Living Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as of February 3, 2018

All 8 of the new electees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame are still alive: Jerry Kramer, Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Brian Dawkins and Brian Urlacher.

Here are the living HOFers, by team. Inductees are listed here with a team if they played, or coached, or were an executive, with them for at least 4 seasons. I have divided moved teams accordingly.
Tenure as a player, or a coach, or an executive is only counted if they were elected as such. 

Ties in the rankings are broken by more players, as opposed to other categories; and then by time in the league. So a team with 4 players is ahead of one with 3 players and 1 coach, and a team with 3 players in 50 years is ahead of one with 3 players in 80 years.

Figures are listed here as follows: Players in chronological order of their Hall of Fame service with the team (even if they had other functions with that team), then coaches, then executives, then broadcasters.

1. Oakland Raiders, 15: Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, Willie Brown, Art Shell, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Tim Brown, John Madden (coach), Ron Wolf (scout).

2. Dallas Cowboys, 15: Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Rayfield Wright, Mike Ditka, Roger Staubach, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Larry Allen, Charles Haley, Bill Parcells (coach), Jerry Jones (owner).


3. Washington Redskins, 14: Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Paul Krause, Chris Hanburger, Ken Houston, John Riggins, Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Darrell Green, Bruce Smith (last 4 years of his career as a Redskin), Joe Gibbs (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

4. Minnesota Vikings, 13: Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tinglehoff, Chris Doleman, Gary Zimmerman, Randall McDaniel, Cris Carter, John Randle, Randy Moss, Bud Grant (coach).

5. Green Bay Packers, 13: Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Jerry Kramer, Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Willie Davis, Willie Wood, Herb Adderley, Dave Robinson, James Lofton, Jan Stenerud, Brett Favre, Ron Wolf (executive).

6. Pittsburgh Steelers, 11: Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis. Dan Rooney (owner) died last year.

7. San Francisco 49ers, 11: Hugh McElhenny, Dave Wilcox, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Montana, Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Charles Haley, Terrell Owens, Eddie DeBartolo (owner). Y.A. Tittle died last year.

8. Miami Dolphins, 11: Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Paul Warfield, Dan Marino, Dwight Stephenson, Jason Taylor, Don Shula (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

9. Kansas City Chiefs, 11: Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas, Curley Culp, Jan Stenerud, Marcus Allen, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Mary Levy (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

10. Buffalo Bills, 10: Billy Shaw, O.J. Simpson, Joe DeLamiellure, James Lofton, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Marv Levy (coach), Bill Polian (executive).

Houston Oilers, 10: Elvin Bethea, Curley Culp, Robert Brazile, Earl Campbell, Dave Casper, Ken Houston, Charlie Joiner, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews.

11. Chicago Bears, 8: Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Alan Page, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, Brian Urlacher.


12. New England Patriots, 8: Nick Buoniconti, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Curtis Martin, Randy Moss, Bill Parcells (coach) and Don Criqui (broadcaster).

San Diego Chargers, 8: Ron Mix, Lance Alworth, Fred Dean, Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow, La Dainian Tomlinson, Bobby Beathard (executive).

13. Denver Broncos, 6: Willie Brown, Floyd Little, John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman, Terrell Davis.

14. Cleveland Browns, 6: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Kelly, Paul Warfield, Joe DeLamiellure and Ozzie Newsome.

15. New York Giants, 6: Sam Huff, Fran Tarkenton, Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Bill Parcells (coach). Y.A. Tittle died last year.


16. New York Jets, 6: Don Maynard, Joe Namath, John Riggins, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells (coach-executive), Ron Wolf (executive).

17. Los Angeles Rams, 5: Tom Mack, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson, Kevin Greene. Dick Enberg (broadcaster) died a few weeks ago.

Baltimore Colts, 5: Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Lenny Moore, Ted Hendricks, Don Shula (coach).

18. Indianapolis Colts, 5: Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy (coach), Bill Polian (executive).

19. Seattle Seahawks, 4: Steve Largent, Kenny Easley, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones.

20. Detroit Lions, 4: Joe Schmidt, Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, Barry Sanders.

21. Philadelphia Eagles, 4: Sonny Jurgensen, Tommy McDonald, Bob Brown, Brian Dawkins.

22. Baltimore Ravens, 4: Jonathan Ogden, Rod Woodson, Ray Lewis, Ozzie Newsome (executive).

23. Atlanta Falcons, 4: Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey, Morten Andersen, Bobby Beathard (executive).

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4: Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy (coach), Ron Wolf (executive).

St. Louis Rams, 4: Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Aeneas Williams. 

St. Louis Cardinals, 4: Larry Wilson, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli.

25. New Orleans Saints, 3: Rickey Jackson, Morten Andersen, Willie Roaf.

26. Arizona Cardinals, 2: Aeneas Williams, Kurt Warner.

27. Cincinnati Bengals, 2: Charlie Joiner, Anthony Munoz.

28. Tennessee Titans, 1: Bruce Matthews.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1: Tony Boselli.

30. Carolina Panthers, 1: Bill Polian (executive). 

Chicago Cardinals, 1: Charley Trippi.

