For players who make a career out of playing in the National Football League, there is no higher honor than to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio at the NFL Hall of Fame.
Making the Hall of Fame is a big deal and many of the league’s greatest players will never have their name enshrined in Canton. Some have made it that maybe shouldn’t have, and some haven’t that should.
These are five players who should be removed from the Hall of Fame to make room for five who should. For this list, only players eligible for the Hall of Fame were considered.
Which NFL legends are in, and which ones should be out in the Hall of Fame?
OUT: Joe Namath, Quarterback (1965-1977)
The story of NFL history arguably can’t be told without the name Joe Namath. As the starting quarterback for the New York Jets, Namath was Super Bowl III MVP. Namath is best remembered for his performance in that Super Bowl where the Jets stunned the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in a 16-7 upset. During his 13-year tenure, he was celebrated as one of the game’s most exciting, proficient and publicized quarterbacks. However, his numbers aren’t that impressive when faced with the test of time. The 80-year-old threw 173 touchdowns to 220 interceptions and 27,663 yards across his dozen years in the league.
IN: Andre Johnson, Receiver (2003-2016)
Johnson was not selected to the Hall of Fame during his first two years of eligibility, but it’s safe to assume that the longtime Houston Texans standout will eventually be enshrined in Canton. A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Johnson is 11th all-time in receptions and receiving yards. He also led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards on multiple occasions, culminating in what many should consider a Hall of Fame career.
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OUT: Red Badgro, Receiver/Cornerback (1927-1936)
In 1981, Morris “Red” Badgro, at the age of 78, became the oldest person ever elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame at that time. Badgro played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (Football, not baseball) in 1936, but his saga is even more unusual in that he wasn’t even sure he wanted to play pro football. In fact, he retired after one year with the NFL’s 1927 New York Yankees to give pro baseball a try. When baseball didn’t work out, he came back to football. Badgro caught 35 passes for 560 yards and seven touchdowns in his nine-year career.
IN: Steve Smith Sr., Receiver (2001-2016)
Smith’s extreme competitiveness more than made up for his stout 5’9, 195-pound frame. Smith was a Hall of Fame trash talker and the most key Panthers’ 2003 Super Bowl team member. Smith overcame a significant injury in 2004 to win Comeback Player of the Year. The year after, he again led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in 2005. Smith tallied eight 1,000-yard seasons and is one of 14 players with at least 1,000 career receptions. He’s currently eligible for the NFL Hall of Fame, but time will tell how long it takes him to make it officially.
Also Read: 10 NFL Players That Would Definitely Be Hall Of Famers If It Weren’t For One Mistake
OUT: Jackie Smith, Tight End/Punter (1963-1978)
Smith was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1994, 16 years after his playing career ended with a one-year stop in Dallas. The five-time Pro Bowler and four-time Second Team All-Pro player caught 40 touchdowns and 7,918 yards in his 15-year playing career. Smith was a bit ahead of his time at the position but had a career plagued with injuries, including a spinal condition that would cause his arms to go numb after a tackle. Smith was inducted for his work at rejuvenating what it means to be a tight end, ushering in a modern era that includes greats such as Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce, yet… did you know who Smith was?
IN: Reggie Wayne, Receiver (2001-2015)
A six-time Pro Bowler from 2006-10 and in 2012, Wayne led the NFL in receiving yards in 2007 and was a staple in the Peyton Manning-led Colts’ locker room. His 53-yard touchdown catch in the Super Bowl helped the Colts win the franchise’s first following their move from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Wayne was Peyton Manning’s No. 1 guy when the Colts made it back to the Super Bowl in 2009, despite losing to Drew Brees’ New Orleans Saints. Despite Manning’s departure in 2012, a 34-year-old Wayne earned Pro Bowl honors that season while catching passes from rookie Andrew Luck. Wayne carried on that legacy, starting to coach for the Colts’ wide receiver room where he’s still employed today.
OUT: Elvin Bethea, Defensive End (1968-1983)
The former Oiler was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2003, years after the franchise moved to Tennessee to become the Titans. During his career in Houston, Bethea played in 210 games, including a stretch of 135 consecutive. He played at defensive end and guard in the 1968 season and didn’t miss a game until breaking his arm in a game against the Oakland Raiders in 1977. He led the team in sacks six times, finishing his career with 105 total sacks. The Titans have his number retired and he’s in the team’s ring of honor. A legend in his own time, his name is just one that has to make way for others.
Also Read: 10 NFL Hall of Famers Who Should Be Immediately Removed From the HOF
IN: Torry Holt, Receiver (1999-2009)
A seven-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL’s All-2000s Team, Holt played an integral role on The Greatest Show on Turf Rams’ 1999 championship team. On two separate occasions, Holt was the league’s leading receiver, the Rams’ No. 1 option when St. Louis made a return trip to the Super Bowl in 2001. As the best player on a championship team, Holt deserves his place in the NFL Hall of Fame.
OUT: Ray Guy, Punter (1973-1986)
Call me crazy, but a punter probably never deserves to be a Hall of Famer. Guy was the first punter ever to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft when the Oakland Raiders selected him with the 23rd overall pick of the 1973 draft. In his career as a punter, Guy played his entire career with the Raiders and was selected to seven Pro Bowl teams, including six in a row from 1973 to 1978. He was named as the punter on the NFL’s 75th and 100th-anniversary teams. While he was an elite punter, he was still just a punter.
IN: Hines Ward, Receiver (1998-2011)
The Steelers’ all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns, Ward is also eighth all-time in career postseason receiving yards. Three of Ward’s four consecutive Pro Bowl selections came with different quarterbacks: Kordell Stewart (2001), Tommy Maddox (2002-03) and a rookie Ben Roethlisberger (2004). In 2005, Ward won Super Bowl MVP honors while helping lead Pittsburgh to its fifth Super Bowl victory. He was the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver when Pittsburgh defeated the Cardinals three years later in Super Bowl XLIII. Ward is considered one of the most physical receivers of his era, and it’s clear to see why. He deserves his spot in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Also Read: 5 Active NFL Players Who Will Definitely Be Hall of Famers and 5 Who Have No Shot In Hell!
