Pro Football Hall of Fame 2017: LaDainian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner Headline Class

The 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class of player inductees has been announced, headlined by a trio of offensive greats.

With NFL Honors 2017 airing on Saturday night, the eve of Super Bowl LI, all of the awards for the 2016 season were being handed out. However, in the midst of that, the 2017 class of inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was announced. Officially, the announcement was to be made at 8 p.m. ET at the start of the event. However, these things never wait.

It all started with Terrell Owens, who tweeted early that he did not make it into the Hall of Fame, before then claiming that the system is rigged. Though always polarizing, it’s hard to look at Owens’ body of work throughout his career and not see him as worthy of being in the Hall of Fame. Not this year, though.

However, five former players did make it and they too are all deserving of making it in. Andrew Luria of FOX 5 San Diego was the first to break the news. The 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class of inductees includes the following, headlined by San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson:

Per NFL.com, Kenny Easley and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones are the other inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

While all five players that will be getting their bust and gold jacket are deserving, it’s hard not to see some of the quintet as a bit surprising. Tomlinson and Kurt Warner were mortal locks with Terrell Davis not far behind. However, Jason Taylor and Morten Anderson are indeed a bit surprising to be getting in at this stage of their candidacy.

Next: NFL Honors 2017: Winners for Each Award

Even still, these players would’ve been inducted eventually, as they all five are deserving of being enshrined in Canton, OH. Congratulations to all of these greats in the history of the game. And for T.O., maybe next year the voters will finally get it right.