On Thursday, the NFL Hall-of-Fame Game kicks of in Canton, Ohio. It’s the perfect appetizer for the 2025 NFL Hall-of-Fame ceremony this Saturday. The 2025 Hall-of-Fame class will include Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe, but there are still some star-studded players waiting for their names to be called.
Below are 20 prominent players who, as of the Class of 2025, still do not own a gold jacket but have résumés that many analysts, fans, and even fellow players regard as Hall‑of‑Fame calibre.
Eli Manning
- Position: Quarterback
- Team(s): New York Giants (2004-19)
- Achievements: Two-time Super Bowl MVP; top-10 all-time in passing yards and touchdown passes; 210 consecutive regular-season starts
- HOF Notes: Not elected in his first year of eligibility (Class of 2025); reached the final 15 modern-era candidates but fell short of induction.
Rodney Harrison
- Position: Safety
- Team(s): San Diego Chargers (1994-2002), New England Patriots (2003-08)
- Achievements: Only player with 30 interceptions and 30 sacks; two-time Super Bowl champion; emotional leader of the early-2000s Patriots defense
- HOF Notes: Multiple-time semifinalist but has yet to advance to the finalist round as of the 2025 vote.
Darren Woodson
- Position: Safety
- Team(s): Dallas Cowboys (1992-2003)
- Achievements: Three-time first-team All-Pro; franchise’s all-time tackles leader; three Super Bowl rings in the 1990s dynasty
- HOF Notes: Frequently reaches the semifinal stage yet remains excluded from the modern-era finalist pool.
Adam Vinatieri
- Position: Kicker
- Team(s): New England Patriots (1996-2005), Indianapolis Colts (2006-19)
- Achievements: NFL career leader in points (2,673) and field goals (599); four Super Bowl titles; author of two iconic game-winning postseason kicks
- HOF Notes: Missed induction in the Class of 2025; expected to garner stronger support in future cycles.
Fred Taylor
- Position: Running Back
- Team(s): Jacksonville Jaguars (1998-2008), New England Patriots (2009-10)
- Achievements: 11,695 rushing yards (17th all-time at retirement); 4.6 yards per carry; seven 1,000-yard seasons despite limited national exposure
- HOF Notes: Two-time semifinalist who has not yet appeared among the 15 modern-era finalists.
Geno Atkins
- Position: Defensive Tackle
- Team(s): Cincinnati Bengals (2010-20)
- Achievements: Eight Pro Bowls; NFL 2010s All-Decade Team; 75.5 career sacks—elite production from an interior lineman
- HOF Notes: Becomes Hall-eligible with the Class of 2026 and is widely projected as a strong early-ballot candidate.
Vince Wilfork
- Position: Defensive Tackle
- Team(s): New England Patriots (2004-14), Houston Texans (2015-16)
- Achievements: Five Pro Bowls; two Super Bowl rings; dominant run-stuffer who anchored multiple top-five defenses
- HOF Notes: First eligible in 2022; has yet to advance beyond the semifinal list amid a crowded field of modern defenders.
James Harrison
- Position: Outside Linebacker
- Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers (2002-12, 2014-17), Cincinnati Bengals (2013), New England Patriots (2017)
- Achievements: 2008 Defensive Player of the Year; 100-yard pick-six—the longest play in Super Bowl history; five Pro Bowls
- HOF Notes: Eligible since 2023 but has yet to crack the list of modern-era finalists.
Terrell Suggs
- Position: OLB/Defensive End
- Team(s): Baltimore Ravens (2003-18), Arizona Cardinals (2019), Kansas City Chiefs (2019)
- Achievements: 139 career sacks; 2011 Defensive POY; Super Bowl XLVII champion; seven Pro Bowls
- HOF Notes: First-year finalist in 2025 but missed the final cut; will remain on the modern-era ballot.