31. Houston Texans, none. 

32. Los Angeles Chargers, none.

Pro Football Hall-of-Famers By Team, 2018 Edition

Congratulations to the newly-elected members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, whose new members are annually announced on the day before the Super Bowl, whom I've listed here in chronological order:

* Jerry Kramer, guard, Green Bay Packers 1958-68. Often called the best player not in the Hall, and I've never understood why he wasn't in. Now, he's in, almost half a century after he played his last game.

* Robert Brazile, linebacker, Houston Oilers (the team now known as the Tennessee Titans) 1975-84.

* Ray Lewis, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens 1996-2012.

* Brain Dawkins, safety, Philadelphia Eagles 1996-2008, Denver Broncos 2009-11.

* Terrell Owens, receiver, San Francisco 49ers 1996-2003, Philadelphia Eagles 2004-05, Dallas Cowboys 2006-08, Buffalo Bills 2009, Cincinnati Bengals 2010.

* Randy Moss, receiver, Minnesota Vikings 1998-2004 with a brief return in 2010, Oakland Raiders 2005-06, New England Patriots 2007-10, Tennessee Titans 2010, San Francisco 49ers 2012.

* Brian Urlacher, linebacker, Chicago Bears 2000-12.

* And one non-player (briefly signed but never played), Bobby Beathard, scout, Kansas City Chiefs 1963-67, Atlanta Falcons 1968-71; director of player personnel, Miami Dolphins 1972-77; general manager, Washington Redskins 1978-89 and San Diego Chargers 1990-2000.

All are still alive. Kramer just turned 82, Beathard just turned 81, Brazile is about to turn 65, Dawkins and Owens are 44, Lewis is 42, Moss is about to turn 41, and Urlacher is 39.

I'm a little surprised that both T.O. and Moss got in. Receivers have tended to get short shrift, and it's unusual for 2 to get into the Hall in the same year. In fact, it's never happened before.

None was elected in 2017, Marvin Harrison in 2016, Tim Brown in 2015, Andre Reed in 2014, Cris Carter in 2013, Jerry Rice in 2010, Bob Hayes in 2009, Art Monk in 2008, Michael Irvin in 2007, James Lofton in 2003, John Stallworth in 2002, Lynn Swann in 2001, Tommy McDonald in 1998, Charlie Joiner in 1996, Steve Largent in 1995, Fred Biletnikoff in 1988, Don Maynard in 1987, Charley Taylor in 1984, Paul Warfield in 1983, and then you've got to go all the way back to 1973 for Raymond Berry, 1970 for Tom Fears, and, before that, from the Hall's establishment in 1963 until 1969, "ends" were elected, but "wide receivers" were not.

And, considering that both T.O. and Moss, intentionally and otherwise, courted controversy, and T.O. was an unsuccessful finalist for election last year, and that this was Moss' 1st year of eligibility, I was beginning to think it would take some serious guts to vote either of them in, let alone both. Apparently, guts found, both in.

*

Inductees are listed here with a team if they played, or coached, or were an executive, with them for at least 4 seasons.

I have divided moved teams accordingly (i.e., Johnny Unitas never took a snap for the Indianapolis Colts). "Sure future Hall-of-Famers" are not included, because, as we have seen in baseball, there is no such thing anymore. 

Tenure as a player, or a coach, or an executive is only counted if they were elected as such. In other words, Raymond Berry coached the Patriots into a Super Bowl, and Forrest Gregg did so with the Bengals, but they were elected as a Colts player and a Packers player, respectively, so those are the teams with which they're included.

Ties in the rankings are broken by more players, as opposed to other categories; and then by time in the league. So a team with 4 players is ahead of one with 3 players and 1 coach, and a team with 3 players in 50 years is ahead of one with 3 players in 80 years.

Figures are listed here as follows: Players in chronological order of their Hall of Fame service with the team (even if they had other functions with that team), then coaches, then executives, then broadcasters.

1. Chicago Bears, 29: George Halas (founder, owner, general manager, head coach, player), John "Paddy" Driscoll, George Trafton, Ed Healey, William "Link" Lyman, Red Grange, Bill Hewitt, Bronko Nagurski, George Musso, Dan Fortmann, Joe Stydahar, Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, George Connor, George Blanda, Bill George, Doug Atkins, Stan Jones, Mike Ditka (player & coach), Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Alan Page, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, Brian Urlahcer, Jim Finks (executive).

Willie Galimore and Gary Fencik should be in. Thomas Jones is now eligible, and while he didn't spend 4 seasons with any team, his 3 years with the Bears were his most productive period, so I'd list him with them if he got in, and with over 10,000 career rushing yards, he should be in.

