Oakland Raiders: Is Ken Stabler a Hall of Famer?

With the unfortunate passing of Oakland Raiders’ legendary quarterback Ken Stabler, the debate has revived as to whether or not the left handed gunslinger known as “the Snake” belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Stabler played for three different franchises from 1970-1984 and was a three-time finalist for the Hall of Fame. In 1990, 1991, and 2003, Stabler failed to make the final cut for the Hall of Fame each time. Did the voters get it right or was Ken Stabler snubbed out of his rightful place among the game’s all-time greats?

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In his 15 year NFL career, Stabler was elected to the Pro Bowl four times, was named to the All-Pro team once, was the starting quarterback on Oakland’s Super Bowl XI championship team, and captured league MVP honors in 1974. It is also worth mentioning that Stabler led the league in completion percentage and touchdown passes twice and led the league in passing yards per game and quarterback rating once.

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As a starting quarterback, Stabler compiled an impressive record of 96-49-1 which computes to a 66% lifetime winning percentage. In addition to these statistical accomplishments, Stabler is also a sentimental favorite among fans because he played a major role in three of the most epic individual plays in football history. The “Holy Roller” play, the “Sea of Hands” catch, and “The Ghost to the Post” help give some added mystique to Stabler’s football legacy.

For all of the points one could make in favor of Stabler’s inclusion to the Hall of Fame, there are equally as many holes in his resume. In Stabler’s first three years in the NFL, he started just two games and threw a grand total of five touchdowns. Also, Stabler failed to post a winning record as a starter in any of his final four seasons in the NFL. Stabler did not eclipse 2,000 yards passing or throw more touchdowns than interceptions in any of those four seasons.

Aug 3, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; General view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Because of this gaping hole in Stabler’s body of work, he simply does not stack up favorably with contemporary Hall of Fame passers like Len Dawson, Bob Griese, or Frank Tarkenton. Dawson for example, was elected to the Pro Bowl three more times than Stabler, led the league in passer rating five more times than Stabler, and Dawson’s 239-183 touchdown to interception ratio is much better than Stabler’s mark of 194-222.

Two contemporary Hall of Fame quarterbacks that Stabler does compare favorably to include Joe Namath and Terry Bradshaw. Stabler’s career completion percentage (59.8%) dwarfs both Namath’s (50.1%) and Bradshaw’s (51.9%). Also, Bradshaw’s 210 career interceptions and Namath’s 220 are nearly identical to Stabler’s total of 222. Stabler’s career passer rating of 75.5 also has Bradshaw (70.9) and Namath (65.5) beat by a considerable margin.

However, both Namath and Bradshaw hold a trump card over Stabler which gives them the benefit of the doubt. Bradshaw is tied with Joe Montana and Tom Brady for most Super Bowl victories by a starting quarterback in NFL history. Meanwhile, Namath delivered a Super Bowl III victory following a boastful guarantee that his New York Jets would win despite being 18-point underdogs before the game.

Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Jets former quarterback Joe Namath on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In my opinion, Stabler’s seven year chunk of nondescript or below average production at the beginning and ending of his career knocks him out of the Hall of Fame conversation. I understand that Stabler is a sentimental favorite because of his leadership qualities, toughness, and overall knack for coming up huge in big game situations. However, when separating the emotional attachment to Stabler and strictly evaluating the data, it is clear to me that Ken Stabler is not a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback.

Next: Oakland Raiders: Ken Stabler's death a strong motivator for 2015

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