Luke - 2026 NFL HOF Finalist (no 89)

[CRA]

https://www.nfl.com/news/15-modern-era-players-announced-as-finalists-for-hall-of-fame-class-of-2026

The Modern-Era Players, along with their positions, years and teams are:

• Willie Anderson, Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
• Drew Brees, Quarterback – 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints
• Jahri Evans, Guard – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
• Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver – 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals
• Frank Gore, Running Back – 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets
• Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
• Luke Kuechly, Linebacker – 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
• Eli Manning, Quarterback – 2004-2019 New York Giants
• Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End – 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
• Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts
• Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
• Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle –2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints
• Jason Witten, Tight End – 2003-2017, 2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders
• Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
• Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

[CPcavedweller]

LFG. I remember exactly where I was when I looked down at my phone and saw we drafted a linebacker and I was thinking “in the top 10? With Beason and Anderson? Typical Panthers poo.” Was with my now ex’s family waiting outside a Cracker Barrel in Durham. 
 

I know that’s got nothing to do with Luke the player and what he accomplished but you don’t often have a memory like that imprinted on you unless someone really is transcendent. He deserves it. 

Edited 1 hour ago by CPcavedweller

[t96]

Smitty should 100% be in, no doubt. Not all that surprising though as he mostly played in our market and also has rubbed a ton of people the wrong way off the field.

 

Luke should've been first ballot, but whatever. Looking at that group I think he gets in this year.

[toldozer]

fug Deion Sanders for robbing Luke of the honor of first ballet. 

[hsfolk]

11 minutes ago, t96 said:

Smitty should 100% be in, no doubt. Not all that surprising though as he mostly played in our market and also has rubbed a ton of people the wrong way off the field.

 

Luke should've been first ballot, but whatever. Looking at that group I think he gets in this year.

what really hurts Luke is that he was only in the league for like 7 seasons 

[CRA]

27 minutes ago, hsfolk said:

what really hurts Luke is that he was only in the league for like 7 seasons 

Patrick Willis essentially had the same career. To me they are 1a and 1b from their era. 
 

*3 game differece 

[OneBadCat]

89 robbed

[CRA]

Just now, OneBadCat said:

89 robbed

He got 2 problems.  Dudes with the stats that also have rings

and obviously, he is an a hole 

[t96]

24 minutes ago, hsfolk said:

what really hurts Luke is that he was only in the league for like 7 seasons 

He dominated enough while he played that his early retirement should have no impact. He’s in the same tier as Barry Sanders and Megatron who also had very short careers.

[PantherChris]

1 hour ago, hsfolk said:

what really hurts Luke is that he was only in the league for like 7 seasons 

Doesn't hurt him really, in a weaker class he still would have been first ballot, those 7 years he played were some of the most dominant in history.

 

He will get in this year just like Willis who had to wait a year.

[PantherChris]

1 hour ago, t96 said:

He dominated enough while he played that his early retirement should have no impact. He’s in the same tier as Barry Sanders and Megatron who also had very short careers.

This he was a level of dominat he was head and shoulders above the others at the time.   He will be getting his gold jacket this year.

[Mage]

1 hour ago, t96 said:

Smitty should 100% be in, no doubt. Not all that surprising though as he mostly played in our market and also has rubbed a ton of people the wrong way off the field.

That could play a role, but it is just tough for WRs to get inducted.  There is always a backlog.  It is crazy to me that Torry Holt, who retired in 2009, still isn't in.  Even Cris Carter had to wait a long time.

I do think Smith will make it in one day but it could be some time.