2. Green Bay Packers, 27: Earl "Curly" Lambeau (founder, owner, executive, head coach, player), Cal Hubbard, John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Mike Michalske, Arnie Herber, Clarke Hinkle, Don Hutson, Tony Canadeo, Jim Ringo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Jerry Kramer, Ray Nitschke, Henry Jordan, Willie Davis, Willie Wood, Herb Adderley, Dave Robinson, James Lofton, Jan Stenerud, Reggie White, Brett Favre, Vince Lombardi (coach & executive), Ron Wolf (executive), Ray Scott (broadcaster, later the main voice on CBS' NFL telecasts).

There are 11 figures from the Lombardi Era, including Lombardi himself, who are enshrined in Canton -- not counting Emlen Tunnell, who played the last 3 seasons of his career with the Packers and retired after the 1st title of the Lombardi Era, 1961. For whatever reason, Jerry Kramer is not in, and he's not getting any younger. Mike Holmgren will be eligible next year.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 24: Walt Kiesling (also coach), John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Bill Dudley, Ernie Stautner, Jack Butler, John Henry Johnson, Bobby Layne, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Dermontti Dawson, Jerome Bettis, Art Rooney (founder-owner), Dan Rooney (owner), Bert Bell (coach, later NFL Commissioner), Chuck Noll (coach), Myron Cope (broadcaster). 

While the Steelers were rarely competitive for their 1st 40 seasons, they did have a few players who were Hall-worthy, but note that 15 of the 24 were involved with the club during their 1972-79 dynasty. Hines Ward is now eligible, and while that touchdown he scored on a kickoff return for the Gotham Rogues as the field collapsed behind him in The Dark Knight Rises does nothing to help his candidacy, if he does get in, you know that highlight will be played over and over again.

4. New York Giants, 21: Steve Owen (elected as a coach, also a pretty good player for Giants), Ray Flaherty, Benny Friedman, Red Badgro, Mel Hein, Ken Strong, Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans, Emlen Tunnell, Arnie Weinmeister, Frank Gifford, Roosevelt Brown, Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Y.A. Tittle, Fran Tarkenton, Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Tim Mara (founder & owner), Wellington Mara (owner), Bill Parcells (coach).

Gifford has also been elected as a broadcaster. So has Pat Summerall, but as a CBS & Fox broadcaster, not as a Giants player or broadcaster, so he can't be included here. Tom Landry was the first great defensive back to be only a defensive back, after the early 1950s shift to two-platoon football, and was the defensive coordinator on the Giants' 1956-63 contenders, but was elected to the Hall based on his coaching for the Cowboys, and thus can't be counted here. 

George Young, the architect of the Giants' 1986 & '90 NFL Champions, has not yet been elected. Nor has Phil Simms, and you can also make a case for Mark Bavaro (tight ends are in short supply in the Hall), George Martin and Leonard Marshall. I wonder if anyone will be willing to vote for Tiki Barber, who is now eligible.

5. Washington Redskins, 21: Cliff Battles, Turk Edwards (also coach), Wayne Millner, Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Paul Krause, Chris Hanburger, Ken Houston, John Riggins, Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Darrell Green, Bruce Smith (last 4 years of his career as a Redskin), George Preston Marshall (founder & owner), Ray Flaherty (elected as a Giants player but coached 'Skins to 2 NFL titles so I'm counting him as one of theirs), George Allen (coach), Joe Gibbs (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

Jurgensen and Huff have also been broadcasters for the team. Grimm is the only one of the "Hogs" yet elected, but Jeff Bostic and Joe Jacoby should also be elected. A case can be made for an earlier Redskin lineman, Len Hauss.

None of the men who have thus far quarterbacked the Redskins into a Super Bowl is in: Not Billy Kilmer, not Joe Theismann, not Doug Williams, not Mark Rypien -- and good cases can be made for all but Rypien, who just didn't play long enough. If Jan Stenerud got elected as a kicker (who didn't also play another position, as did Lou Groza and George Blanda), then why not Mark Moseley?

6. Oakland Raiders, 19: Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda, Ken Stabler, Gene Upshaw, Willie Brown, Art Shell, Dave Casper, Ray Guy, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Tim Brown, John Madden (coach), Al Davis (owner-coach), Ron Wolf (scout).

Note that I'm making an exception to my one-city-only rule for the Raiders, treating them as a continuous Oakland franchise, since they did return, even though their Los Angeles edition became a cultural icon (and not for good reasons). Counted separately, the Oakland Raiders have 13, and the Los Angeles Raiders have 3 (Haynes, Long, Allen).

Madden has also been elected as a broadcaster. Rice and Sapp were both there for 4 seasons, so they count. Now that Guy is in, who's the most obvious Raider not in? I'd say Jack Tatum, if anybody's got the guts to elect a great cornerback who needlessly paralyzed a man in a preseason game. Also worthy of consideration are Ben Davidson and Lester Hayes.

