2024 NFL Hall of Fame: Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers Among 15 Finalists
A handful of the greatest players in NFL history will receive a knock at their respective doors to learn they will soon be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, for the league’s elusive Hall of Fame.
Those names will be announced Thursday evening during the NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas. The 15 finalists were revealed in December, including tight end Antonio Gates and pass rusher Julius Peppers, who made the list in their first year of eligibility. Up to five modern-era players can be elected and each must have at least 80% of votes.
Here’s a closer look at the 15 finalists.
Eric Allen, CB
- Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders (1988 to 2001)
Allen was a shutdown cornerback for the Eagles for seven seasons, including his first-team All-Pro year in 1989. In Philadelphia, Allen made the Pro Bowl five times and was a two-time second-team All-Pro. But Allen also had success with the Saints and was a vital part of the Raiders’ postseason runs in the early 2000s. This is Allen’s first year as a finalist in his 18th year of eligibility.
Jared Allen, DE
Allen had 136 career sacks, leading the league in 2007 and '11.
Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sport
- Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers (2004 to ’15)
Football fans became familiar with Allen’s sack celebration because he recorded 136 career sacks and led the league in that category in 2007 and ’11. Allen joined the Chiefs as a fourth-round pick out of Idaho State and went on to make four first-team All-Pros, the latter three selections with the Vikings. Allen has been a Hall of Fame finalist four times in his four years of eligibility.
Willie Anderson, OT
- Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens (1996 to 2008)
Anderson was an elite right tackle for many seasons, which says plenty during an era in which tackles needed to face Reggie White, Bruce Smith, John Randle and Michael Strahan. Anderson, the 10th pick in the 1996 draft, was selected as a first-team All-Pro three times. He’s in his third year as a Hall of Fame finalist and 11th year of eligibility.
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Jahri Evans, OG
- Teams: New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers (2006 to ’17)
Evans was instrumental in helping turn the Saints into a winning organization during the Sean Payton–Drew Brees era. A fourth-round rookie, he started all of his 183 career games played in the NFL. Evans was a first-team All-Pro four times and was a member of New Orleans’s Super Bowl XLIV championship team. Evans made the final Hall of Fame ballot during his second year of eligibility.
Dwight Freeney, DE
- Teams: Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions (2002 to ’17)
Freeney terrorized opposing offensive tackles because of his famous spin move that led to 125.5 career sacks and 148 quarterback hits. Freeney also won plenty of games with the Colts, including hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLI. The three-time first-team All-Pro is also a two-time Hall of Fame finalist in as many years of eligibility.
Antonio Gates, TE
Gates had 955 career receptions, 11,841 receiving yards and 116 touchdown receptions.
Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports
- Teams: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2003 to ’18)
By now, most football fans know of Gates’s college basketball career. Gates gave pro football a shot after being told that he likely wouldn’t make it in the NBA had he decided to enter the 2003 draft. Gates worked his way up from third-stringer before developing into one of the greatest tight ends of all time for the Chargers. Gates, who recorded 955 career receptions, 11,841 receiving yards and 116 touchdown receptions, made the final ballot in his first year of eligibility.
Rodney Harrison, S
- Teams: San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots (1994 to 2008)
The hard-hitting safety was a force for the Chargers for nine seasons before winning two Super Bowls with the Patriots. He made first-team All-Pro once for each franchise (1998, 2003). In 186 career games played, Harrison racked up 34 interceptions, 40 tackles for loss, 15 forced fumbles, 1,206 tackles and 30.5 sacks, the most for a defensive back. Harrison is a first-time Hall of Fame finalist in his 11th year of eligibility.
Devin Hester, WR/KR/PR
- Teams: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens (2006 to ’16)
Hester is trying to become the first returner to ever be enshrined in Canton. Hester starred for the Bears, earning first-team All-Pro honors three times, while also being part of two All-Decade teams. Hester led the league in punt and kick returns four times (doing so twice in each) while totaling 19 return touchdowns, most in NFL history.
Torry Holt, WR
- Teams: St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars (1999 to 2009)
Holt is looking to be the fifth member of the “Greatest Show on Turf” to earn enshrinement. A seven-time Pro Bowler who was named a first-team All-Pro in 2003, Holt was a member of the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV championship team as a rookie in 1999. Holt also posted eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, with the first six eclipsing the 1,300-yard mark. Holt played 10 seasons between the Rams and Jaguars, amassing 920 receptions, 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns.
Andre Johnson, WR
- Teams: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans (2003 to ’16)
In an era of great receivers, Johnson seems to get a bit overshadowed. Despite never playing with a top-notch quarterback, Johnson totaled 14,185 receiving yards and 70 touchdowns, most with the Texans during his 12-year stint in Houston. Johnson also made seven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams while leading the league in yardage twice and receptions two times as well.
Julius Peppers, DE
Peppers finished with 159.5 sacks, fourth behind only Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Kevin Greene.
Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports
- Teams: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers (2002 to ’18)
Peppers seems certain to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Few players, regardless of position, have ever amassed more accolades, with Peppers on the 2000s and 2010s All-Decade Teams, nine Pro Bowl appearances, six All-Pro teams and Defensive Rookie of the Year. Peppers finished with 159.5 sacks, fourth behind only Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Kevin Greene. He had 10 double-digit sacks.
Fred Taylor, RB
- Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots (1998 to 2010)
Unlike most finalists, Taylor isn’t flush with honors. He made only one Pro Bowl and was never named a first-team All-Pro. Yet, Taylor was undoubtedly one of the best players of his era, rushing for 1,000 yards in seven different seasons. He finished his career with 11,695 rushing yards, 17th all time. Of the 16 men above him, 14 are in the Hall of Fame, while Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson are sure bets.
Reggie Wayne, WR
- Teams: Indianapolis Colts (2001 to ’14)
Wayne was one of the greatest receivers of the position’s golden age. Paired for much of his career alongside Marvin Harrison, Wayne was underappreciated at times throughout his career. Still, he finished with 14,345 receiving yards and 84 touchdowns, while winning Super Bowl XLI with the Colts. He also had eight 1,000-yard seasons, made six Pro Bowls, led the league in receiving once and earned three All-Pro berths.
Patrick Willis, LB
- Teams: San Francisco 49ers (2007 to ’14)
Willis played only eight seasons, bringing up the argument of how much longevity matters compared to dominance over a short stretch. In Willis’s case, few were more dominant, as the 49ers star was a five-time first-team All-Pro, 2010’s All-Decade member and a seven-time Pro Bowler. Willis also earned Defensive Rookie of the Year and led the NFL in tackles twice.
Darren Woodson, S
- Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1992 to 2003)
Woodson was part of three Super Bowl teams for the Cowboys in the 1990s. More importantly, he was one of the leaders of a defense which remains incredibly underrated. In those three title years, Dallas’s defense ranked fifth, second and third in points allowed. Incredibly, only Charles Haley has made it to the Hall of Fame from that unit. Woodson should be next. The safety made three first-team All-Pro appearances and five Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 23 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles and 11 sacks.
