Packers Snubbed From List of Potential Hall of Famers

The 33rd Team's list of Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors overlooked one of the best players of his generation.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jul 7, 2023 1:37 PM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Contrary to public opinion, the Green Bay Packers’ success over the last decade wasn’t merely Aaron Rodgers dragging along a group of plumbers, blacksmiths and dishwashers.

The 33rd Team’s cast of writers includes four Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. In a new story, they assembled a list of 28 current players who have authored Hall of Fame-caliber resumes. That group is broken down into three groups: 10 Hall of Fame “locks,” eight “likely” Hall of Famers and 10 “potential” Hall of Famers.

No members of the Packers made the list.

There was one enormous oversight. Apparently, left tackle David Bakhtiari has been forgotten following the ACL injury that sidelined him for the 2020 playoffs, most of 2021 and the start of 2022.

A Hall of Fame player is one that dominates his era. From 2016 through 2020, Bakhtiari was the only offensive tackle in the NFL to earn five consecutive All-Pro selections. Including first-team honors in 2018 and 2020, Bakhtiari joined the legendary Forrest Gregg as the only Packers tackles to earn All-Pro accolades five years in a row.

“There’s always, in certain position groups, kind of that one guy you need to stay healthy, and Dave’s that guy because he’s an All-Pro,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said in 2019. “I think he has Hall of Fame potential. He’s an incredible player. When he’s over there, you feel really comfortable with him locking down pass rushers throughout the game.”

Yes, the injury derailed his brilliant career. Nonetheless, before the injury, he had played eight high-level seasons. After a tumultuous comeback, Bakhtiari didn’t allow a sack in 11 starts last season.

Signs point to Bakhtiari having moved beyond the injury. After returning for Week 3 last season, Bakhtiari missed only one game due to the knee. Moreover, if the team had been worried about his durability, it would have given Bakhtiari the white-glove treatment for the offseason practices instead of having him working with the first unit.

“It could be one day. It could be five years. I have no idea,” Bakhtiari said during minicamp of his future. “I also thought, I was telling myself football’s too easy, they’ve got to give me a challenge, and then I blew out my knee. I don’t need this much of a challenge.

“There was a point where I was like, ‘This is easy.’ Now I’m like, ‘Wow, this is really tough.’ I appreciate that. It’d be nice to get back on a new normal for me, do what I enjoy doing, being out there, playing and giving guys opportunities to make plays. It’s fun. It is fun.”

Entering the 2013 draft, Bakhtiari was considered a candidate for duties at guard or perhaps even at center. Instead, he turned into an elite player at one of the most important positions in football.

In 2022, The 33rd Team put together a similar list in which Bakhtiari was considered a “strong” Hall of Fame possibility.

“Yeah, I’m not going to lie. Have I? Absolutely,” Bakhtiari said when asked if he’s contemplated his Hall of Fame potential. “But I don't live in those thoughts because in order to make those thoughts a reality, I have to conquer the day, not the week or the year. I don’t think that big. You’ve got to start micro in order to make it a macro thought or macro dream. I just try to be the best I can every day. That’s just really kind of been me. It’s kind of cheesy, but, hey.”

Cornerback Jaire Alexander wasn’t listed, either. A second-team All-Pro in 2020 and again in 2022 after missing most of 2021 with a shoulder injury, perhaps another strong season will get him onto the list of potential Hall of Famers.