Wolverines in the NFL Hall of Fame
At work the other day I started wondering which U of M player might be the next inductee to the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Tom Brady is a lock, of course, but who else could possibly climb that mountain?
I went to the Pro Football HOF site
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/colleges.html
to do a little research. Here is Michigan’s current member list:
George Allen: Class of 2002
Coach
(Alma College, Marquette, Michigan, Eastern Michigan)
1966-1970 Los Angeles Rams, 1971-1977 Washington Redskins
Dan Dierdorf: Class of 1996
Tackle >>> 6-3, 275
(Michigan)
1971-1983 St. Louis Cardinals
Len Ford: Class of 1976
Defensive End >>> 6-4, 245
(Morgan State, Michigan)
1948-1949 Los Angeles Dons (AAFC), 1950-1957 Cleveland Browns, 1958 Green Bay Packers
Bennie Friedman: Class of 2005
Quarterback >>> 5-10, 183
(Michigan)
1927 Cleveland Bulldogs, 1928 Detroit Wolverines, 1929-1931 New York Giants, 1932-1934 Brooklyn Dodgers
Bill Hewitt: Class of 1971
End >>> 5-9, 190
(Michigan)
1932-1936 Chicago Bears, 1937-1939 Philadelphia Eagles, 1943 Phil-Pitt
Elroy Crazylegs Hirsch: Class of 1968
Halfback, End >>> 6-2, 190
(Wisconsin, Michigan)
1946-1948 Chicago Rockets (AAFC), 1949-1957 Los Angeles Rams
Tom Mack: Thomas Lee Mack Class of 1999
Guard >>> 6-3, 250
(Michigan)
1966-1978 Los Angeles Rams ***They have Dierdorf’s photo on Mack’s page or these guys are twins!
Ralph Wilson, Jr.: Class of 2009
Founder/Owner
(Virginia, Michigan)
1960-Present
In case you are wondering, this is how the Top Ten HOF Contributing schools work out:
Southern California (11)
Notre Dame (10)
Michigan (8)
Alabama (7)
Illinois (6)
Minnesota (6)
Ohio State (6)
Oregon (6)
Syracuse (6)
Penn State (5)
Southern Methodist (5)
The following is a list of random schools for the heck of it:
Gonzaga (2)
Washington of St. Louis (1)
Tulsa (3)
Syracuse (5) Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Al Davis* , John Mackey, Art Monk, Jim Ringo
Scottsbluff (1) Dick “Night Train” Lane
Northwestern (2) Otto Graham
Morgan State (3) Leroy Kelly
Minnesota (5) Bobby Bell, Carl Eller, Bud Grant, Bronko Nagurski, Leo Nomellini, Charlie Sanders
Miami NTO (2)
Miami (4) Jim Kelly, Jim Otto, Michael Irvin, Ted Hendricks
Milliken (1)
Fort Valley State (1) Rayfield Wright
Grambling (4) Willie Brown, Junious (Buck) Buchanan, Willie Davis, Charlie Joiner
Duke (3) Sonny Jurgenson
California Polytechnic (1) John Madden
Arizona State (4) Mike Haynes, John Henry Johnson* , Randall McDaniel, Charley Taylor
Illinois (4) Dick Butkus, Harold (Red) Grange, George Halas, Bobby Mitchell, Ray Nitschke, Hugh (Shorty) Ray
Iowa (3) Paul Krause, Andre Tippett* , Emlen Tunnell*
Indiana (1)
Louisville (1) Johnny Unitas
So, just for some off season discussion, let’s nominate possible candidates for future HOF induction (and any other junk you want to throw out). Off course, the list must start with….
Tom Brady
April 25th, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
charles woodson. hes had a solid career but i dont think he actually makes it in. but outside of tom brady hes our best bet.
maybe ty law too. but i dont really see that either
Charles Woodson isn't even in the conversation outside of Ann Arbor and this board. Ty Law will have had a much better career and he doesn't even have a chance.
I agree with you about Woodson. I don't see him in the HOF. However, I think Ty Law has a pretty good shot. Law is only 2 ints behind HOF'er Darrel Green. Green has 7 pro-bowls to Law's 5 but Law has one more year as a first team all-pro. Plus, he has played well on the big stage.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
It's too early to tell but Jake Long could. Braylon could if starts having a bunch of seasons like 2 years ago. Maybe LaMarr Woodley. It's far too early to tell for any of them though.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
will probably make it someday.
Yes, they look similar, but the pictures are those of Mack. HIs hair is a little darker and thicker thand Dierdorf's.
Rick Volk....was a multiple Pro Bowler, and played in two Superbowls. Would love to see him in, but his day has probably passed.
His 30-yard interception return in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl V set up a touchdown that helped the Colts win the game.
From Wiki
Ron Kramer--was surprised he wasn't in.
Steve Huchinson has been to the pro bowl that last 4 years; was also 1st team all-rookie in 2001. Has had a very solid career so far.
Ty Law is a 5-time pro bowler, so that with his Super Bowl performance gives him a shot.
Charles Woodson was Rookie of the year in 1998 and a 4 time pro bowler. He's an very outside shot.
A favorite of mine, Jon Runyan, hasn't missed a start in over 11 years and has a current streak of 192 consecutive starts. He has had a great career, but with only 1 pro bowl appearance, he has no chance at the HOF.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:42 AM ^
After Brady, there is noone but HUTCH.
Seahawks were a few plays (and bad calls) away from a Superbowl, then made the bonehead decision not to franchise Hutch. That year, Shawn Alexander was unstoppable behind Hutch and our LT. The Hawks have never been the same since he left.
He has been THE best L guard in football for the last 5-7 years. Unless one needs more Superbowl appearances(unlikely with Minnesota), he is a lock.
Floyd Little from 'Cuse is in the Pro Football HOF.
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