Pro Football Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees Revealed At NFL Honors

Part of the NFL Honors ceremony includes the revelation of the latest inductees to the Hall of Fame. This year was the smallest class of enshrinees in 20 years. However, the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2025 inductees were revealed last night at the 14rth annual NFL Honors Awards. The Hall’s 49-person Selection Committee met virtually in January to conduct its annual vote. And they selected defensive back Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.

For both Eric and Jared Allen, they received the news from another Hall of Famer who knocked on their doors. But for Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe it was reversed. They each found a Hall of Famer in their homes waiting to deliver the good news. On Saturday, Feb. 8 the NFL Network will debut a 30-minute special “The Hall of Fame Knocks: Class of 2025” at 10 p.m. ET. In that show you’ll be able to see all four new members as they are told of their induction.

Randall McDaniel, a former college teammate, delivered the news to Eric Allen. Former Minnesota Vikings teammate Steve Hutchinson made the announcement to Jared Allen. San Diego’s favorite running back LaDainian Tomlinson was waiting for Antonio Gates to deliver the news. And last but not least little brother Shannon Sharpe had the honor of letting his brother Sterling know. Shannon Sharpe has always said that he is a Hall of Fame member and not even the best athlete in their family. They are the first brothers elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How special is that?

Pro Football Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees Revealed At NFL Honors

Unfortunately, Peyton Manning will have to wait to see if he’ll have that privilege in the future. His little brother Eli didn’t make the cut this year in his first Hall of Fame ballot. However, Eli says that is he perfectly fine with that. “I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be my night, and I understand that,” Manning said in an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “I’m totally at peace. It’s not gonna change my outlook on my career and how I feel about it.”

Other deserving players who were snubbed, besides Eli Manning, include wide receiver Torry Holt and linebacker Luke Kuechly. Other worthy candidates included Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs, Fred Taylor, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, and Darren Woodson. Considering the talents and abilities of all these players begs the question of why the committee only selected four candidates. Has the Hall enshrinement become just a popularity contest? Or are there other factors in play? I don’t have the answers to those questions but I’m sure it will remain a topic for discussion.

But I do wonder how a clutch kicker like Adam Vinatieri was left out. He made one of the biggest kicks in NFL history at the end of Super Bowl XXXVI. That kick led to the start of the New England Patriots dynasty and the defeat of the “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams. Vinatieri had a ton of success with both the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. I know kicker is not a glamorous position but it is a critical one.

New Hall Of Fame Members Announced

And cases could be made for the other guys who were excluded this year. But for Eric Allen and Sterling Sharpe it’s been a long time coming and I’m happy they are getting their flowers now. Even Jared Allen retired in 2016 so he’s been waiting for awhile also. Gates had the shortest time to wait as he retired in 2020 and this was his second time being nominated.

At any rate, the newly elected class brings the total number of the Hall of Fame membership to 382. On Saturday, Aug. 2, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton the 2025 class will be enshrined. Enshrinement tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks. So in the meantime, I’ll congratulate the gentlemen who made the cut and have joined a most exclusive fraternity. Well done sirs!

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