New voting procedures resulted in the smallest Pro Football Hall of Fame class in 20 years.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame drastically changed voting procedures in August to “help ensure that membership in the Hall of Fame remains elite.”
The changes came, apparently, in response to Deion Sanders, and others, who complained in recent years that too many borderline players were being inducted. The last four classes averaged eight inductees. Nine were enshrined in 2023.
The result of the reform was only four finalists were elected in a secret meeting of 49 Hall of Fame voters in January. It’s the smallest HOF class since 2005.
Elected were San Diego Chargers tight end and former Kent State basketball player Antonio Gates, multi-team quarterback sacker Jared Allen, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Eric Allen, and Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe.
Sharpe was the only one to receive the required 80 percent vote among five finalists from the three special categories of three senior players (whose modern-era eligibility expired), one coach and one contributor. The new voting changes had a profound effect on these categories.
Not making the final cut were senior candidates Jim Tyrer and Maxie Baughn, coach Mike Holmgren, and contributor Ralph Hay, the Canton auto dealer who organized the original meeting for what became the NFL.
The modern-era finalists who failed to receive the required 80 percent vote were pass rusher Terrell Suggs, linebacker Luke Kuechly, running back Fred Taylor, offensive lineman Marshal Yanda, guard Jahri Evans, offensive tackle Willie Anderson, safety Darren Woodson, quarterback Eli Manning, receiver Reggie Wayne, receiver Steve Smith Sr., receiver Torry Holt, and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
On the clock
This year’s selection meeting, conducted via Zoom in mid-January, consumed 7 hours, 53 minutes, including debates, snack and potty breaks, and balloting. It was actually one of the shorter meetings in recent years.
Each of the 20 finalists was introduced by a presenter, usually a voting member from the finalist’s market, assigned by the HOF. The presenter had five minutes to open discussion on the candidate, and a digital clock ticked down to add pressure to the presentation.
After each presentation, HOF president Jim Porter facilitated a discussion on the candidate. Any of the 49 voters could contribute their two cents during this time.
I put my own clock on each presentation. It gives you an idea of the intensity of debate on each candidate.
Here are the clockings from longest to shortest:
Eli Manning: 52 minutes, 9 seconds.
Ralph Hay: 29:25.
Mike Holmgren: 26:11.
Eric Allen: 25:20.
Antonio Gates: 24:41.
Jim Tyrer: 22:48.
Fred Taylor: 21:27.
Jahri Evans: 18:26.
Jared Allen: 18:13.
Sterling Sharpe: 17:42.
Marshal Yanda: 14:27.
Adam Vinatieri: 14:27.
Torry Holt: 14:17.
Reggie Wayne: 12:19.
Maxie Baughn: 11:58.
Willie Anderson: 11:30.
Darren Woodson: 10:14.
Steve Smith Sr.: 7:29.
Terrell Suggs: 6:11.
Luke Kuechly: 5:45.
Takeaways
* There is always one finalist whose discussion dominates the meeting, and Manning was this year’s polarizing candidate. A season-high 22 voters contributed to the longest discussion of the meeting. The argument centered on whether Manning’s two Super Bowl MVP awards outweighed a 117-117 career record to merit induction in his first year of eligibility. My rule of thumb prevailed: First ballot inductees don’t need much discussion.
* Tyrer’s candidacy aroused much agitation because it caused voters to straddle the HOF’s outdated bylaw to only consider the player’s on-field accomplishments. Tyrer murdered his wife and committed suicide in 1980 as a result, it was reported after his death, of suffering from CTE brain damage. This elephant-in-the-room fact wasn’t mentioned until 12 minutes into the discussion. Once brought up, voters couldn’t ignore it.
* Holmgren’s credentials were undeniably Hall-worthy. He took two teams to the Super Bowl, had a winning record in 14 of 17 seasons, and mentored eight assistant coaches into the head coaching ranks. He fell victim to the new voting procedures, which diluted the special category candidates. For the record, Holmgren’s pathetic record as Browns club president from 2010 to 2012 was never mentioned by me or anyone else. Only his coaching record was considered.
* Wayne and Holt each was in his sixth year as finalist. The addition of first-timer Smith added to the modern-era receiver logjam.
* First-timers Suggs, Kuechly, Yanda, Manning and Vinatieri no doubt are future HOF’ers. There has been a recent movement to tap the brakes on first-timers unless they are indisputable, without-discussion candidates. I have no problem with that.
The votes
The 15 modern-era candidates were reduced to 10 on the first vote. Not making the first cut were Manning, Smith, Suggs, Wayne, and Taylor.
The next cut reduced the field to seven. Eliminated at this cut were Evans, Woodson and Yanda.
From the final seven of Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri, the selection committee had to vote for five.
But only those who received 80 percent yes votes (40 votes among 49 selectors) would make it in. Ultimately, only Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Gates got the necessary votes.
Per HOF bylaws, Anderson, Holt, Kuechly and Vinatieri automatically advance to the finalist round in 2026 by virtue of making it to the final seven.
My votes
In the special categories, I voted for Baughn, Sharpe and Hay.
In the modern-era category, I voted for Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Anderson, Gates and Holt.