7. Dallas Cowboys, 18: Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes, Rayfield Wright, Mike Ditka, Roger Staubach, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Larry Allen, Charles Haley, Tom Landry (coach), Bill Parcells (coach), Tex Schramm (executive), Jerry Jones (owner).

Parcells did coach them for 4 seasons, so that counts. Ditka is so identified with the Bears (with whom he practically invented the position of tight end and won a title in 1963) that people forget he was a Cowboy, and won a Super Bowl each as a player and as one of Landry's assistant coaches -- as did Dan Reeves, although if he ever got elected it would be as a head coach, and therefore not as a Cowboy.

Don Meredith was elected as a broadcaster, but was never a broadcaster specifically for the Cowboys. A case can be made that he deserves election as a player. Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters and Herschel Walker also have their advocates.

8. San Francisco 49ers, 17: Bob St. Clair, Y.A. Tittle, Joe "the Jet" Perry, Leo Nomellini, Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson, Dave Wilcox, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Montana, Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Charles Haley, Terrell Owens, Bill Walsh (coach), Eddie DeBartolo (owner).

Tittle, Perry, McElhenny and John Henry Johnson are the only entire backfield that all played together to all be elected to the Hall, and they were known as the $100,000 Backfield. The Jimmy Johnson listed above was a black cornerback in the 1960s and '70s, and should not be confused with the white coach for the Cowboys -- although this Jimmy Johnson, unlike the coach, was actually born in Dallas.

Rickey Jackson only played 2 seasons for the Niners, but he did win his only ring with them. Deion Sanders played only 1 season for them, but got the same Super Bowl XXIX ring that Jackson did. So, due to insufficient longevity, I can't cont either of them as 49ers HOFers.

From their 1980s champions, Dwight Clark, Roger Craig, Randy Cross, Guy McIntyre, Harris Barton and Ken Norton Jr. have not been elected, but all are worth consideration, and Craig absolutely should be in.

9. Cleveland Browns, 16: Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Bill Willis, Frank Gatski, Len Ford, Mike McCormack, Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Gene Hickerson, Leroy Kelly, Paul Warfield, Joe DeLamiellure and Ozzie Newsome, Paul Brown (coach-executive).

It says something about this franchise that there have been no players who have played so much as a down for them since 1990 that can be called a Browns' HOFer -- and only DeLamielleure and Newsome have played for them since 1977. Tom Cousineau hasn't made it, and neither has Clay Matthews Jr. (father of the current star Packer linebacker and brother of Oliers/Titans HOFer Bruce Matthews -- Clay Sr. played for the 49ers in the 1950s, but wasn't HOF quality).

And yet, look at just what they produced in the 1940s and '50s. And that doesn't include players they let get away, like Doug Atkins, Henry Jordan, Willie Davis, Len Dawson, and (while they did both play long enough for the Browns to be counted with them) Mitchell and Warfield.

Maybe that's the real reason Art Modell isn't in the Hall: It's not that he moved the original Browns, and screwed the people of Northern Ohio, it's that he was a bad owner. (Though, to be fair, his firing of Paul Brown and installation of Blanton Collier in 1962 did bring the 1964 NFL Championship, Cleveland's last title in any sport until last year's Cavaliers.)

10. Kansas City Chiefs, 16: Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, Curley Culp, Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas, Marcus Allen, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Hank Stram (coach), Mary Levy (coach), Lamar Hunt (founder-owner), Bobby Beathard (executive), Charlie Jones (broadcaster, did Dallas Texans/K.C. Chiefs games before becoming the main voice for NBC's AFL and then AFC broadcasts).

Dawson has also been elected as a broadcaster. Tony Gonzalez, who would also qualify as a Falcon,

will be eligible in 2020.

11. Los Angeles Rams, 15: Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Norm Van Brocklin, Les Richter, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Tom Mack, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson, Kevin Greene, George Allen (coach), Dan Reeves (owner, not to be confused with the Denver/Atlanta coach), Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

Joe Stydahar coached the Rams to their only NFL Championship in Los Angeles, 1951, but was elected as a player, not a coach, and so can't be counted as a Rams' Hall-of-Famer. Counting their St. Louis years, the Rams franchise has 16. Now that Greene is in, Henry Ellard is the most deserving former L.A. Ram not yet in the Hall, but he's a borderline case at best.

12. Detroit Lions, 14: Dutch Clark (also coach), Jack Christiansen, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Yale Lary, Alex Wojciechowicz, Lou Creekmur, Dick Stanfel, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Joe Schmidt (also coach), Lem Barney, Dick LeBeau, Charlie Sanders and Barry Sanders (no relation to each other).

Although he played for their 1935 NFL Champions and coached them to the 1952 and '53 titles, Buddy Parker is not in the Hall. Nor is Alex Karras, who died without having been elected; if Paul Hornung, a man whose morals were a lot looser than Karras', could be forgiven for his gambling charge that led to his suspension for the 1963 season and get elected, why not Karras, who was suspended at the same time for the same offense?

