Predicting the 2022 Hall of Fame class: Does Devin Hester get in?
After seeing two classes of NFL players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who is going to get in as part of the 2022 class?
Canton, OH welcomed fans and all-time NFL greats back to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend after COVID-19 eliminated the enshrinement ceremony in 2020. Subsequently, we saw two classes of football legends be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the 2020 and 2021 classes were honored on separate days.
Those inductions included three first-ballot Hall of Famers for the 2021 class with Peyton Manning — who stole the show, as expected, with his speech — Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson. Now, with busts in the building and gold jackets on their shoulders, these players are Hall of Famers for the rest of their lives. Now we turn our attention to who can join them.
It’s only natural for NFL fans to look towards the future, even when it pertains somewhat to the past and which players will be inducted into Canton next. But before we get into that, let’s take a look at which greats will be in their first year of eligibility for induction in 2022.
Who are the first-year eligible NFL players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022?
We don’t often see three former NFL players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility but that was the case for 2021. So it does add some intrigue to a talented group of first-time eligible greats.
On the offensive side of the ball, we begin with three iconic receivers from the 2000s with Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson, all of whom have somewhat of a case to be inducted, though to varying degrees. Meanwhile, former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is now eligible, though his case based on a relatively small body of work and lack of postseason success is wanting.
Defensively, there are some studs with a conversation that starts with DeMarcus Ware and Robert Mathis, two elite sack artists who were dominant in for a long time in the NFL. Other big-time players such as Vince Wilfork, Mario Williams and Chad Greenway will also be eligible.
The wildcard of the class and perhaps the most popular name, though, is wide receiver and (most importantly) return specialist Devin Hester. One of the most explosive weapons in NFL history, there are going to be plenty of proponents for Hester getting in. Will he, though?
Let’s try to answer that with our predictions for the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class of inductees. (Note: These are modern-era player nominees not considering coaches or senior nominees.)