2026 HOF Modern Finalists cut to 15

[Dallas Cowboys]

I’m biased but I’ve felt Witten was first ballot status. I also realize voters could be looking at Gronk and Kelce being more first ballot worthy and making Witten wait. Heck I thought Gates was first ballot and they made him wait.

[mike1498]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

I’m biased but I’ve felt Witten was first ballot status. I also realize voters could be looking at Gronk and Kelce being more first ballot worthy and making Witten wait. Heck I thought Gates was first ballot and they made him wait.

I think this is always a hard comment to make because being "first ballot" has more to do with the talent that is eligible rather than who really "deserves" to be a first ballot.

I think the question instead should be "who would Witten replace this year".

I think
Drew Brees and Fitzgerald are locks.

I personally would take Suggs over Witten since 8th all time in sacks is more impressive to me than 21st all time in receiving yards.

If Kuechly had a longer career I don't really see a scenario where he isn't a lock. He's got a DPOY and 5 All Pros. Witten has 4 All Pros.

I could see Witten over Torry Holt if we go based on All Pros. Torry Holt has just a little more receiving yards than Witten which I'd argue is more impressive for Witten given he is a TE and not a WR. I think the only reason you may take Holt over Witten is solely due to how long Holt has had to wait so far. I could see this one going either way

[mjekase]

I think Brees & Fitzgerald are locks. Kuechly should get in, and I have a feeling Holt will get voted in this year. I’d add Craig for the Senior vote.

[codered]

Brees and fitz are locks

Yanda and williams should be but wont be surprised if either get looked over

Suggs would round out my 5

[49ersSF]

The crazy thing about Eli is how average at best he was outside his two Super Bowl seasons. He never won a playoff game outside of 2007 and 2011. He was never awarded an all-pro. He's basically a slightly better Jim Plunkett (2 Super Bowl wins and not in the hall).

I am sticking with...

Brees
Fitz
Kuechly
Suggs
Witten

[bamafan3559]

My five from that list would be Brees, Fitz, Kuechly, Holt, and Anderson.

[Tea10]

Originally Posted by 49ersSF

The crazy thing about Eli is how average at best he was outside his two Super Bowl seasons. He never won a playoff game outside of 2007 and 2011. He was never awarded an all-pro. He's basically a slightly better Jim Plunkett (2 Super Bowl wins and not in the hall).

I am sticking with...

Brees
Fitz
Kuechly
Suggs
Witten

That's not accurate. Eli Manning has double Plunkett's career passing yardage. He's 11th all-time while Plunkett is 78th. Even with a difference in era that's a huge gap.

366 passing TDs to 264 INTs = Eli Manning
168 passing TDs to 198 INTs = Jim Plunkett

Not even close. Even if we want to roughly scale and extrapolate for era of 70s-80s vs early 2000s into 2010s. The stats here are wildly different. I'm not trying to champion Eli Manning here either, I think he should get in but he's a borderline case. Plenty of other QBs have done less too in terms of winning. Brees and Rodgers are lock 1st ballot and have 1 ring each and have choked in other playoff runs, the Giants sucked most of the time Eli was there and overall as a franchise have sucked this century.

[Tea10]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

I’m biased but I’ve felt Witten was first ballot status. I also realize voters could be looking at Gronk and Kelce being more first ballot worthy and making Witten wait. Heck I thought Gates was first ballot and they made him wait.

I think that's the issue with the HoF personally. Witten probably should get in, but he's not really 1st ballot and there becomes a backlog of guys getting in with eligibility from what I remember.

I might be biased too. Patriots fan, since I was born. But I think objectively beyond that bias that Gronk is the best TE to ever play the game. Calvin Johnson esque, I'd even say he is the GOAT for TEs regardless of longevity. Point being, it makes it tougher for Witten or Gates to get in when they were the 4th or 5th best TE to play this century, this past decade or two so far. I think it's pretty clear Gronk-Kelce-Tony G are above Gates and Witten.