It says something about this franchise that there has been only 1 player (Barry Sanders) who has played so much as a down for them since 1977 that can be called a Lions' HOFer, although cases can be made for Herman Moore, Lomas Brown and Chris Spielman.

13. Minnesota Vikings, 14: Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tinglehoff, Chris Doleman, Gary Zimmerman, Randall McDaniel, Cris Carter, John Randle, Randy Moss, Bud Grant (coach), Jim Finks (executive). Warren Moon was only there for 3 seasons. 

14. Philadelphia Eagles, 13: Steve Van Buren, Alex Wojciechowicz, Pete Pihos, Chuck Bednarik, Sonny Jurgensen, Tommy McDonald, Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Brown, Jim Ringo, Reggie White, Brian Dawkins, Greasy Neale (coach), Bert Bell (founder-owner-coach, later NFL Commissioner).

Van Brocklin only played 3 seasons for the Eagles, but he was the quarterback on their last NFL Championship team, 1960, and then he retired, despite being only 34 years old, so I'm bending the rule to count him. On the other hand, Claude Humphrey played 3 seasons for them, 1 being their 1st trip to the Super Bowl, but unlike Van Brocklin is not an Eagles icon, so I can only include him with the Falcons.

Art Monk, James Lofton and Richard Dent briefly played for the team, and cases could be made for Stan Walters, Jerry Sisemore, Bill Bergey, Randall Cunningham, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner and Donovan McNabb. Ron Jaworski, however, only stands to be elected as a media personality, not a player. That is how Irv Cross was elected: While he made 2 Pro Bowls as an Eagle cornerback, he is not in the Hall as a player.

15. Buffalo Bills, 12: Billy Shaw, O.J. Simpson (had to list him), Joe DeLamiellure, James Lofton, Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Marv Levy (coach), Ralph Wilson (owner), Bill Polian (executive) and Van Miller (broadcaster).

Shaw played his entire career in the AFL, making him the only man in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who never played a down in the NFL. (Remember, it's not the National Football League Hall of Fame, it's the Pro Football Hall of Fame.) So much fuss was made over the special-teams skills of Steve Tasker that I'm surprised that he's not in.

16. Miami Dolphins, 11: Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, Larry Little, Paul Warfield, Dan Marino, Dwight Stephenson, Jason Taylor, Don Shula (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

In spite of everything that happened in his career, Ricky Williams rushed for over 10,000 yards. He is now eligible, but I doubt he'll ever get in. If he does, he would qualify only as a Dolphin, not as a Saint.

Houston Oilers, 11: George Blanda, Elvin Bethea, Curley Culp, Robert Brazile, Earl Campbell, Dave Casper, Ken Houston, Charlie Joiner, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews. Since Matthews counts as both an Oiler and a Titan, if we combine the Houston years and the Tennessee years, their total of 10 does not rise.

Baltimore Colts, 10: Art Donovan, Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, John Mackey, Ted Hendricks, Weeb Ewbank (coach), Don Shula (coach). Counting their Indianapolis years, the Colts have 14.

San Diego Chargers, 10: Ron Mix, Lance Alworth, Fred Dean, Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Ron Kellen Winslow, Junior Seau, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sid Gillman (coach), Bobby Beathard (executive).

17. New England Patriots, 9: Nick Buoniconti, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Curtis Martin, Junior Seau, Randy Moss, Bill Parcells (coach) and Don Criqui (broadcaster). This counts players from their AFL days, when they were officially named the Boston Patriots.

Cases could also be made for Jim Nance, Jim Hunt, Steve Nelson, Julius Adams, Irving Fryar, Drew Bledsoe and Tedy Bruschi, all eligible.

Chicago Cardinals, 9: Jimmy Conzelman, Paddy Driscoll, Guy Chamberlin, Ernie Nevers, Walt Kiesling, Charley Trippi, Ollie Matson, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Charles Bidwill (owner). Conzelman, Driscoll and Kiesling were also head coaches for the Cards. Counting all their cities, despite having been around for nearly a century, the Cards have only 14 Hall-of-Famers.

18. New York Jets, 7: Don Maynard, Joe Namath, John Riggins, Curtis Martin, Weeb Ewbank (coach), Bill Parcells (coach-executive), Ron Wolf (executive).

Although the Big Tuna only coached the Jets for 3 seasons, he was an executive with them for 4 seasons, and thus meets my qualification for a Jet HOFer. Wesley Walker, Joe Klecko and Marty Lyons should be considered, although nobody seems to be willing to vote for Mark Gastineau. Vinny Testaverde is eligible, but not yet in. (He would also qualify as a Buccaneer.)

Canton Bulldogs, 6: Jim Thorpe, Guy Chamberlin, Joe Guyon, Pete Henry, William "Link" Lyman, Earl "Greasy" Neale.

