So far this offseason, any talk regarding J.J. Watt has been over where his next home will be in 2021, as he requested his release from the Houston Texans on February 12th. And even though Watt has aged and broken down near the end of his Houston tenure, it shouldn’t discount what he was able to achieve during his time in Steel Blue & Battle Red. But now, the question arises as to whether or not everything Watt’s done up to this point is enough to make the case for his Hall of Fame consideration, even if he never wins a ring with whatever team he signs with next. The answer is a resounding yes, and here are a few reasons why.

Generational Talent

The most obvious part of making it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is that you must have been consistently great. Mediocracy has no place in this conversation, and Watt is far from that. In ten seasons with Houston, Watt has led the league in sacks twice (2012 & 2015, both 20+), tackles for loss three times (2012, 2014, & 2015), earned 5 First-Team All-Pro and 5 Pro Bowl nods and took home three defensive player of the year awards (2012, 2014, & 2015), something only Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald have ever done. Overall, Watt racked up 101 sacks, 531 total tackles, 43 total turnovers, and three defensive touchdowns, as well as three receiving touchdowns in 2015. And that’s just on the on-field production. Off of it, Watt has been a pillar of Houston’s community, winning the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2017 after raising over $37 million to help the city recover from Hurricane Harvey. And while the injuries he’s piled on over the years forced him to miss 32 out of 160 games, Watt is still considered as one of the best players of his generation, which can by no means be discounted.

Positional Success

The idea that Watt will not get into the Hall of Fame because he does not have a ring is not only outweighed by his true talent and body of work, but also by the position he plays. The only position on the field that factors winning into your body of work when discussed for the Hall of Fame is the quarterback position.  There have been numerous players over the years that have made the Hall of Fame without a ring, and these guys arguably were not as good as Watt. On the other hand, quarterbacks such as Tony Romo, Philip Rivers, and Matt Ryan might be penalized for never winning the big game, even if their numbers suggest that they are deserving to be enshrined in Canton. If Watt was a quarterback, this would be a different story, but the fact that he is a defensive end cancels out the need to win in the playoffs in order to validate his entrance into Canton.

He Is Not Done Yet

While the Hall of Fame talk has already started for Watt, there is an argument to be made that he still has plenty left in the tank. Watt is still only 31-years-old, and is about to put himself in a good position to succeed, wherever he decides to sign. Regardless, a couple more good seasons would be just icing on the cake, all but locking in his spot for the Hall, while also silencing his doubters, if there are any. Watt is going to be a significant addition to whoever signs him, and they should expect his addition to their roster to bolster their pursuit for a Super Bowl ring, giving Watt his ultimate goal.

Info from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas

If you were to put together a top 10 list of NFL Wide receivers throughout league history, Calvin Johnson would surely be up there for most people. However, many skeptics have always believed that his “early” and abrupt retirement would hurt his Hall of Fame chances. Thankfully for Johnson, that has not been the case. 

On February 6th, during the 2021 NFL Honors Ceremony, the Detroit Lion Great heard Pro Football Hall of fame president David Baker knocking at his door late at night, where Baker congratulated Johnson from six feet away for becoming part of the 2021 Hall of Fame induction class. Similarly to another Lions legend, running back Barry Sanders, Johnson also called it a career at the peak of his game. Many attributed his retirement to Detroit’s lack of post-season success, as the Lions made the playoffs twice during Johnson’s nine-year career, but were kicked out in the wild card rounds. Nevertheless, the future hall of fame receiver had his fair share of individual success. 

In his nine total seasons in the Motor City, Johnson racked up a total of seven 1,000 yard seasons, two of which were over 1500 yards receiving, along with 84 career touchdowns, and earning six pro bowls nods, three First-Team All-Pro’s, and is a member of the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team. 

In such a polarizing career by the 6’5’’, 240-pound pass-catcher, critics and analysts were unanimous in the fact that Johnson was a Hall of Famer. But whether he was worthy of first-ballot induction was a different story, mainly due to his short time in the league. Megatron’s supporters argued that, despite him playing only nine seasons, Johnson was arguably the most dominant receiver during his 9-year stretch and changed the way defenses had to game plan. 

Similar to another Hall of Fame Receiver, Randy Moss, Johnson forced defenses to double team (and even sometimes triple-team) him in the red zone in order to stop his large frame, combined with his elite speed and jumping ability. The only difference was that Johnson even had 2 corners line up directly in front of him on some red zone attempts.

Regardless of the skepticism that many have surrounding his mysterious retirement, Johnson surely left an everlasting mark on the game. Since his retirement in 2015, there has not been a single player to break his season receiving record with 1,964 yards. This statistic alone should help support Calvin Johnson’s case for one of the greatest receivers to ever play in the NFL.

Writer

-By: LeMarkus Bailey

On November 24, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Class of 2021. The list is highlighted by former Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, ex-Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, former Raiders and Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, and ex-Chiefs and Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen, all of who are in their first year of eligibility.

The list will be whittled down to 15 finalists in early January, and the Selection Committee will name between four and eight new members to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 6, the day before Super Bowl LV.

