: Earning induction in his 10th year of eligibility and first as a finalist might have been the biggest surprise of the class. The 49ers’ defensive lineman earned the franchise’s coveted award for inspirational and courageous play eight times. No other 49er has won it more than twice.
Tony Boselli, 25:30: A meetings-high 13 voters contributed to the longest discussion and helped push the Jaguars offensive tackle over the top on his sixth try as a finalist. His case finally overcame a career shortened to 91 games because of injury.
Richard Seymour, 7:09: The defensive mainstay of New England’s first three Super Bowl championship teams didn’t need a lot of discussion in his fourth year as a finalist to finally gain election. Those teams won on defense and only cornerback Ty Law had been previously voted in.
Devin Hester, 18:14: The greatest return specialist of all time made the first cut in his first year of eligibility. His eventual enshrinement will break down the barrier for Browns Josh Cribbs and Eric Metcalf.
DeMarcus Ware, 12:29: Another first-time eligible, the former Cowboys and Broncos pass rusher reached the final 10. His 138.5 sacks rank ninth officially and 13th when counting unofficial sack totals since 1960.
Zach Thomas, 15:15: The Dolphins linebacker made it to the final 10 for the third time as a finalist, a path that inevitably will lead to his place in the Hall.
Patrick Willis, 5:47: The 49ers linebacker made it as a finalist for the first time. Another career cut short by injury (112 games), he should be back for further review in years to come.
Willie Anderson, 10:11: He didn’t make the first cut, but the Bengals right tackle has a few things going for him. His Cincinnati team is woefully under-represented in the Hall, as are pure right tackles. He was one of the sport’s all-time best, but left tackles dominate the voting. That will change.
Andre Johnson, 11:36: Unlike Holt and Wayne, the Houston Texans receiver didn’t benefit from a future Hall of Fame quarterback throwing to him. Yet his career numbers (1,062 receptions, 14,185 yards, 70 TDs) stack up with the sport’s all-time greats.
