An extraordinary number of NFL stars have retired this offseason, which could leave us with one hell of a debate regarding the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Here’s a rundown of who has retired one month into the offseason, along with a look at their Hall of Fame chances:
1. Peyton Manning
Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos
Claim to fame: Walks away as the league’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Also won a record five MVPs, went to 14 Pro Bowls and four Super Bowls (winning two). Some think he is the best quarterback ever.
Hurting his chances: Now that he has a second title, nothing — unless far-fetched HGH allegations somehow creep up and haunt him a la Roger Clemens.
When he’ll be inducted: 2021 (first ballot)
Why: Because he’s Peyton freakin’ Manning.
2. Charles Woodson
Defensive back, Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers
Claim to fame: The nine-time Pro Bowler was effective as both a cornerback and safety over the course of an 18-year career. He retired ranked tied for fifth all time with 65 interceptions, which in today’s era is insane. No active players have more than 43.
Hurting his chances: This is a stretch, but it’s a little surprising he was a first-team All-Pro in just three of his 18 seasons.
When he’ll be inducted: 2021 (first ballot)
Why: He experienced immense success individually as well as on a team level, he played two different positions at an All-Pro level and he scored 13 non-offensive touchdowns over the course of a long, consistent career. He deserves to be a first-ballot guy alongside Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott.
3. Calvin Johnson
Wide receiver, Detroit Lions
Claim to fame: Ranks second in history with 86.1 receiving yards per game, and his 1,964 receiving yards in 2012 is by far the highest single-season total in NFL history. Six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, despite playing less than a decade.
Hurting his chances: He played only nine seasons and thus ranks outside of the top 20 in terms of catches, yards and touchdowns. He also never won a playoff game.
When he’ll be inducted: 2022
Why: Jerry Rice is the only wide receiver in the last 30 years to be inducted on the first ballot and there’s a bit of a logjam at that position. With such a deep class in 2021, I’m betting Johnson — who experienced no team success and lacked career longevity — will have to wait a year or two.
4. Marshawn Lynch
Running back, Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks
— Marshawn Lynch (@MoneyLynch) February 8, 2016
Claim to fame: He helped carry the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls while earning a reputation as one of the best playoff performers. Lynch, Thurman Thomas and Terrell Davis are the only backs in NFL history with four 130-yard rushing performances in the playoffs. Oh, and this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPcfkxmhS_A
Hurting his chances: He played only six relatively healthy, full seasons.
When he’ll be inducted: 2030
Why: Terrell Davis had a very similar career, and yet Davis has been waiting nearly two decades. However, Davis was a finalist in 2016. I doubt Lynch will have to wait as long as Davis (his cumulative stats are stronger), but running backs have been devalued so much that he might not get the recognition he deserves until guys like Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman retire and we start reflecting on just how good these Seahawks were.
5. Jared Allen
Defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers
Claim to fame: He retires as the league’s active sack leader and is tied for ninth on the all-time sack list with 136. He’s one of only four players ever to record 22 or more sacks in a season, having fallen just a half-sack short of Michael Strahan’s record of 22.5 in 2011.
Hurting his chances: He won just two playoff games and recorded four postseason sacks during his 12-year career, never winning a championship. He’s also been arrested for DUI three times.
When he’ll be inducted: 2032
Why: Each of the seven HOF-eligible players ahead of him on the all-time sack list have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, but all of them except Bruce Smith and Reggie White had to wait, some of them for many years. If Charles Haley, Richard Dent, Chris Doleman and Kevin Greene all spent more than a decade on the outside looking in, Allen might end up in the same boat. It surely doesn’t hurt that he has a 22-sack season under his belt, but that didn’t seem to help Strahan when he first became eligible.
6. Logan Mankins
Guard, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Claim to fame: He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a key cog in New England for years.
Hurting his chances: Fourteen HOF-eligible players aren’t in the Hall of Fame despite making as many Pro Bowls as Mankins, who was a first-team All-Pro just once and failed to win a Super Bowl.
When he’ll be inducted: Never
Why: He was a top-tier guard for half a decade, but he was never the best and the sample size just isn’t large enough. Throw in a lack of championships given how many guys in New England have won them over the years and there’s no way.
7. Justin Tuck
Defensive end, New York Giants and Oakland Raiders
Claim to fame: If they handed out defensive MVP awards in the Super Bowl, he’d have two of them. The man was an absolute force when the Giants slayed the Patriots in 2007 and 2011, recording four sacks. They don’t win either game without him.
Hurting his chances: He finished with just 66.5 career sacks, ranking 89th all time.
When he’ll be inducted: Never
Why: You can’t make the Hall of Fame on two incredible games. He did some nice things but had just four seasons with double-digit sacks and made the Pro Bowl just twice.