Here is a breakdown of the 25 semifinalists:

OFFENSE

QB Peyton Manning – Won five MVP Awards, two-time champion, Super Bowl XLI MVP, 14 Pro Bowls, seven All-Pros, 2005 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, member of NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, career 71,940 passing yards and 539 touchdowns in 18 seasons with the Colts and Broncos

RB Fred Taylor – Pro Bowl in 2007, career 11,695 rushing yards and 66 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Jaguars and Patriots

WR Torry Holt – Seven Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 2003, champion in Super Bowl XXXIV, career 920 receptions, 13,382 yards, and 74 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Rams and Jaguars

WR Calvin Johnson – Six Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, NFL record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,964 in 2012, career 731 receptions, 11,619 yards, and 83 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Lions

WR Hines Ward – Two-time champion, Super Bowl XL MVP, four Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 1,000 receptions, 12,083 yards, and 85 touchdowns in 14 seasons with the Steelers

WR Reggie Wayne – Super Bowl XLI champion, six Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 2010, career 1,070 receptions, 14,345 yards, and 82 touchdowns in 14 seasons with the Colts

T Willie Anderson – Four Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 195 games in 13 seasons with the Bengals and Ravens

T Tony Boselli – Five Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1998, career 91 games in seven seasons with the Jaguars

G Alan Faneca – Super Bowl XL champion, nine Pro Bowls, six All-Pros, career 206 games in 13 seasons with the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals

DEFENSE

DE Jared Allen – Five Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, led the NFL with 22 sacks in 2011, career 136 sacks in 187 games over 12 seasons with the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears, and Panthers

DE/DT Richard Seymour – Three-time champion, seven Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 57½ sacks in 12 seasons with the Patriots and Raiders

DT Bryant Young – Super Bowl XXIX champion, four Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 1995, Comeback Player of the Year in 1999, career 89½ sacks in 208 games over 14 seasons with the 49ers

LB Cornelius Bennett – Played in four straight Super Bowls with Buffalo in the early 1990s, five Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 71½ sacks in 206 games over 14 seasons with the Bills, Falcons, and Colts

LB Clay Matthews Jr. – Father of former Packers and Rams linebacker, Clay Matthews III, four Pro Bowls, career 69½ sacks in 278 games over 19 seasons with the Browns and Falcons

LB Sam Mills – Passed away from intestinal cancer in 2005, five Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 1995, two-time USFL champion, three-time All-USFL, career 20½ sacks, and 1,265 tackles in 181 games over 12 seasons with the Saints and Panthers

LB Zach Thomas – Seven Pro Bowls, five All-Pros, career 20½ sacks and 1,734 tackles in 184 games over 13 seasons with the Dolphins and Cowboys

LB Patrick Willis – Seven Pro Bowls, five All-Pros, Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, career 20½ sacks and 950 tackles in 112 games over eight seasons with the 49ers

CB Eric Allen – Six Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 1989, career 54 interceptions and 787 tackles in 217 games over 14 seasons with the Eagles, Saints, and Raiders

CB Ronde Barber – Super Bowl XXXVII champion, five Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 47 interceptions, 28 sacks, and 1,251 tackles in 241 games over 16 seasons with the Buccaneers

CB/S Charles Woodson – Super Bowl XLV champion, nine Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998, Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, career 65 interceptions, 20 sacks, and 1,220 tackles in 254 games over 18 seasons with the Raiders and Packers

S LeRoy Butler – Super Bowl XXXI champion, four Pro Bowls and All-Pros, career 38 interceptions, 20½ sacks, and 889 tackles in 181 games over 12 seasons with the Packers

S Rodney Harrison – Two-time champion, two Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 34 interceptions, 30½ sacks, and 1,206 tackles in 186 games over 14 seasons with the Chargers and Patriots

S John Lynch – Current general manager of the 49ers, Super Bowl XXXVII champion, nine Pro Bowls, two All-Pros, career 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, and 1,059 tackles in 224 games over 15 seasons with the Buccaneers and Broncos

S Darren Woodson – Three-time champion, five Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, career 23 interceptions, 11 sacks, and 967 tackles in 178 games over 12 seasons with the Cowboys

SPECIAL TEAMS

ST/WR Steve Tasker - Played in four straight Super Bowls with Buffalo in the early 1990s, seven Pro Bowls and All-Pros, career 790 yards, and nine touchdowns as a receiver in 13 seasons with the Oilers and Bills

OTHER NOMINEES

In addition to the modern-era finalists, three others will be up for consideration by the Selection Committee on Feb. 6:

WR Drew Pearson (senior finalist) – Super Bowl XII champion, three Pro Bowls and All-Pros, career 489 receptions, 7,822 yards, and 48 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Cowboys

Bill Nunn (contributor) – Passed away after suffering in stroke in 2014, was a part of six Steelers championships as a scout and Assistant Personnel Director from 1970-2014, also was a sportswriter and a newspaper editor, and he was an inaugural member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2010

Tom Flores (coach) – Won a championship as a player with the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, was an assistant coach for the Raiders’ win in Super Bowl XI and won two titles as Oakland’s head coach, career 97-87 record in 12 seasons with the Raiders and Seahawks, was a color commentator for Raiders games from 1997-2008

Writer

-By: Kevin Rakas