19. Denver Broncos, 6: Willie Brown, Floyd Little, John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman, Terrell Davis. Longtime owner Pat Bowlen and 3-time AFC Champion coach Dan Reeves have never been elected, but should be. So should Randy Gradishar, Steve Atwater and Mark Schlereth, although, because of how many feathers he ruffled, I don't think you'll ever see Bill Romanowski get in. Peyton Manning becomes eligible in 2021.

20. Indianapolis Colts, 5: Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy (coach), Bill Polian (executive). Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James are now eligible. Peyton Manning becomes eligible in 2021.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5: Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy (coach), Ron Wolf (executive). John Lynch is now eligible, and should be in, and would also qualify as a Bronco. Warrick Dunn is now eligible, and should be in, and would also qualify as a Falcon.

22. Baltimore Ravens, 4: Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, Ozzie Newsome (executive). Newsome was elected as a Cleveland Browns player, but has been a masterful executive for the franchise since the move, so I'm bending the rules to include him as a Brown and a Raven. Ray Lewis becomes eligible next year. Jamal Lewis is eligible, but isn't yet in.

St. Louis Cardinals, 4: Larry Wilson, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Roger Wehrli. Dierdorf has also been elected as a broadcaster, although not specifically with the Cardinals. Ottis Anderson should be elected as a Cardinal, although he achieved his greatest moment as a Giant.

23. Seattle Seahawks, 4: Steve Largent, Kenny Easley, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones. Rickey Watters is eligible, and while he only played 3 seasons each with the 49ers and Eagles, he played 4 with the Hawks, so if he goes in, he would qualify only for them.

24. New Orleans Saints, 4: Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Morten Andersen, Jim Finks (executive). Mike Ditka was Saints coach for 3 seasons and Tom Fears for 4, but neither was elected as a coach, so they can't be included here anyway. Same for Hank Stram, who was elected as a coach, but only coached the Saints for 2 seasons.

25. Atlanta Falcons, 4: Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey, Morten Andersen, Bobby Beathard (executive). Tony Gonzalez will probably be a 1st-ballot inductee in 2020. I wonder if anyone will vote for Michael Vick when he becomes eligible in 2022.

St. Louis Rams, 4: Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Aeneas Williams. Dick Vermeil, Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are eligible. Note that the St. Louis edition of the Rams is now italicized as a former team. Unlike the Raiders, it doesn't really make sense to fold the St. Louis era in with Los Angeles.

Duluth Eskimos, 3: Walt Kiesling, John "Johnny Blood" McNally, Ernie Nevers.

26. Cincinnati Bengals, 3: Charlie Joiner, Anthony Munoz, Paul Brown (founder-owner-coach). Reggie Williams and Corey Dillon should be in, but Boomer Esiason is a borderline case. Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson hasn't played in an NFL game since 2011, but has played the last 2 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, so I don't know what the ruling is on when his eligibility begins. Whenever it does, he's both a borderline Hall of Fame case and a borderline mental case.

27. Arizona Cardinals, 2: Aeneas Williams, Kurt Warner. Emmitt Smith wasn't with them long enough.

Frankford Yellow Jackets, 2: Guy Chamberlin, William "Link" Lyman. The 1926 NFL Champions should also have Russell "Bull" Behman and Henry "Two-Bits" Homan -- the former a big guy by the standards of the time, and the latter a little guy who was the NFL's answer to Wee Willie Keeler -- in the Hall.  But both died in the early 1950s, so neither was able to speak on his own behalf since the 1962 founding of NFL Films. Although the Eagles replaced the Jackets as Philadelphia's NFL team, the two teams are not the same franchise.

Providence Steam Roller, 2: Jimmy Conzelman (player & coach), Frederick "Fritz" Pollard.

Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL 1930-1948), 2: Clarence “Ace” Parker, Frank "Bruiser" Kinard.

28. Tennessee Titans, 1: Bruce Matthews. He only played 3 years as a "Tennessee Titan," but counting 2 years as a "Tennessee Oiler," he qualifies for the Titans. Eddie George is eligible, and should be in.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1: Tony Boselli. I had previously thought that the former Jag most likely to be their 1st HOFer would be Fred Taylor.

30. Carolina Panthers, 1: Bill Polian (executive). Mike McCormack was an executive with them, but that's as close any other Panthers figure comes. Reggie White, who played for them in 2000 and died in 2004, is their only former player thus far inducted. Perhaps the late Sam Mills might end up being their 1st elected HOF player, or maybe Steve Smith. Kevin Greene only played 3 seasons for them, so he doesn't count. Cam Newton, of course, is still active.

31. Houston Texans, none. Not surprising, as they are the newest franchise. It's not yet clear who their 1st HOFer would be, although the recently-retired Andre Johnson made 7 Pro Bowls, and the still-active J.J. Watt has made 4.

