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The biggest NFL Hall of Fame snubs as Class of 2025 gets set to be announced
Earning a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the sport’s greatest individual honour.
Ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl LIX, the Class of 2025 will be announced on Thursday evening when a shortlist of 15 modern-era finalists will be narrowed down to five or fewer former players, who will receive their gold jackets.
The full list of finalists is as follows: Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs, Fred Taylor, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, Darren Woodson and Marshal Yanda.
At least ten of these players won’t get the knock and will have to wait for inclusion, but what are the biggest snubs in Hall of Fame history? DAZN News takes a look at the best players to miss out (not including this year’s finalists).
Ken Anderson - Quarterback, Bengals, 1971-1986
Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
While it might be a stretch to say Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense may never have existed without Ken Anderson, the former Bengals QB played a significant part in its proof of concept.
Anderson excelled under Walsh’s innovative system in Cincinnati before the coach moved to the San Francisco 49ers and enjoyed years of success with Joe Montana. But Anderson was the NFL MVP in 1981 and would lead the league twice in passing yards and completions, ending his career with four Pro Bowl call-ups, one first-team All Pro berth and the Bengals all-time leading passing records.
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Roger Craig - Running back, 49ers, Raiders, Vikings, 1983-1993
The Hall of Fame has historically been kind to running backs, but the omission of Roger Craig is one the institution’s most egregious subs.
Craig changed the way the position was played when he became the first player in NFL history to earn 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season in 1985 (only Marshall Faulk and Cristian McCaffrey have matched that feat since). That was a year in which he earned one of his three Super Bowl rings with the 49ers, becoming the first player to score three touchdowns in the big game when the Maimi Dolphins were seen off in Super Bowl XIX.
Sterling Sharpe - Wide reciever, Packers (1988-94)
The former Packers wideout has probably paid the price for seeing his career cut short by injury, but he did enough in his seven NFL seasons to earn a spot in Canton.
A three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro-Bowler, he led the league in catches three times and quickly became Brett Farve’s favourite target, helping set the stage for the Packers’ success in the ‘90s before a neck injury got the better of him.
Jim Plunkett - Quarterback, Patriots, 49ers, Raiders (1971-86)
For narrative’s sake, Jim Plunkett deserves to be in the Hall.
A former number one defeat pick, Plunkett’s career looked to be derailing thanks to his place on some of the ‘70s worst teams before he headed to Oakland in 1978 as a 32-year-old ready to serve as a backup.
But injuries saw him earn a shot at the starter position as Plunkett would lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl XV title in 1980, when he was named the game’s MVP. Three years later, it happened again, as he went from backup to starter as the Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII.
No other player has won two Super Bowls as a starter and not been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Hines Ward - Wide reciever, Steelers (1998-2011)
Recent years have seen a logjam at the wide reciever position, as a host of worthy pass catchers have been made to wait. Just look at this year’s finalists, as Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne and Steve Smith are all worthy candidates, but are unlikely to all get the nod.
This is partly down to the changing nature of the NFL and the evolution of the passing game, but former Steelers wideout Hines Ward can feel hard done by that he’s not yet got the nod.
No Steeler has more receptions, yards or touchdowns than Ward, who took home the Super Bowl MVP award in 2005 and added a second ring three years later. A constant physical threat, Ward made the Pro Bowl four times and ranks eighth in career playoff receiving yards, which seemingly ticks every box that the voters have.
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