Worst NFL Hall of Famers

They were good. But were they all-time greats?

Worst NFL Hall of Famers

The Pro Football Hall of Fame requires four to eight candidates to be inducted each year. That’s known as a quota system, folks, and it’s a crummy way to determine the most prestigious individual honor in the game. The system guarantees lots of revenue come induction time in Canton, Ohio, and what is the NFL about except money?

Problem is, not all eras are created equal. Some produce an abundance of worthy candidates who have to wait forever to gain admittance. Others have a shortage, and too many of them receive Hall passes based on politics and/or reputation, if not out of sheer desperation, rather than actual performance.

Like some of these players.

25. Marcus Allen

Position: Running back

Career: 1982-97 (16 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs

Year inducted: 2003

Bottom Line: Marcus Allen

Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen fends off Los Angeles Rams cornerback LeRoy Irvin — Marcus Allen was the MVP of Super Bowl XVIII.

Had head coach Tom Flores not called his number until the wheels wobbled, the one-time league Most Valuable Player almost certainly would have produced more than three Hall of Fame-caliber seasons.

In 1985 alone, he rushed for 1,759 yards and touched the ball an insane 472 times from scrimmage, playoffs included. That’s nearly 28 per game. Remember, he was only 6-foot-2, 210 pounds.

But Allen never got close to those rushing numbers again. Then the Raiders added Bo Jackson in 1987, and Al Davis put the freeze on Allen. He survived in the NFL until 1997, but he wasn’t close to his once-dominant self again.

24. Joe Namath

Position: Quarterback

Career: 1965-77 (13 seasons)

Teams: New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams

Year inducted: 1985

Bottom Line: Joe Namath

Joe Namath throws pass — Joe Namath was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Who can forget Super Bowl III, the epic encounter that legitimized the AFL-NFL merger, when the playboy quarterback guaranteed victory, then threw four touchdown passes? Wait — he didn’t throw any? Oh.

Sadly, we rarely saw the real "Joe Willie" because of his two bum knees. Stats-wise, he was the definition of average — 62-63-4 record, .501 pass completion percentage.

He’s one of the first inductees in the Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Hall of Fame. After his playing days, Namath became more reflective about his career and getting his bell rung on the field.

23. Paul Hornung

Position: Halfback-fullback-placekicker

Career: 1957-62, 1964-66 (9 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Year inducted: 1986

Bottom Line: Paul Hornung

Green Bay Packers halfback Paul Hornung plunged over line — Paul Hornung scored 50 touchdowns in his career.

At 26, "The Golden Boy" was on a Hall of Fame path. He scored 322 points (in 24 games) in the 1960-61 seasons alone.

Yet because of hip/knee/neck injuries, frequent early-morning forays and a one-year suspension, he never came close to that standard thereafter.

The one-time league MVP failed to gain as many as 1,000 total yards in any season.

22. Ken Stabler

Position: Quarterback

Career: 1970-84 (15 seasons)

Teams: Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints

Year inducted: 2016

Bottom Line: Ken Stabler

Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler looks downfield — Ken Stabler led the Raiders to a Super Bowl title in the 1976 season.

The "Snake" was inducted on the strength of four peak seasons and one Super Bowl title in his late 20s-early 30s, but it had more to do with the Raiders' mystique than anything.

Per Football Reference, names such as Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, Ron Jaworski and Norm Snead appear on the list of quarterbacks with the highest similarity scores to Kenny Stabler, the ultimate rebel/leader.

But only three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman has a bust in Canton among them.

21. Lynn Swann

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 1974-82 (9 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Year inducted: 2001

Bottom Line: Lynn Swann

Lynn Swann catches a pass in Super Bowl XIII — Lynn Swann made a lot of big catches.

Swaaaaan-ny, how we love you ... in the postseason. His Super Bowl X MVP performance belongs in the Smithsonian for sure. It’s those regular-season numbers that fall short of Hall of Fame standards, though, largely because of four wasted seasons in a run-heavy offense.

When the rules became far more pass-friendly, his performance went to another level, but he didn’t play long enough to pad his stats.

We’ve got a better place for him — the Super Bowl Hall of Fame.

20. Ray Nitschke

Position: Linebacker

Career: 1958-72 (15 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Year inducted: 1978

Bottom Line: Ray Nitschke

Ray Nitschke at practice — Ray Nitschke played in 190 career games.