32. Los Angeles Chargers, none. Sorry, Alex and Dean Spanos, but you dropped yourselves to the bottom of this list when you screwed San Diego over.

Top 10 Athletes From South Carolina

May 23, 1788: South Carolina becomes the 8th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and joins the Union.

Top 10 Athletes from South Carolina

No South Carolina-trained football player has ever won the Heisman Trophy. Felix "Doc" Blanchard won it in 1944, and was born in McColl, but the family left the State at age 5, and he qualifies for Mississippi instead.

George Rogers won it at the University of South Carolina in 1980, but is from Georgia. So is Gamecocks wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. They are the only 2 players from the school only people in the Palmetto State call "USC" to make the College Football Hall of Fame.

As for Clemson, which won the National Championship in 1981 and again last year, the best player on their 1st title team was Terry Kinard, a decent defensive back for the Super Bowl-winning Giants, but hardly a pro legend. The best player on last year's team was Deshaun Watson, a quarterback who was just drafted by the Houston Texans, but it's way too soon to put him, or any other Clemson player -- including William "the Refrigerator" Perry of the Super Bowl Shuffle Bears of 1985-86 -- on this list.

Larry Doby was born in Camden, South Carolina, and Althea Gibson was born in Clarendon County. But both grew up in the New York Tri-State Area: Doby in Paterson, New Jersey; and Gibson in Harlem, before settling in East Orange. Al Rosen was born in Spartanburg, but grew up in Miami, so he qualifies for Florida.

Honorable Mention to 2 Yankees who were born in Holly Hill, South Carolina. Willie Randolph moved with his family to Brooklyn as a small boy, so he doesn't remember the place. But Brett Gardner was not only born there, but grew up there.

Honorable Mention to William Julius "Mookie" Wilson of Bamberg, South Carolina, and the 1986 Mets.

Honorable Mention to Calvin Reese Jr., a.k.a. Pokey Reese, of Columbia, who, with his teammates on the 2004 World Champion * Boston Red Sox, was selected by Sports Illustrated as their Sportspeople of the Year. (As far as I know, he didn't use performance-enhancing drugs.)

Honorable Mention to Arnold Tucker of Calhoun Falls. He was Army's quarterback in their 1944 and '45 National Championship seasons, and in 1946 finished 5th in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy, behind teammates Glenn Davis in 1st and Blanchard in 2nd. So, Honorable Mention to him. He never played pro ball, staying in the Army upon graduation from West Point, being transferred into the new U.S. Air Force in 1947, served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Honorable Mention to Chris Antley of Elloree. In 1991, he won the Kentucky Derby aboard Strike the Gold. But he fell victim to drug use. He got clean for a while, and in 1999 rode Charismatic to win the Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He had Charismatic leading in the Belmont Stakes. a few furlongs from winning the Triple Crown, but the horse got hurt. Antley saw this, and jumped off, and held him in place, so he wouldn't injure himself further.

He saved Charismatic's life, but couldn't save his own. He fell back into drug use, and died the next year. He was posthumously elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

10. Bobby Richardson of Sumter. The 2nd baseman was an average, occasionally very good, player in the regular season, but a terror in World Series play, raising his batting average from .266 to .305. He won 7 Pennants with the Yankees from 1957 to 1964, and 3 World Series: 1958, 1961 and 1962.

Ironically, his best performances came in defeats. In 1960, he set a Series record that still stands with 12 RBIs, and became, to date, the only player from a losing team to be named Most Valuable Player of a World Series. In 1964, he became the 1st player (there are now others) to collect 13 hits in a single Series. But he's best known for catching a line drive from Willie McCovey for the last out to preserve a 1-0 Yankee win over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 in 1962.

An injury ended his career at age 30. He became the head coach at the University of South Carolina, getting them to their 1st NCAA Tournament appearance in 1974. He was also the head coach at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University and at Coastal Carolina University. He is an ordained minister, and officiated at the funeral of teammate Mickey Mantle. He wore Number 1 through most of his Yankee career, and it is retired, but not for him. (Rather, it's for the man he succeeded as the Yankees' starting 2nd baseman, Pennant-winning manager Billy Martin.)

9. Bob Montgomery of Sumter. He might have been the 1st great boxer to grow up in South Carolina and move to Philadelphia to turn pro as a teenager, but he wasn't the last. He beat Beau Jack to become Lightweight Champion of the World in 1943, lost it to him 6 months later, and took it back again 4 months after that, holding the title until 1947. He is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

8. Jim Rice of Anderson. His career total of 382 home runs might not sound like a Hall of Fame-worthy total -- Frank Howard hit exactly as many, and Rice's Boston Red Sox teammate Dwight Evans hit 385 and was a great defensive outfielder, and they're not in Cooperstown. And, as a Yankee Fan who remembers 1978, I can tell you that Rice getting the nod over Ron Guidry was the most dubious decision in the history of MLB Most Valuable Player voting.

