Pro Footballs Hall of Fame Class 2021

I look at the eight men due to be enshrined into Canton, Ohio and live on in NFL history forever.

On the 6th February, during the NFL Honours award ceremony, eight men were fortunate enough to be selected to the NFL Hall of Fame class of 2021.

The Hall of Fame has multiple categories within it, ranging from modern era, coach, contributor, and senior categories.

It may be cliché to write about a list that contains some of the best players to ever grace the gridiron (or downright obvious I admit) but the list of 2021 finalists, fifteen players in total, was amazing. It's years like this where they should just remove the limit of who can go in at any one time, because I believe you can make a case that there were more "snubs" than usual; Torry Holt, Clay Matthews Jr, and Richard Seymour to name but a few were all more than deserving to make it in this year too. Having said that, it just makes the newest members that much more of a legendary bunch, so here's a little information on the Hall of Fame class of 2021.

Peyton Manning

In what was one of the biggest no brainers of all time, "The Sherriff" became a first ballot hall of famer, of which the committee who votes on said entrants, took all of about 13 seconds to decide on. Manning doesn't need much of an introduction, being one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998, he played eighteen seasons, two hundred an sixty-six games, winning five (FIVE!) regular season MVP awards and two Super Bowls (going to four). Honestly, you could write an entire article about Manning's accolades in his career, however to sum it up, one of the top five quarterbacks of all time made it into Canton Ohio on their first try… who would have thought?

The least surprising newest entrant into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Peyton Manning.

Alan Faneca

It's usually quite a difficult task to grade just how good someone is who plays along the offensive line, unless you like to study a guy's base blocking skills or how good his initial kick step is when in pass protection; usually they're the "big fat guys" who either run people over or stop their franchise quarterback getting killed.

A first round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, also in the 1998 draft, Guard Alan Faneca missed only one game in his entire career, being named First Team All-Pro six times in his thirteen year career, going to nine pro bowls and winning Super Bowl XL.

Faneca also piled up stats you don't see; leading the way in the run game, blocking for teams which finished top ten in rushing yards eleven out of his thirteen seasons and was named as part of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000's.

You did not want to be in the way when Alan Faneca came running downhill.

Calvin Johnson

Johnson, also known as "Megatron" in his playing days, was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in 2007 and was as dominant as any wide receiver has been in the league. Although his career was relatively short (playing for eight seasons) Johnson put up monster numbers throughout, including an NFL record for most receiving yards in a season (1,964) which still stands. As well as putting up the numbers, his presence on the field could not be ignored, whether being bracketed or double covered it didn't matter; Megatron was usually the lone bright spot on some terrible Detroit Lions teams (being on an 0-16 team in 2007). Considering how early Johnson retired and how bad those Lions' teams were, you do wonder just how much better he could have been, making his enshrinement into the Hall of Fame that much more impressive.

One of the many reasons "Megatron" is in the Hall of Fame; three defenders weren't even enough to stop him.

Charles Woodson

Drafted fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders, Charles Woodson made an immediate impact, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1998 and then went one better, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.

He also led the NFL in interceptions, with nine in 2009 and seven in 2011. A Super Bowl finalist twice (losing 48-21 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, but winning Super Bowl XLV 31-25 over the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010).

Woodson is tied for first with Darren Sharper, with 13 defensive touchdowns and only one of two players (the other being Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen) to win the Heisman Trophy, Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title.

The All-Pro Safety also has one of the best motivational lines in recent NFL history. The 2010 NFC Championship game was between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears (Barrack Obama's hometown team). The former President stated he would attend the Super Bowl if his Bears won. After the game finished, in which the Packers won, President Obama said he would no longer be attending the Super Bowl. Woodson, addressing the team in the locker room said "If the President doesn't want to come and watch the Super Bowl… We'll go see him" to an eruption of cheers. Love it.

Woodson playing for the Green Bay Packers, where he won Super Bowl XLV.

John Lynch

The now General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers, John Lynch was a 3rd round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993. Lynch would be the first of many vital additions to the Bucs' defence which would soon take over the rest of the league, on their way to a rout of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.

Voted to nine Pro Bowls and three All-Pros, he left for the Denver Broncos in free agency in 2004 where he helped them reach the AFC Championship game in 2005. Overall he finished with 26 interceptions, 13 sacks and more than 1,000 tackles. Truly the definition of a hard hitting safety.

He is also well known for calling out the Oakland Raiders' most effective play that season, the "Sluggo Seam". During the Super Bowl, Lynch's knowledge and recognition of the play helped the Buccaneers secure a Super Bowl record five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

John Lynch was one of the hardest hitting players in the league and is now General Manager of the 49ers.

Tom Flores

The sole head coach for the Hall of Fame class of 2021; Tom Flores lead the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in only his second season at the helm, after spending seven seasons as an assistant with them. He would then go on to win Super Bowl XVIII with the Los Angeles Raiders 38-9 over the then Washington Redskins.

Flores was named the AFC Coach of the Year in 1982 and more importantly, was the first minority head coach to win a Super Bowl. His 83 wins are second in franchise history, behind only the legend that is John Madden.

Tom Flores being carried onto the field after winning Super Bowl XI.

Drew Pearson An undrafted free agent who was signed by the Cowboys in 1973, retired at the time, as the all-time leader in receptions (489) and receiving yards (7,822) and was a part of the Super Bowl winning team in 1977, when the Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII. You may also know Drew Pearson as the recipient of the first ever "Hail Mary" pass, where he caught a 50 yard pass from Roger Staubach against the Minnesota Vikings in the 1975 Divisional playoff game.

Even though he made three Super Bowl appearances over his career and being the epitome of a "big game player" (with 1,131 yards and 8 touchdowns in his 22 post season games) Pearson is the last person from the NFL All-Decade team of the 1970s to make it into the Hall of Fame and I believe his enshrinement is very much overdue.

Pearson is the last player from the All-Decade team of the 1970s to be selected for the Hall of Fame.

Bill Nunn

Originally starting out as a sportswriter and managing editor of The Pittsburgh Currier, Bill Nunn was credited with helping create the Pittsburgh Steelers' dynasty of the 1970s; drafting John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, and Jack Lambert to name but a few.

As both a Senior Scout and Assistant Director of Player Personnel, the Steelers won six Super Bowl appearances (IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL and XLIII); whilst developing relationships and gaining increased knowledge around both players and coaches in Historically Black Colleges.

Nunn was enshrined into the Steelers' Hall of Honour in 2018, four years after passing away at the age of 89. He will now be immortalised forever in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The late Bill Nunn helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win six Super Bowls between the 1970s and 2000s.

So there you have it; the eight gentlemen who will be introduced into the Hall of Fame on 8th August 2021. Do you think these were the right choices out of the fifteen finalists selected? Let me know in the comments below.