This may come as a shocker, but "Wildman" played in all of two Pro Bowl games. He was All-Pro one time.

Then again, he had to contend with Dick Butkus, Joe Schmidt, Sam Huff and Tommy Nobis in a decade that was loaded at the middle linebacker position.

If Ray Nitschke had kicked butt with a good team and not a dynasty, would he be in Canton? Discuss.

19. Russ Grimm

Position: Guard-center

Career: 1981-91 (11 seasons)

Teams: Washington Redskins

Year inducted: 2010

Bottom Line: Russ Grimm

Russ Grimm (No. 68) with other teammates — The "Hogs" were, from left, guard Mark May, assistant head coach-offense Joe Bugel, center Jeff Bostic, tackle George Starke, guard Russ Grimm and tackle Joe Jacoby.

This Hog had four stellar seasons in the Redskins' glory days.

By the time Russ Grimm turned 28 years old, however, a damaged left knee had reduced him to part-time status.

So if he has a bust in Canton, Ohio, then why not teammate Joe Jacoby, too? The tackle played longer and about as well.

18. Tom Fears

Position: Offensive-defensive end-placekicker

Career: 1948-56 (9 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams

Year inducted: 1970

Bottom Line: Tom Fears

Tom Fears chases Sid Luckman — Tom Fears of the Los Angeles Rams (55) chases Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears (42) during an NFL game.

Tom Fears got to Canton on the strength of two sensational seasons and a 73-yard game-winner in the 1951 NFL Championship Game.

In 1949, he led the league in pass and touchdown receptions. One year later, he set a league record with 84 catches and made his only Pro Bowl appearance. But he flamed out quickly, partly because of contract disputes, partly because of two fractured vertebrae.

If extended excellence is part of the criteria for Canton, then he falls short of the mark. But he still won the respect of his peers. "What made Tom great as a player was his determination, his desire to win at anything," said Danny Abramowicz, who played for Fears when he coached the expansion New Orleans Saints.

17. Frank Gatski

Position: Center

Career: 1950-57 (8 seasons)

Teams: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions

Year inducted: 1985

Bottom Line: Frank Gatski

Frank Gatski in action — Frank Gatski (22) played eight seasons in the NFL.

The longtime bodyguard for quarterback Otto Graham spent his prime in the old All-America Football Conference, an exceptional pass-blocker in a run-dominated era.

Frank Gatski was durable. He never missed a practice, but he was 33 when he was selected NFL All-Pro for the first of three times, 37 when he played in his only Pro Bowl game.

Twenty-eight years after retirement, he was inducted as a senior member.

16. Ace Parker

Position: Quarterback-tailback-defensive back-kick returner-punter-placekicker

Career: 1937-41, 1945-46 (7 seasons)

Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants

Year inducted: 1970

Bottom Line: Ace Parker

Clarence "Ace" Parker stiff-arms Carl Brumbaugh — Ace Parker played a lot of positions.

Among old-timers, the 1940 MVP is a frequent pick as one of the top 10 quarterbacks of the pre-World War II era. Really, how can anyone not like a player named Ace?

Yet he led the league in only one major category (pass yards) and played with a bunch of ordinary teams. We’ve got him in the Nickname Hall of Fame.

Ace fun fact: He was the first NFL Hall of Famer to live to be 100. He also played Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia A's and hit a home run in his first major league at-bat.

15. Fred Dean

Position: Defensive end

Career: 1975-85 (11 seasons)

Teams: San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers

Year inducted: 2008

Bottom Line: Fred Dean

Fred Dean sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski — Fred Dean won two Super Bowls.

Because sack totals are unavailable for his prime seasons, it’s difficult to gauge the dominance of this pass-rush specialist.

Save for the 1981 season, when Fred Dean helped lead the Niners to a Super Bowl victory after a contract dispute prompted a late-season trade, his Average Value numbers weren’t overly impressive.

What’s more, durability was an issue throughout his career — he started every game in only one season. Of the 10 players most similar in size and quality, none is a Hall of Famer at the moment.

14. Dave Robinson

Position: Linebacker

Career: 1963-74 (12 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Year inducted: 2013

Bottom Line: Dave Robinson

Green Bay Packers Dave Robinson chases Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers — Dave Robinson played 155 games in his career.

The linebacker position is a toughie for Hall of Fame voters, what with the slew of candidates there.