London Fletcher
- Position: Middle Linebacker
- Team(s): St. Louis Rams (1998-2001), Buffalo Bills (2002-06), Washington (2007-13)
- Achievements: 2,039 tackles; 256 consecutive games (never missed one); Super Bowl XXXIV champion
- HOF Notes: Repeated semifinalist whose durability and production have yet to sway voters into a finalist berth.
Luke Kuechly
- Position: Middle Linebacker
- Team(s): Carolina Panthers (2012-19)
- Achievements: 2012 Defensive ROY; 2013 Defensive POY; seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pros in eight seasons
- HOF Notes: Debuted on the 2025 ballot as a finalist but was not selected; short career length remains a debate point.
Marshal Yanda
- Position: Guard/Tackle
- Team(s): Baltimore Ravens (2007-19)
- Achievements: Eight Pro Bowls; two first-team All-Pros; Super Bowl XLVII champion and consistently elite pass protector
- HOF Notes: First-ballot finalist in 2025 yet did not receive induction; figures to remain high on future ballots.
Jahri Evans
- Position: Guard
- Team(s): New Orleans Saints (2006-16), Green Bay Packers (2017)
- Achievements: Six Pro Bowls; four straight first-team All-Pros; cornerstone of Drew Brees’ record-setting offenses
- HOF Notes: Finalist in 2024 and 2025 but still waiting for the call to Canton.
Richmond Webb
- Position: Left Tackle
- Team(s): Miami Dolphins (1990-2000), Cincinnati Bengals (2001-02)
- Achievements: Seven consecutive Pro Bowls to start his career; two first-team All-Pros; member of the 1990s All-Decade Team
- HOF Notes: Long-time senior-era candidate who has yet to reach the finalist stage despite All-Decade credentials.
Willie Anderson
- Position: Right Tackle
- Team(s): Cincinnati Bengals (1996-2007), Baltimore Ravens (2008)
- Achievements: Four first-team All-Pros; neutralized elite edge rushers throughout the 2000s; pivotal in Corey Dillon’s rushing success
- HOF Notes: Three-time modern-era finalist (2022-24) but still awaiting enshrinement.
Anquan Boldin
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Team(s): Arizona Cardinals (2003-09), Baltimore Ravens (2010-12), San Francisco 49ers (2013-15), Detroit Lions (2016)
- Achievements: Offensive ROY; 1,076 receptions (top 10 all-time); Super Bowl XLVII champion noted for exceptional toughness
- HOF Notes: Multiple-year semifinalist; has not yet been advanced to finalist consideration.
Hines Ward
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2011)
- Achievements: Super Bowl XL MVP; 1,000-catch milestone; legendary down-field blocking prowess
- HOF Notes: Nine-time semifinalist who has yet to break through to the finalist round.
Steve Smith Sr.
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Team(s): Carolina Panthers (2001-13), Baltimore Ravens (2014-16)
- Achievements: 14,731 receiving yards (8th at retirement); 2005 receiving triple crown; five Pro Bowls plus early kick-return excellence
- HOF Notes: Semifinalist every year since becoming eligible in 2022 but still outside the finalist list.
Reggie Wayne
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Team(s): Indianapolis Colts (2001-14)
- Achievements: 14,345 receiving yards (10th all-time); 93 touchdowns; six Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl XLI ring
- HOF Notes: Five-time modern-era finalist (2020-25) yet remains short of the required 80 percent vote for induction.
Torry Holt
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Team(s): St. Louis Rams (1999-2008), Jacksonville Jaguars (2009)
- Achievements: Eight straight 1,100-yard seasons; seven Pro Bowls; key weapon of “The Greatest Show on Turf” and Super Bowl XXXIV champion
- HOF Notes: Six-time finalist whose sustained peak production makes him perhaps the most overdue selection on this list.
Predicting Who Is Next
With star‑studded first‑ballot newcomers such as Larry Fitzgerald and Drew Brees arriving in 2026, the Hall of Fame queue will only get longer. If selectors want to keep worthy modern‑era candidates from being lost in the shuffle, the 20 names above are a good place to start.
Comment below with who you think should be in!
