Worst NFL Hall of Famers
Bob Hayes was fast, but does he belong in Canton?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame requires four to eight candidates to be inducted each year. That’s known as a quota system, folks, and it’s a crummy way to determine the most prestigious individual honor in the game.
The system guarantees lots of revenue come induction time in Canton, Ohio, and what is the NFL about except money?
Problem is, not all eras are created equal. Some produce an abundance of worthy candidates who have to wait forever to gain admittance. Others have a shortage, and too many of them receive Hall passes based on politics and/or reputation, if not out of sheer desperation, rather than actual performance.
Like some of these players.
25. Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen rushed for 12,243 yards in his career.
Position: Running back
Career: 1982-97 (16 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs
Statistics/16 games: 260.1 RUSH-PASS TOUCHES, 4.9 YDS/TOUCH, 10.5 TDS
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1983)
Year inducted: 2003
Bottom line: Had head executioner Tom Flores not called his number until the wheels wobbled, the one-time league Most Valuable Player almost certainly would have produced more than three Hall of Fame-caliber seasons.
In 1985 alone, he touched the ball an insane 472 times from scrimmage, playoffs included. That’s nearly 28 per game. Remember, he was only 6-foot-2, 210 pounds.
Allen survived a dozen more seasons, but he wasn’t close to his once-dominant self again.
24. Joe Namath
Joe Namath completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards against the Colts in Super Bowl III.
Positions: Quarterback
Career: 1965-77 (13 seasons)
Teams: New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams
AFL-NFL statistics/16 games: 3,161.5 YDS, .501 CMP%, 19.8 TDS
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1968)
Year inducted: 1985
Bottom line: Who can forget Super Bowl III, the epic encounter that legitimized the AFL-NFL merger, when the playboy quarterback guaranteed victory, then threw four touchdown passes? Wait — he didn’t throw any? Oh.
Sadly, we rarely saw the real "Joe Willie" because of his two bum knees. Stats-wise, he was the definition of average — 62-63-4 record, .501 pass completion percentage.
He’s one of the first inductees in the Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Hall of Fame.
23. Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung ran for 3,711 yards in his career.
Positions: Halfback-fullback-placekicker
Career: 1957-62, 1964-66 (9 seasons)
Teams: Green Bay Packers
Statistics/16 games: 157.4 RUSH-PASS TOUCHES, 5.1 YDS/TOUCH, 9.5 TDS
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 5 — 4 NFL (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966), 1 Super Bowl (1966)
Year inducted: 1986
Bottom line: At 26, "The Golden Boy" was on a Hall of Fame path. He scored 322 points (in 24 games) in the 1960-61 seasons alone.
Yet because of hip/knee/neck injuries, frequent early-morning forays and a one-year suspension, he never came close to that standard thereafter.
The one-time league MVP failed to gain as many as 1,000 total yards in any season.
22. Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler threw for 27,938 yards in his career.
Positions: Quarterback
Career: 1970-84 (15 seasons)
Teams: Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
Statistics/16 games: 2,429.4 YDS, .598 CMP%, 16.9 TDS
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1977)
Year inducted: 2016
Bottom line: The "Snake" was inducted on the strength of four peak seasons and one Super Bowl title in his late 20s-early 30s, but it had more to do with the Raiders' mystique than anything.
Per Football Reference, names such as Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, Ron Jaworski and Norm Snead appear on the list of quarterbacks with the highest similarity scores to Kenny Stabler, the ultimate rebel/leader.
But only three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman has a bust in Canton among them.
21. Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann caught 51 touchdown passes in his career.
Positions: Wide receiver
Career: 1974-82 (9 seasons)
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
Statistics/16 games: 46.3 REC , 16.3 YDS/REC, 7.0 TDS
Super Bowl titles: 4 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Year inducted: 2001
Bottom line: Swaaaaan-ny, how we love you ... in the postseason. His Super Bowl X MVP performance belongs in the Smithsonian for sure. It’s those regular-season numbers that fall short of Hall of Fame standards, though, largely because of four wasted seasons in a run-heavy offense.
When the rules became far more pass-friendly, his performance went to another level, but he didn’t play long enough to pad his stats.
We’ve got a better place for him — the Super Bowl Hall of Fame.
20. Ray Nitschke
Ray Nitschke (66) won two Super Bowls with the Packers.
Positions: Linebacker
Career: 1958-72 (15 seasons)
Teams: Green Bay Packers
Career statistics: 190 G, 25 INT, 23 FR
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 5 — 4 NFL (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966), 1 Super Bowl (1966)
Year inducted: 1978
Bottom line: This may come as a shocker, but "Wildman" played in all of two Pro Bowl games. He was All-Pro one time.
