Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Via Email from the HOF:

15 Modern-Era Players announced as Finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023


Fifteen former standouts in the National Football League have reached the doorstep of enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the announcement Wednesday night of the Finalists in the Modern-Era Player category for the Hall’s Class of 2023.

Comprising the Class of 2023’s Modern-Era list of candidates are 10 players who reached this stage in the selection process when the Class of 2022 was chosen, three players in their first year of eligibility and two players who are Finalists for the first time after a combined 35 years of eligibility.

The players, along with their positions, years and teams are:

Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dwight Freeney, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions
Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens
Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
Albert Lewis, Cornerback – 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Darrelle Revis, Cornerback – 2007-2012 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle – 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Patrick Willis, Linebacker – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

Honestly, it's tough to find a total of 10 guys that I'd consider to be in the same class as HOFs from the past. Maybe that's just me at the "Get off my lawn!" stage.

First glance, I'd put in Jared Allen, Albert Lewis, Andre Johnson, DeMarcus Ware, Torry Holt, Joe Thomas and Revis. Maybe Freeney. Maybe Willis.

Reggie Wayne would be another maybe guy for me as well. I have thought of him as a possible HOFer in the past.

Class Of 2023

Modern Wishlist

Woodson
Ware
Lewis
Z Thomas
R Barber

Prediction

J Thomas
Z Thomas
Ware
Allen
R Barber

Zach Thomas was a really good player. Certainly at least HOVG, IMO.

The player I'm most confident will get in is Andre Johnson. That's just my hunch. DeMarcus Ware is highly likely I think as well.

going to give it a shot

Jared Allen

Ronde Barber

Albert Lewis

Reavis Island

Joe Thomas

My uneducated guess as to what will happen:
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
Darrelle Revis, Cornerback – 2007-2012 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle – 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos
Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

Ken Crippen wrote:My uneducated guess as to what will happen:
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
Darrelle Revis, Cornerback – 2007-2012 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle – 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos
Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

Whoa! "Uneducated" and you're running the Football Learning Academy??

Be proud of that degree you got from Trump University (mine only cost two boxtops and a quarter!)

Which five would you vote in Richard?

Brian---
J Thomas, Ware, R Barber, Z Thomas, Woodson. I know I'm in the minority here, but I'd like to see Hester in. Always had a soft spot for return guys.