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.
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
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.