Greatest NFL Players Not in the Hall of Fame

When you think of the great quarterbacks of the 1970s, Terry Bradshaw is the first name to spring to mind. In leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships in six seasons, he became one of the game’s great stars and was an obvious selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

greatest nfl players not in the hall of fame

San Francisco 49ers RB Roger Craig

But a case can be made that Bradshaw was not even the best quarterback in his own division during his era. That distinction may belong to Ken Anderson, the Cincinnati Bengals great who threw for nearly 5,000 more yards than Bradshaw during their careers and had a passer rating 11 points higher.

Yet Anderson has not received his call to Canton — and likely never will. Anderson, the 1981 NFL MVP, tops our all-time NFL team of players not in the Hall of Fame. Here is the lineup.

Ken Anderson, Quarterback

Years: 1971-86

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Overshadowed by Terry Bradshaw early in his career and Joe Montana later, Anderson put up stellar numbers worthy of the Hall: 32,838 career passing yards and 160 touchdowns playing during an era that was decidedly less passer-friendly than today’s game.

Before Bill Walsh made the West Coast offense famous in San Francisco, he invented the system as Anderson’s coach in Cincinnati.

Anderson led the league in completion percentage three times and in passing yards twice, and was the NFL MVP in 1981 as he led the Bengals to the Super Bowl, where Montana and the 49ers launched their dynasty.

Fred Taylor, Running Back

Years: 1998-2010

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots

While Ken Anderson was overshadowed by Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana, Fred Taylor was eclipsed by the small market of Jacksonville. Taylor never won a Super Bowl and did not get the national exposure he should have. But he earned respect on the field.

Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons and 11,695 career yards over his 13-year career, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. His career rushing yardage total is good for 17th on NFL all-time list.

That’s more career rushing yards than Earl Campbell (9,407), Jim Taylor (8,597), Larry Csonka (8,081) and Terrell Davis (7,607). All of them are Hall of Famers. Taylor should be too.

Cliff Branch, Wide Receiver

greatest nfl players not in the hall of fame

Cliff Branch

Years: 1972-85

Team: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Cliff Branch was a key weapon in the Raiders’ deep passing game and finished his career with three Super Bowl rings.

A three-time first-team All-Pro, Branch finished his career with 8,685 receiving yards and 67 touchdown catches — 16 more than Swann and four more than Swann’s Hall of Fame teammate, John Stallworth.

Like Harold Jackson, Branch excelled during an era where defenses typically had the advantage over passing games because of the rules of the time.

For more on the Greatest NFL Players Not in the Hall of Fame, go to Stadium Talk

OTHER NEWS

25 minutes ago

Ready to ditch the tampons? Shoppers are 'obsessed' with these stylish leak-proof period pants - and they suit all flows (here's how to get £10 off)

25 minutes ago

Video: Brisbane family horrified after making deadly discovery in their daughter's bed

25 minutes ago

Woman reveals her husband insists she covers up around the house if she's not interested in having sex with him - and people warn he needs to see a therapist

26 minutes ago

Celtic and Rodgers make 7m+ offer to sign new "hero" playing at Euro 2024

27 minutes ago

Steady demand for workers as recruiters place 1.7m job adverts

27 minutes ago

Manly eye debutants with 14 men out against Rabbitohs

27 minutes ago

Protests outside parliament as PM meets with Chinese premier

27 minutes ago

“House of the Dragon” season 2 comes with new opening titles sequence

27 minutes ago

Eid Al-Adha: HM the King Receives Congratulatory Message from Crown Prince of Bahrain

27 minutes ago

West Bengal: Goods Train Crashes Into Kanchenjunga Express, Many Injured

27 minutes ago

From recruiter, to the recruited: How late-blooming McCartin is turning the heads of AFL scouts

27 minutes ago

Politicians receive pay rise, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's salary jumping over $600,000

27 minutes ago

Royal family news: King Charles ramps up return as Kate and children send heartfelt message to William

28 minutes ago

German efficiency? Euro 2024 trains are a shambles - and fans are paying the price

28 minutes ago

Men’s Beach Outfits: 21 Surefire Ways to Dress for the Beach

28 minutes ago

National Party leader David Littleproud promises to scrap NSW offshore wind zones in Labor heartland

28 minutes ago

Analysis-Global central banks recalibrate as the big policy easing of 2024 fizzles

28 minutes ago

Final rites of Haj: Pilgrims perform Tawaf as Muslims celebrate Eid Al Adha

28 minutes ago

'We can be feeling sorry for ourselves for 10 minutes' - Cork's challenge, Tyrone's revival

28 minutes ago

Johan Bakayoko set for Liverpool audition after Arne Slot 'said yes' to transfer

28 minutes ago

Southgate assesses England opening Euros performance after edging out Serbia 1-0

28 minutes ago

Student's NSFAS allowance spending spree in 24 hours goes viral on TikTok, SA stunned

28 minutes ago

Virgin Airlines engine catches alight forcing aircraft to make emergency landing at Invercargill Airport

31 minutes ago

Hollywood actor Armie Hammer opens up about his career-ending cannibal allegations

34 minutes ago

Brisbane family horrified after making deadly discovery in their daughter's bed

34 minutes ago

A year after the Titan's tragic dive, deep-sea explorers vow to press on

34 minutes ago

Reform UK candidate resigns after ‘unacceptable historic social media comments’

34 minutes ago

Video: Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines shares touching tribute to honor husband Chip Gaines on Father's Day

34 minutes ago

At least 14 people dead during Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia due to intense heatwave

34 minutes ago

Renters could be hit in $1.5b 'sneaky' budget tax hike

34 minutes ago

Returning Mitchell eager to make peace with Leniu

34 minutes ago

Anthony Albanese’s meeting with Chinese Premier ‘really good’

34 minutes ago

Coach wants ‘runway’ for big AFL rule change

34 minutes ago

NASCAR icon's great fear for rookie van Gisbergen

34 minutes ago

USA Olympic diving trials 2024 schedule, TV channels, live streams, times to watch Paris qualifiers

34 minutes ago

‘Confusing situation’: AFL concedes error in last minute mayhem

34 minutes ago

Man Utd ready to pay 60m+ clause to sign Euro 2024 attacker ahead of Spurs

34 minutes ago

Russian Army Attacks Nine Settlements in Kherson Region

34 minutes ago

Scottish Lib Dem leader pledges big investment to ‘lift up education’

34 minutes ago

What time is kick off for the Springboks v Wales Test?