Then again, he had to contend with Dick Butkus, Joe Schmidt, Sam Huff and Tommy Nobis in a decade that was loaded at the middle linebacker position.
If Ray Nitschke had kicked butt with a good team and not a dynasty, would he be in Canton? Discuss.
19. Russ Grimm
Russ Grimm was a four-time Pro Bowler.
Positions: Guard-center
Career: 1981-91 (11 seasons)
Teams: Washington Redskins
Career statistics: 140 G, 7 FR
Super Bowl titles: 3 (1982, 1987, 1991)
Year inducted: 2010
Bottom line: This Hog had four stellar seasons in the Redskins' glory days.
By the time Russ Grimm turned 28 years old, however, a damaged left knee had reduced him to part-time status.
So if he has a bust in Canton, Ohio, then why not teammate Joe Jacoby, too? The tackle played longer and about as well.
18. Tom Fears
Tom Fears had 400 receptions for 5,397 yards and 38 touchdowns in his career.
Positions: Offensive-defensive end-placekicker
Career: 1948-56 (9 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Rams
Statistics/16 games: 73.6 REC , 13.5 YDS/REC, 7.0 TDS
NFL titles: 1 (1951)
Year inducted: 1970
Bottom line: Tom Fears got to Canton on the strength of two sensational seasons and a 73-yard game-winner in the 1951 NFL Championship Game.
In 1949, he led the league in pass and touchdown receptions. One year later, he set a league record with 84 catches and made his only Pro Bowl appearance. But he flamed out quickly, partly because of contract disputes, partly because of two fractured vertebrae.
If extended excellence is part of the criteria for Canton, then he falls short of the mark.
17. Frank Gatski
Frank Gatski was nicknamed "Gunner."
Positions: Center
Career: 1950-57 (8 seasons)
Teams: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions
Career statistics: 144 G, 3 FR
NFL titles: 4 (1950, 1954, 1955, 1957)
Year inducted: 1985
Bottom line: The longtime bodyguard for quarterback Otto Graham spent his prime in the old All-America Football Conference, an exceptional pass-blocker in a run-dominated era.
Frank Gatski was 33 when he was selected NFL All-Pro for the first of three times, 37 when he played in his only Pro Bowl game.
Twenty-eight years after retirement, he was inducted as a senior member. Hmmmmm.
16. Ace Parker
Clarence "Ace" Parker won the NFL's MVP award in 1940.
Positions: Quarterback-tailback-defensive back-kick returner-punter-placekicker
Career: 1937-41, 1945-46 (7 seasons)
Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants
Statistics/16 games: 1,105.4 PASS YARDS, .467 PASS COMP PCT, 7.1 PASS TDS
NFL titles: None
Year inducted: 1970
Bottom line: Among oldtimers, the 1940 MVP is a frequent pick as one of the top 10 quarterbacks of the pre-World War II era. Really, how can anyone not like a player named Ace?
Yet he led the league in only one major category (pass yards) and played with a bunch of ordinary teams. We’ve got him in the Nickname Hall of Fame.
Ace fun fact: He was the first NFL player to live to be 100.
15. Fred Dean
Fred Dean played 141 games in his career.
Positions: Defensive end
Career: 1975-85 (11 seasons)
Teams: San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers
Career statistics: 141 G, 13 FR, 28.0 SK (incomplete)
Super Bowl titles: 2 (1981, 1984)
Year inducted: 2008
Bottom line: Because sack totals are unavailable for his prime seasons, it’s difficult to gauge the dominance of this pass-rush specialist.
Save for the 1981 season, when Fred Dean helped lead the Niners to a Super Bowl victory after a contract dispute prompted a late-season trade, his Average Value numbers weren’t overly impressive.
What’s more, durability was an issue throughout his career — he started every game in only one season. Of the 10 players most similar in size and quality, none is a Hall of Famer at the moment.
14. Dave Robinson
Dave Robinson (89) played his college ball at Penn State.
Positions: Linebacker
Career: 1963-74 (12 seasons)
Teams: Green Bay Packers
Career statistics: 155 G, 27 INT, 12 FR
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 5 — 3 NFL (1965, 1966, 1967), 2 Super Bowl (1966, 1967)
Year inducted: 2013
Bottom line: The linebacker position is a toughie for Hall of Fame voters, what with the slew of candidates there.
The vast majority deserve to be in Canton more than Robinson, whose Average Value met the standard in only two seasons.
There is a David Robinson who is Hall-worthy. Just not this one.