The vast majority deserve to be in Canton more than Robinson, whose Average Value met the standard in only two seasons.

There is a David Robinson who is Hall-worthy. Just not this one.

13. John Henry Johnson

Position: Fullback-halfback

Career: 1948-56 (9 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers

Year inducted: 1987

Bottom Line: John Henry Johnson

John Henry Johnson in action — John Henry Johnson (35) played on four NFL teams.

In his prime years, J.H.J. was stuck behind future Hall of Famers Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry in the so-called "Million Dollar Backfield."

It wasn’t until he landed in Pittsburgh that his career took off at 31 years of age. The golden oldie produced a pair of remarkable 1,000-plus-yard seasons, but by then, it was too late to put up impressive career numbers.

He deserves to be in the 30-and-Over Hall of Fame, though.

12. Dave Wilcox

Position: Linebacker

Career: 1964-74 (11 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers

Year inducted: 2000

Bottom Line: Dave Wilcox

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dave Wilcox takes down Minnesota Vikings running back Clinton Jones — Dave Wilcox (64) was nicknamed "The Intimidator."

"The Intimidator" was more aggressive than a hungry hippo, tougher than butt steak.

He also was a notch below Bobby Bell, Jack Ham and Ted Hendricks at the strong-side position.

All were picked ahead of him for the 1970s All-Decade Team honors.

11. Charlie Sanders

Position: Tight end

Career: 1968-77 (10 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Lions

Year inducted: 2007

Bottom Line: Charlie Sanders

Charlie Sanders catches a pass at the goal line — Charlie Sanders made many great catches in his career.

True, Charlie Sanders was a Pro Bowler in seven of his 10 seasons. He also was a willing, if not robust, blocker. Fact is, "Charlie Deep" was the best of a shallow pool of tight ends at a time when Mike Ditka and John Mackey were near the end of the line.

Sanders never won more than 10 games, never caught more than 42 balls, and only once gained more than 544 yards in a season.

In his only playoff appearance, he was blanked in a 5-0 stinker against the Cowboys in Dallas. That’s not a typo — 5-zip. Does any of this scream "Hall of Famer!" to you?

10. Jan Stenerud

Position: Placekicker

Career: 1967-85 (19 seasons)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

Year inducted: 1991

Bottom Line: Jan Stenerud

Green Bay Packers kicker Jan Stenerud — Jan Stenerud was the first exclusive placekicker inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Norwegian sidewinder grew up dreaming of becoming an outstanding ski jumper. He became good enough at kicking a football to have three stellar seasons early in his NFL career. But so did a lot of other players.

Truth is, Jan Stenerud maxed out after his only All-Pro season. That was never more apparent than in the 1971 AFC championship game, when he bricked three field goals in a double-overtime loss.

On Christmas Day, no less.

9. Bob Hayes

Position: Split end

Career: 1965-75 (11 seasons)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers

Year inducted: 2009

Bottom Line: Bob Hayes

Bob Hayes catches a pass — Bob Hayes brought Olympic gold-medal speed to pro football.

Bob Hayes had a habit of disappearing in big games such as the 1967 Ice Bowl, for instance. While his teammates played their hearts out in Arctic conditions, "Bullet Bob" went through the motions with his hands in his pants. Literally.

Although Hayes caught two passes in Super Bowl VI, George Andrie, Dan Reeves and the rest of the Cowboys deserved better.

But we still can't deny Hayes was fast.

8. Dick LeBeau

Dick LeBeu — Dick LeBeau played his entire career with the Detroit Lions.

Position: Cornerback-safety

Career: 1959-72 (14 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Lions

Year inducted: 2010

Bottom Line: Dick LeBeau

Dick LeBeau tackles Minnesota Viking Dave Osborn — Dick LeBeau was a hard hitter.

The three-time Pro Bowler deserves a place in Canton, just not as a player.

Dick LeBeau's 62 interceptions ranked third in league history at the time of his retirement, but they came with an asterisk. Nearly half (28) were with Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train" Lane at the other side of the field. Rather than test their luck against one of the best cover cornerbacks ever, opponents picked on LeBeau often.

Yet let’s not forget that he went on to become one of the best defensive coordinators of his era. That, coupled with his accomplishments as a player, makes him Hall of Fame worthy.

