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Predicting the 2022 Hall of Fame class: Does Devin Hester get in?

By Cody Williams

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 06: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears returns a punt against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field on October 6, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Saints defeated the Bears 26-18. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 06: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears returns a punt against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field on October 6, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Saints defeated the Bears 26-18. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame
DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

DeMarcus Ware, Outside Linebacker

Teams Played For: Dallas Cowboys (2005-13), Denver Broncos (2014-16)
Career Stats/Highlights: 138.5 sacks, 171 tackles for loss, 9-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All-Pro, 1-time Super Bowl champion, 2000s All-Decade Team

Whether in Dallas or Denver, DeMarcus Ware was a menace that opposing quarterbacks (and offensive tackles) had to fear every time he lined up against them. He ranks fourth all-time in tackles for loss and ninth all-time in sacks for his career while also leading the NFL in sacks twice in his career. Furthermore, his reign of dominance was heightened by notching double-digit sacks in seven consecutive seasons and in eight of nine seasosns.

Even if he had retired after his nine seasons in Dallas, Ware would’ve had a case for being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But after winning a Super Bowl with the Broncos and improving his career stats further, Ware has earned the right to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Zach Thomas, Linebacker

Teams Played For: Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (2008)
Career Stats/Highlights: 1,734 combined tackles, 74 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, four interceptions, 7-time Pro Bowler, 5-time All-Pro, 2000s All-Decade Team

It feels as if the committee in Canton has waited the proper amount of time before putting Zach Thomas in. One of the most dominant linebackers of his time, Thomas was an anchor in the middle of the field for over a decade with the Dolphins and an absolute menace when it came to accruing tackles. He finished his career ranked fifth in NFL history in career combined tackles.

The fact of the matter, though, is that there isn’t necessarily the strongest batch of candidates for the 2022 Hall of Fame class and that’s enough to open the door for a two-time finalist like Thomas to earn his gold jacket. To be clear, he’s more than deserving but it also doesn’t hurt that the timing should work out for him next year.

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