13. John Henry Johnson
John Henry Johnson ran for 6,803 yards in his career.
Positions: Fullback-halfback
Career: 1948-56 (9 seasons)
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers
AFL-NFL statistics/16 games: 196.6 RUSH-PASS TOUCHES, 4.7 YDS/TOUCH, 6.2 TDS
AFL/NFL titles: 1 (1957)
Year inducted: 1987
Bottom line: In his prime years, J.H.J. was stuck behind future Hall of Famers Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry in the so-called "Million Dollar Backfield."
It wasn’t until he landed in Pittsburgh that his career took off at 31 years of age. The golden oldie produced a pair of remarkable 1,000-plus-yard seasons, but by then, it was too late to put up impressive career numbers.
He deserves to be in the 30-and-Over Hall of Fame, though.
12. Dave Wilcox
Dave Wilcox played in 153 career games.
Positions: Linebacker
Career: 1964-74 (11 seasons)
Teams: San Francisco 49ers
Career statistics: 153 G, 14 INT, 12 FR
NFL/Super Bowl titles: None
Year inducted: 2000
Bottom line: "The Intimidator" was more aggressive than a hungry hippo, tougher than butt steak.
He also was a notch below Bobby Bell, Jack Ham and Ted Hendricks at the strong-side position.
All were picked ahead of him for the 1970s All-Decade Team honors.
11. Charlie Sanders
Charlie Sanders scored 31 touchdowns in his career.
Positions: Tight end
Career: 1968-77 (10 seasons)
Teams: Detroit Lions
Statistics/16 games: 42.0 REC, 14.3 YDS/REC, 3.9 TDS
NFL/Super Bowl titles: None
Year inducted: 2007
Bottom line: True, Charlie Sanders was a Pro Bowler in seven of his 10 seasons. He also was a willing, if not robust, blocker. Fact is, "Charlie Deep" was the best of a shallow pool of tight ends at a time when Mike Ditka and John Mackey were near the end of the line.
Sanders never won more than 10 games, never caught more than 42 balls, and only once gained more than 544 yards in a season.
In his only playoff appearance, he was blanked in a 5-0 stinker against the Cowboys in Dallas. That’s not a typo — 5-zip. Does any of this scream "Hall of Famer!" to you?
10. Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud made 373 field goals in his career.
Positions: Placekicker
Career: 1967-85 (19 seasons)
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Career statistics/16 games: 22.7 FG, .668 FG PCT
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1969)
Year inducted: 1991
Bottom line: The Norwegian side-winder had three stellar seasons early in his career. Well, so did a lot of other players.
Truth is, Jan Stenerud maxed out after his only All-Pro season. That was never more apparent than in the 1971 AFC championship game, when he bricked three field goals in a double-overtime loss.
On Christmas Day, no less.
9. Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes caught 371 passes in his career.
Positions: Split end
Career: 1965-75 (11 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers
Statistics/16 games: 45.0 REC, 20.0 YDS/REC, 8.6 TDS
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1971)
Year inducted: 2009
Bottom line: He was called the "World’s Fastest Human," but the "NFL’s Biggest Candy Butt" was more like it.
The guy had a habit of disappearing in big games such as the 1967 Ice Bowl, for instance. While his teammates played their hearts out in Arctic conditions, "Bullet Bob" went through the motions with his hands in his pants. Literally.
Although Hayes caught two passes in Super Bowl VI, George Andrie, Dan Reeves and the rest of the Cowboys deserved better.
8. Dick LeBeau
Dick LeBeau played his entire career with the Detroit Lions.
Positions: Cornerback-safety
Career: 1959-72 (14 seasons)
Teams: Detroit Lions
Career statistics: 185 G, 62 INT, 9 FR
NFL/Super Bowl titles: None
Year inducted: 2010
Bottom line: The three-time Pro Bowler deserves a place in Canton, just not as a player.
Dick LeBeau's 62 interceptions ranked third in league history at the time of his retirement, but they came with an asterisk. Nearly half (28) were with Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train" Lane at the other side of the field. Rather than test their luck against one of the best cover cornerbacks ever, opponents picked on LeBeau often.
Yet let’s not forget that he went on to become one of the best defensive coordinators of his era. That, coupled with his accomplishments as a player, makes him Hall of Fame worthy.
7. Emmitt Thomas
Emmitt Thomas intercepted 58 passes in his career.
Positions: Cornerback-kickoff returner
Career: 1965-75 (11 seasons)
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
Career statistics: 181 G, 58 INT, 7 FR
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1969)
Year inducted: 2008
Bottom line: If the Hall of Fame is so big on quotas, why does the 1969 Chiefs defense have six representatives in Canton — two linemen, two linebackers and two defensive backs? Six, people!
