Well, my buddy, if you’ve followed football for any length of time, hearing someone being called an NFL Hall of Famer is a pretty big deal. You wonder. How do people become an NFL Hall of Famer? Is it just about having great stats in the NFL? Is it about competing in multiple championships, or something else entirely?
The truth is no two players’ journeys towards the Hall of Fame will ever look alike. Rather than great stats or numerous accolades, becoming an NFL Hall of Famer is more about making a lasting impact on the game and the lives of others. There are a few criteria that must be met in order for an individual to be selected for the Hall of Fame.
For starters, players must have been either an active player for at least five years, a long time assistant coach or a long time contributor to the game. These are relatively straightforward since any individual who has been involved with the league in any capacity for five or more years is eligible for consideration.
The next part of the criteria to become an NFL Hall of Famer is the conduct of the individual both on and off the field. While the standards of conduct vary from one individual to the next, it is important for potential Hall of Famers to demonstrate respectful behavior and set an example for others. This is especially true since the individual will be representing the entire league as an ambassador.
The other criteria that must be met in order to be considered for the Hall of Fame is the individual’s performance on the field. Of course, stats are important, but it is also important to remember that the NFL isn’t all about yards or tackles. Instead, the individual must demonstrate a mastery of the fundamentals of the game as well as a unique skill set that sets them apart from the rest.
Finally, the only other criteria that must be met is the passing of a vote by the selection committee. Once the selection committee has completed its evaluation of the candidate, he or she must receive at least 80 percent of the vote in order to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Now that I’ve taken a closer look at the selection process for NFL Hall of Famers, I understand that it’s more about making a lasting impact than anything else. A player who has the stats and the awards may be deserving of a nomination, but those who have left a lasting legacy on the game and the lives of others are the ones who usually end up in the Hall of Fame.
So, how has COVID-19 impacted Hall of Fame selections? With the pandemic having significantly reduced the number of events that NFL personnel attend each year, the selection committee has been forced to adapt by looking more carefully at the lasting achievements of individuals. This means that the committee is making sure to look at past accomplishments as well as impressive work in the present.
This also means that the selection committee has been doing more research than ever before. They want to make sure that players, coaches, and personnel are being recognized for their impressive contributions to the league regardless of what year they are in.
With the 2021 NFL Hall of Fame class due to be announced at the end of the year, this has been an incredibly important and historic year for the selection process. I’m excited to watch and see who the 2021 inductees will be!
What about the women in the NFL? The NFL has been making strides when it comes to recognizing the incredible contributions of women in the sport. There is no doubt that women have helped shape the game, but until recently their names were not being considered for the Hall of Fame. Fortunately, that has been changing, with the league now recognizing the work of some truly exceptional women who have helped shape the game.
The NFL also now has a women’s committee on the selection board. This will help make sure that the perspective of women is taken into account when voting on who should be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
What about the impact of analytics in the Hall of Fame selection process? Now that analytics play a big role in evaluating athlete performance, it’s worth wondering how this will affect the selection process. While the selection committee will still likely be considering accomplishments the old-fashioned way, I suspect that analytics will play a bigger role in the future. This should help the selection process become even more fair and just in choosing who should be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Finally, I want to touch on the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony. This event is the crowning moment for any individual who is inducted into the Hall of Fame and serves as a great way to recognize the accomplishments of the inductee. This event is typically hosted in Canton, Ohio at the Hall of Fame Museum, but due to the pandemic, the 2021 event will be virtual. The virtual event should still be an amazing experience though, and I can’t wait to watch it!