It's goofy with the HoF because on one hand stats matter a ton. But on the other (and I'd argue this for Witten) there's guy's who stacked up a bunch of pretty good to good seasons but not great to elite, who just stuck around forever and accumulated top 5, top 10 stat lines for totals. Witten is 2nd for all TEs in yards all-time, 6th in TDs. He has the 2x All-pros. But I feel like he was just pretty good or very good for the majority of his career, not excellent. Hall of Very Good line, but no, he definitely deserves to get in.

[blackvodka]

Brees will get it.

Fitz too.

I'm thinking either Suggs or Kuechly can get in.

Witten has a chance. I'd say 50/50.

I wonder if Wayne or Holt can finally sneak in or will two wide outs be a no-go? I'll be curious to see how that unfolds.

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[blackvodka]

Darren Woodson or the kicker could also get it. Personally I don't think either will get it this year though.

Gore will get in next year or the following year. It will be strange but he will basically be punished this year for not having a really strong peak. He will get in though.

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[Grid]

Originally Posted by mike1498

I personally would take Suggs over Witten since 8th all time in sacks is more impressive to me than 21st all time in receiving yards.

Witten 21st all time when you include everyone else that has ever caught a ball.

Witten 7th All Time for Tight Ends. All 6 in front of him are either in the Hall, or will be First Ballot (Gronk & Kelce)

The 6 in front of him are in the Hall. The 6 behind him are in the Hall. He is also 6th all time for a TE in TDs.

If Gronk and Kelce never existed, Witten would be 1st ballot. But Gonzo and Gates were the best TEs in the 2000s. And Gronk and Kelce were the best in the 2010s when Witten was in there.

[Tea10]

Originally Posted by Grid

Witten 21st all time when you include everyone else that has ever caught a ball.

Witten 7th All Time for Tight Ends. All 6 in front of him are either in the Hall, or will be First Ballot (Gronk & Kelce)

The 6 in front of him are in the Hall. The 6 behind him are in the Hall. He is also 6th all time for a TE in TDs.

If Gronk and Kelce never existed, Witten would be 1st ballot. But Gonzo and Gates were the best TEs in the 2000s. And Gronk and Kelce were the best in the 2010s when Witten was in there.

Jason Witten is 2nd all-time for TE receiving yards

Kelce will pass him with a ~60 yard game this week, but he could retire and not pass Witten possibly. Witten is 6th in receiving TDs for TEs. 100% agree with the end, Gronk/Kelce are/were both just better players, the stats are similar enough, and they also were on dynasties with multiple SB rings.

[SethMurphy]

What I want

Eli Manning
Drew Brees
Larry Fitzgerald
Frank Gore
Adam Vinatieri

[88horsepower]

Torry Holt is so overdue it's ridiculous. To litigate the impact of his presence on the Rams would take so much time. There always seems to a logjam at wide receiver when it comes to the HOF. Holt, Wayne, and Fitz, among others, are all so deserving.

[49ersSF]

Originally Posted by Tea10

That's not accurate. Eli Manning has double Plunkett's career passing yardage. He's 11th all-time while Plunkett is 78th. Even with a difference in era that's a huge gap.

366 passing TDs to 264 INTs = Eli Manning
168 passing TDs to 198 INTs = Jim Plunkett

Not even close. Even if we want to roughly scale and extrapolate for era of 70s-80s vs early 2000s into 2010s. The stats here are wildly different. I'm not trying to champion Eli Manning here either, I think he should get in but he's a borderline case. Plenty of other QBs have done less too in terms of winning. Brees and Rodgers are lock 1st ballot and have 1 ring each and have choked in other playoff runs, the Giants sucked most of the time Eli was there and overall as a franchise have sucked this century.

Here is a breakdown of the career QB Ratings during each QB's era.