By comparison, the far more dominant "Steel Curtain" Steelers have a mere four members. Emmitt Thomas was often very good, but he wasn’t an all-time great.
You, too, Curley Culp.
6. Charlie Joiner
Charlie Joiner had 750 receptions in his career.
Positions: Wide receiver
Career: 1969-86 (18 seasons)
Teams: Houston Oilers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers
Statistics/16 games: 50.2 REC , 16.2 YDS/REC, 4.4 TDS
Super Bowl titles: None
Year inducted: 1996
Bottom line: When someone plays in three decades and doesn’t lead the league in a single category even once, it sets off air-raid sirens.
Truth is, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts put this guy in Canton. It wasn’t until the late-bloomer was dealt to the Chargers that he became a consistent threat in his early 30s.
5. Ray Guy
Ray Guy averaged 42.4 yards per punt.
Positions: Punter
Career: 1973-86 (14 seasons)
Teams: Oakland Raiders
Career statistics/16 games: 81.8 PUNT , 42.4 YDS/PUNT
Super Bowl titles: 2 (1980, 1983)
Year inducted: 2014
Bottom line: I'm convinced that Curt Gowdy had more to do with his Hall of Fame induction than anyone. Seriously, the NBC broadcaster couldn’t go more than 15 minutes without some mention of Ray Guy's hang time.
Except that 75 players own a better career mark than Guy and his 42.4-yard average, and, yes, a few even had — wait for it — hang time!
See, I got nothing against punters in Canton. I just got something against very-good-but-not-great ones there.
4. Tony Canadeo
Tony Canadeo rushed for 4,197 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career.
Positions: Halfback-tailback-kick returner-punter
Career: 1941-44, 1946-52 (12 seasons)
Teams: Green Bay Packers
NFL statistics/16 games: 150.9 RUSH-PASS TOUCHES, 4.4 YDS/TOUCH, 4.3 TDS
NFL titles: 1 (1944)
Year inducted: 1974
Bottom line: The first Packer to rush for 1,000 yards in a season wasn’t particularly big or strong or athletic. Rather, Tony Canadeo was a grinder who did a lot of things well but none of them great.
While not in the class of Charlie Trippi, Steve Van Buren and Doak Walker as a pure runner, "The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga" did have one of the best nicknames of his time.
3. Elvin Bethea
Elvin Bethea played in 210 NFL games.
Positions: Defensive end
Career: 1968-83 (16 seasons)
Teams: Houston Oilers
Career statistics: 210 G, 16 FR, 1.0 SK (incomplete)
Super Bowl titles: None
Year inducted: 2003
Bottom line: The Oilers' lifer was one of the bright lights with mostly average-to-really-crummy teams.
Of the 10 players Elvin Bethea compares to most in his career, not one is in the Hall of Fame.
He’s among the many who belong in the Hall of Very Good, not the Hall of Fame.
2. Jackie Smith
What might have been for Jackie Smith and the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII.
Positions: Tight end
Career: 1963-78 (16 seasons)
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys
Statistics/16 games: 36.6 REC, 16.5 YDS/REC, 3.0 TDS
NFL/Super Bowl titles: None
Year inducted: 1994
Bottom line: Jackie Smith caught as many as 50 balls and scored more than four touchdowns in only one season.
He’s also the only Hall of Famer best known for a gaffe — the muffed pass that hit him squarely between the "8" and the "1" in Super Bowl XIII yet somehow bounced off his chest to the ground.
"Bless his heart — he’s got to be the sickest man in America," Cowboys broadcaster Verne Lundquist shared his pain.
No, Verne, I almost puked the day this guy joined trendsetters Mike Ditka and John Mackey in Canton.
1. Red Badgro
Red Badgro played 94 games in his career.
Positions: Offense-defensive end
Career: 1927-36 (10 seasons)
Teams: New York Giants
Statistics/16 games: 6.0 REC, 16.0 YDS/REC, 1.2 TDS
NFL titles: None
Year inducted: 1981
Bottom line: By all accounts, Morris "Red" Badgro was a solid two-way player in the leather helmet days.
He led the league in pass receptions (16) one year and scored the first touchdown in an NFL Championship Game before his retirement after the 1936 season.
Nearly a half-century elapsed before the 78-year-old became the oldest player to gain Hall of Fame induction. What did he do to convince the senior committee exactly?
Improve his 100-yard dash time? Excel in the cone drills test? Did someone discover dozens of touchdowns that he didn’t receive credit for decades earlier?
Uh, can we get a little help here, please?
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