But Rice was an 8-time All-Star. He led the American League in home runs in 1977, and led it in both homers and RBI in 1978 and again in 1983. He got the Sox into the postseason in 1975, (sort-of) in 1978, and in 1986. The team has retired his Number 14, and elected them to their team Hall of Fame.

7. Alex English of Columbia. The forward was an 8-time NBA All-Star, and led the league in scoring in 1983. When he retired in 1991, he was 1 of only 7 players to have scored 25,000 career points. His Number 22 was retired by the University of South Carolina, and his 2 was retired by the Denver Nuggets. He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

After coaching on the staffs of Philadelphia, Atlanta, Toronto and Sacramento, he is now a color analyst for college basketball games on the SEC Network.

6. Harry Carson of Florence. The linebacker was the Captain of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI, the G-Men's 1st World Championship in 30 years. He was a 9-time Pro Bowler, and has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Giants Ring of Honor.

5. Kevin Garnett of Mauldin. After 3 years at Mauldin High School, he went to Chicago to attend Farragut Career Academy, and was named Illinois' Mr. Basketball in 1995. He skipped college to go directly to the NBA. That doesn't work out for a lot of players. It did for him, as he was an All-Star 15 times, including being named the Game's MVP in 2003.

He was named the league's MVP in 2004, and got the Minnesota Timberwolves to, to date, their only Conference Finals. He signed with the Boston Celtics, and led them to the 2008 NBA Championship, being named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He also won a Gold Medal with the U.S. team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

He retired after last season. Barring his doing something incredibly stupid, he will be elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Timberwolves will almost certainly retire his Number 21. Whether the Celtics retire his 5 (they'd already retired 21 for Bill Sharman) remains to be seen. If the NBA does a 75th Anniversary 75 Greatest Players in 2021, he will surely be in it. He might even be in the top 20.

4. Art Shell of North Charleston. The Oakland Raiders had one heck of an offensive line in the 1970s and into the early 1980s, with Shell at tackle, Gene Upshaw at guard, and Jim Otto and then Dave Dalby at center, protecting first Ken Stabler, then Jim Plunkett as they won 3 Super Bowls between them.

Shell was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, 8 Pro Bowls, and The Sporting News' 100  Greatest Football Players.

In 1989, during their Los Angeles sojourn, Shell was named the Raiders' head coach, making him the 1st black head coach in the NFL, unless you count Fritz Pollard in the league's early days, when it was barely a semipro league. In 1990, he coached them to the AFC Championship Game, and was named NFL Coach of the Year.

3. Pete Maravich of Central, South Carolina. The family lived there while his father, Press Maravich (Petar Press Maravich Sr.), was the head coach at Clemson. The future Pistol Pete was born, while Press was playing in the NBA's 1st season, for the Pittsburgh Ironmen (who didn't play a 2nd season), in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania -- also the hometown of Mike Ditka and Tony Dorsett.

His father became the head coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), and Pete went there, and averaged 44.2 points per game, still an NCAA record, despite there being neither a 3-point shot nor a shot clock in college ball at the time (1967-70).

He starred for the Atlanta Hawks, then back in Louisiana with the expansion New Orleans Jazz. He was with them in their 1st season in Utah, 1979-80, but was soon traded to the Boston Celtics, and a recurring knee injury ended his carer after that season. His luck was bad: Although his own play was stunning, as he made 5 All-Star Games and led the NBA in scoring in 1977 -- and his floppy hair and floppier socks made him something of an icon -- the Hawks stopped being good right after he arrived, and both the Jazz and the Celtics got good again right after he left.

That didn't stop him from being elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, and being named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary 50 Greatest Players in 1996. Unfortunately, he was the only one of the 50 who had yet died, felled by an undetected heart defect in 1988, only 40 years old. His uniform number was retired by LSU (23), the Hawks (44), the Jazz (7), and, even though he never played for the franchise, the new team in New Orleans, the Pelicans (7).

2. Joe Jackson of Greenville. There was no All-Star Game in the era of "Shoeless Joe." If there was, he would have made it several times. His .356 lifetime batting average would surely have dropped if he'd had a full career. On the other hand, he would have been a shoo-in for 3,000 hits and the Hall of Fame. Alas...

1. Joe Frazier of Beaufort. Topping Shoeless Joe, and every other player on this list, is Smokin' Joe. He lived on a farm outside Beaufort until he was 15, before going north and famously becoming a Philadelphia fighter. So you're seeing him on this list, instead of when I do a list for Pennsylvania.

He won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1964, won his 1st piece of the Heavyweight Championship of the World in 1968, unified the title in 1970, and made it official every which way by beating the defrocked Muhammad Ali in 1971. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1967, 1970 and 1971.

He lost the title when he got clobbered by George Foreman in 1973, and lost to Ali in 1974 and 1975, but remains one of the greatest punchers in the history of boxing, a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.