Eli's era

Rodgers 102.3
Brees 98.7
Brady 97.2
Romo 97.1
Peyton 96.5
Rivers 95.0
M.Ryan 93.6
Big Ben 93.5
Pennington 90.1
M. Shaub 89.5
C.Palmer 87.9
A.Smith 86.9
J.Cutler 85.3
Bulger 84.4
Flacco 84.1
E.Manning 84.1
M.Hasselback 82.4
R.Fitzpatrick 82.3

Plunkett's era

Staubach 83.4
K.Anderson 81.9
Tarkenton 80.4
Fouts 80.2
B.Jones 78.2
Theismann 77.4
Griese 77.1
Bartkowski 75.4
Stabler 75.3
Sipe 74.8
C. Morton 73.5
Jaworski 72.8
Bradshaw 70.9
L.Dickey 70.9
Grogan 69.6
Fergeson 68.4
R.Todd 67.6
Plunkett 67.5
A.Manning 67.1
J.Hart 66.6

Both Eli and Plunkett are in very similar positions when compared to quarterbacks of their era.

[blackvodka]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

Torry Holt is so overdue it's ridiculous. To litigate the impact of his presence on the Rams would take so much time. There always seems to a logjam at wide receiver when it comes to the HOF. Holt, Wayne, and Fitz, among others, are all so deserving.

I think Holt will get in soon. Wayne as well.

Steve Smith will be the interesting one to watch. He might be the WR left in HOF limbo. I think Hines Ward sneaks in over Smith.

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[packman80]

Originally Posted by blackvodka

I think Holt will get in soon. Wayne as well.

Steve Smith will be the interesting one to watch. He might be the WR left in HOF limbo. I think Hines Ward sneaks in over Smith.

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Hines Ward IMO is a guy who will only get in if the veteran committee puts him in as he won't ever get in as a modern player. He's a Hall of Very Good but not Hall of Fame IMO.

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

Torry Holt is so overdue it's ridiculous. To litigate the impact of his presence on the Rams would take so much time. There always seems to a logjam at wide receiver when it comes to the HOF. Holt, Wayne, and Fitz, among others, are all so deserving.

Isaac Bruce had to wait and he was better than Holt.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by 49ersSF

Here is a breakdown of the career QB Ratings during each QB's era.

Eli's era

Rodgers 102.3
Brees 98.7
Brady 97.2
Romo 97.1
Peyton 96.5
Rivers 95.0
M.Ryan 93.6
Big Ben 93.5
Pennington 90.1
M. Shaub 89.5
C.Palmer 87.9
A.Smith 86.9
J.Cutler 85.3
Bulger 84.4
Flacco 84.1
E.Manning 84.1
M.Hasselback 82.4
R.Fitzpatrick 82.3

Plunkett's era

Staubach 83.4
K.Anderson 81.9
Tarkenton 80.4
Fouts 80.2
B.Jones 78.2
Theismann 77.4
Griese 77.1
Bartkowski 75.4
Stabler 75.3
Sipe 74.8
C. Morton 73.5
Jaworski 72.8
Bradshaw 70.9
L.Dickey 70.9
Grogan 69.6
Fergeson 68.4
R.Todd 67.6
Plunkett 67.5
A.Manning 67.1
J.Hart 66.6

Both Eli and Plunkett are in very similar positions when compared to quarterbacks of their era.

Yep....the game changed a huge amount thanks to guys like Marino & Elway, as well as the fact that the rule-makers made it much more difficult to defend passing attacks.

For pretty much the last 25 years breathing on a QB or receiver has drawn a flag....that wasn't the case in the 70's/80's.

[88horsepower]

Originally Posted by Noles939913

Isaac Bruce had to wait and he was better than Holt.

He was overdue at the time he was elected, as well.

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

He was overdue at the time he was elected, as well.

He wasn’t even appreciated when he was playing lmao so it’s no surprise everyone forgot about him when he retired. He put up the following numbers in 1995 and wasn’t even selected for the Pro Bowl let alone being an All-Pro:

119 catches
1,781 yards
13 TDs

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by Noles939913

He wasn’t even appreciated when he was playing lmao so it’s no surprise everyone forgot about him when he retired. He put up the following numbers in 1995 and wasn’t even selected for the Pro Bowl let alone being an All-Pro:

119 catches
1,781 yards
13 TDs

Hard to compete with Herman Moore and Jerry rice that year but he did.