Tony Dungy thinks Pro Football Hall of Fame voters dropped the ball this year, and he has some special insight.
He’s one of those voters.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was announced Thursday night. Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates were the only three players from the Modern-Era Players list to make the cut. They’ll be joined by Seniors finalist Sterling Sharpe.
Dungy, who coached the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl win to cap the 2006 season, saw two of his stars from that team, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and kicker Adam Vinatieri, fall short.
The NBC studio analyst told sports anchor Anthony Calhoun of WISH 8 Indianapolis that his two former players deserved a Hall of Fame spot this year, and several other players were also deserving.
“I’m a little surprised at that [Wayne and Vinatieri missing out],” Dungy said. “I’m disappointed for those two guys, but I’m even more disappointed in the whole process. I’m one of the voters, and we sat there and had an all-day Zoom meeting and we’re trying to break things down and we’re splitting hairs between 10 and 12 really, really gifted candidates, and we only elected three modern-day people into the hall.”
“We were discussing eight and nine guys that should have gone in,” Dungy said. “So to have Adam Vinatieri and Reggie Wayne sitting there and not get in and we only elected three, to me it doesn’t make sense.”
The selection committee could have elected up to five Modern-Era Players for this year’s class. Each candidate must receive 80% of the vote for election. The four-person Class of 2025 will be the smallest inducted since 2005.
There’s a good chance Wayne and Vinatieri will make the Hall of Fame one day, where they’ll join Dungy, who was inducted in 2016.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.