NEW ORLEANS – Take a bow, Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe.
You’re now forever on the ultimate team that honors greatness.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its Class of 2025 during the NFL Honors program at the Saenger Theatre on Thursday night with a nod to exclusivity. It’s the smallest Hall of Fame class in 20 years.
Not making the cut: Eli Manning.
The former New York Giants quarterback, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, was bypassed by the 49-member selection committee along with other first-ballot finalists Terrell Suggs, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Marshal Yanda. Coaching finalist Mike Holmgren and other distinguished long-time finalists, including Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, are also forced to wait at least another year.
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Still, there’s no disputing the credentials of the four who will be enshrined on August 2 in Canton, Ohio:
• Sharpe, chosen as a seniors finalist in his 26th year of eligibility, joins his brother Shannon to form the first Hall of Fame brother duo in history. The former Green Bay Packers receiver, whose career was cut short after seven seasons because of a neck injury, was an All-Decade selection for the 1990s who led the NFL in receptions three times (including a then-NFL record 112 catches in 1993) and topped 1,000 yards five times.
• Gates, who owns the NFL mark for career touchdown receptions by a tight end (116), earned Pro Bowl honors for eight consecutive seasons (2004-2011) and earned five All-Pro selections during a 16-year career with the San Diego Chargers. He was an All-Decade choice for the 2000s. He was also a surprising first-ballot omission last year.
• Jared Allen, a four-time first-team All-Pro defensive end, ranks 12th on the NFL’s all-time list with 136 sacks. A five-time finalist, he led the league in sacks twice – once during his four-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, then again during his six-year stay with the Minnesota Vikings. He also has a share of the NFL record with four safeties during a 12-year career that also included stints with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.
• Eric Allen, who played the first seven campaigns of his 14-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, was a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback. He notched 54 interceptions (tied for 21st all-time), including eight returned for touchdowns. In 1993, he led the league with four pick-sixes. Allen also played three seasons with the New Orleans Saints and four campaigns with the Oakland Raiders. He was elected in his 19th year of eligibility.
The last Hall of Fame class with so few inductees was chosen in 2005 (Dan Marino, Steve Young, Fritz Pollard, Bennie Friedman). It’s striking because each Hall class since 2013 has had at least seven members.
Why such a limited number of inductees? It is likely a byproduct of a revised selection process with a final reduction vote that dictated the selection panel voted for five of the final seven modern-day candidates, with those securing 80% of the vote gaining induction. Previously, voters chose from a final five with a yes or no vote, with those getting 80% gaining the nod.
Also, five other finalists – three seniors and one from the coaches and contributors categories – were grouped together for a vote separate from the modern-day candidates. Panel members voted for three choices from the five finalists across the three categories, with those drawing 80% getting induction.
The Hall of Fame selection committee voted virtually in January to choose the class.