7. Emmitt Thomas

Position: Cornerback-kickoff returner

Career: 1965-75 (11 seasons)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs

Year inducted: 2008

Bottom Line: Emmitt Thomas

Emmitt Thomas, Fred Biletnikoff, Daryle Lamonica — Emmitt Thomas (18) was a playmaker.

If the Hall of Fame is so big on quotas, why does the 1969 Chiefs defense have six representatives in Canton — two linemen, two linebackers and two defensive backs? Six, people!

By comparison, the far more dominant "Steel Curtain" Steelers have a mere four members. Emmitt Thomas was often very good (he did intercept 58 passes in his career, after all), but he wasn’t an all-time great.

You, too, Curley Culp.

6. Charlie Joiner

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 1969-86 (18 seasons)

Teams: Houston Oilers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers

Year inducted: 1996

Bottom Line: Charlie Joiner

San Diego Chargers receiver Charlie Joiner gets hands ready to grasp ball — Charlie Joiner never won a Super Bowl.

When someone plays in three decades and doesn’t lead the league in a single category even once, it sets off air-raid sirens.

Truth is, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts put Charlie Joiner in Canton. It wasn’t until the late-bloomer was dealt to the Chargers that he became a consistent threat in his early 30s.

5. Ray Guy

Position: Punter

Career: 1973-86 (14 seasons)

Teams: Oakland Raiders

Year inducted: 2014

Bottom Line: Ray Guy

Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy kicks — Ray Guy's punts had serious hang time.

I'm convinced that Curt Gowdy had more to do with his Hall of Fame induction than anyone. Seriously, the NBC broadcaster couldn’t go more than 15 minutes without some mention of Ray Guy's hang time.

Except that 75 players own a better career mark than Guy and his 42.4-yard average, and, yes, a few even had — wait for it — hang time!

See, I got nothing against punters in Canton. I just got something against very-good-but-not-great ones there.

4. Tony Canadeo

Position: Halfback-tailback-kick returner-punter

Career: 1941-44, 1946-52 (12 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Year inducted: 1974

Bottom Line: Tony Canadeo

Tony Canadeo running with ball — Tony Canadeo played 12 seasons in the NFL.

The first Packer to rush for 1,000 yards in a season wasn’t particularly big or strong or athletic. Rather, Tony Canadeo, at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, was a grinder who did a lot of things well but none of them great.

While not in the class of Charlie Trippi, Steve Van Buren and Doak Walker as a pure runner, "The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga" did have one of the best nicknames of his time.

3. Elvin Bethea

Position: Defensive end

Career: 1968-83 (16 seasons)

Teams: Houston Oilers

Year inducted: 2003

Bottom Line: Elvin Bethea

Elvin Bethea with the Oilers — Elvin Bethea played his whole career with the Houston Oilers.

The Oilers' lifer was one of the bright lights with mostly average-to-really-crummy teams.

Of the 10 players Elvin Bethea compares to most in his career, not one is in the Hall of Fame.

He’s among the many who belong in the Hall of Very Good, not the Hall of Fame. Still not bad for a third-round pick.

2. Jackie Smith

Position: Tight end

Career: 1963-78 (16 seasons)

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys

Year inducted: 1994

Bottom Line: Jackie Smith

Jackie Smith walks off the field in Super Bowl XIII — This is the agony of defeat.

Jackie Smith caught as many as 50 balls and scored more than four touchdowns in only one season.

He’s also the only Hall of Famer best known for a gaffe — the muffed pass that hit him squarely between the "8" and the "1" in Super Bowl XIII yet somehow bounced off his chest to the ground.

"Bless his heart — he’s got to be the sickest man in America," Cowboys broadcaster Verne Lundquist shared his pain.

1. Red Badgro

Position: Offense-defensive end

Career: 1927-36 (10 seasons)

Teams: New York Giants

Year inducted: 1981

Bottom Line: Red Badgro

By all accounts, Morris "Red" Badgro was a solid two-way player in the leather helmet days.

He led the league in pass receptions (16) one year and scored the first touchdown in an NFL Championship Game before his retirement after the 1936 season.

Nearly a half-century elapsed before the 78-year-old became the oldest player to gain Hall of Fame induction. What did he do to convince the senior committee exactly?

Improve his 100-yard dash time? Excel in the cone drills test? Did someone discover dozens of touchdowns that he didn’t receive credit for decades earlier?

Uh, can we get a little help here, please?