Hall of Fame class of 2020 will be large and fantastic
The NFL Football Hall of Fame typically enshrines seven new members each year. Next summer, that won’t be the case.
On Monday, it was announced the NFL Hall of Fame will be welcoming a whopping 20 new inductees into its esteemed embrace in 2020, celebrating the NFL’s centennial. While some will point to the league allowing for the possibility of a watered-down effect, the reality is something different.
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The breakdown of the 2020 class will include five modern-era candidates, 10 senior candidates, a trio of coaches and two contributors. While there are going to be debates in all categories, the most interesting places to look are with the senior candidates and the coaches.
So who could get in the NFL Hall of Fame? Well, a ton of different combinations, but there are a few men who will be at the top of the lists.
For the coaches, is this the time when Don Coryell finally earns a gold jacket? Coryell was the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers from the mid 1970s through the mid-80s, and never reached a Super Bowl. So why does he deserve consideration? Coryell was an offensive genius who revolutionized the deep passing game, giving us playbook staples that exist today. He also turned around two of the worst teams in football almost overnight, making the Cardinals a winner for the first time sine the 1940s while steering the Chargers into a pair of AFC Championship Games.
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Another interesting case is Jimmy Johnson. Johnson coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-93 before taking over the Miami Dolphins for four years beginning in 1996. While his Miami days were solid if not spectacular, his time in Dallas is legendary. Johnson took over a 1-15 outfit and transformed it into a Super Bowl champion, winning the Lombardi Trophy in ’92 and ’93. Johnson also created the draft value chart which is still used today, and pulled off arguably the greatest trade in league history, sending Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for a crush of draft choices.
As for the senior candidates, a long list of names will be thrown out. Here are some names to keep in mind:
- Ken Anderson, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
- Jim Marshall, DE, Â Minnesota Vikings
- Otis Taylor, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
- Joe Klecko, DL, New York Jets
- Joe Jacoby, OT, Washington Redskins
- Tom Jackson, LB, Denver Broncos
- Cliff Branch, WR, Oakland Raiders
After years of deserving candidates being forced to the back of the line due to logjams, this large class should help many causes.
