As part of tonight’s NFL Honors program, the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been revealed. It consists of just four players this year. Here is the full breakdown of the 2025 class:
Eric Allen, cornerback (1988-2001)
Playing long enough to be part of the Reggie White–Jerome Brown Eagles defenses to Jon Gruden‘s Raiders teams, Allen excelled well into his 30s and is one of the great playmaking cornerbacks in NFL history. Allen is responsible for eight pick-sixes, cramming seven of them between the 1993 and 2001 seasons. Allen finished his 14-year career with 54 INTs, which is tied for 21st in NFL history.
The Eagles drafted Allen in the 1988 second round and installed him as a starter on Buddy Ryan‘s defense in Week 1 of his rookie season. Allen intercepted 13 passes over his first two years, helping the Eagles — with White at the wheel — form a dominant defensive nucleus. The Eagles won the NFC East in Allen’s rookie season, ending a five-year playoff drought. As Randall Cunningham soared on offense, Allen patrolled the back line of a defense geared around one of the NFL’s all-time greats. Allen joins White as the Hall of Famers from that unit.
Allen notched four pick-sixes during the 1993 season, including this gem against the Jets, but the Eagles fell short of the playoffs that year and dipped a bit as the Cunningham years waned. Allen still made the Pro Bowl each year from 1991-95, following a first-team All-Pro honor in 1989. He signed with the Saints as a free agent in 1995, playing three years in New Orleans, before joining the Raiders in Gruden’s first offseason at the controls.
As the Raiders hoarded aging players who still had plenty left in the tank during Gruden’s first stint as HC, Allen was among the most productive. He nabbed six INTs at age 35 in 2000, returning three for scores. That season snapped a seven-year Raiders playoff skid and produced a run to the AFC championship game — the franchise’s first in 17 years. Allen retired after the ’01 season, starting 214 games. Among pure corners, that ranks third all time. While the turnover counts aided Allen, his longevity will send him to Canton nearly 25 years after his retirement.
Jared Allen, defensive end (2004-15)
One of the best sack artists of his era, Jared Allen will make this a two-Allen class (on a big night for NFL Allens). Jared excelled for the Chiefs and Vikings, being part of a win-win trade in 2008, and then retired after playing in Super Bowl 50 as a Panther. Allen sits 12th in the sack era (1982-present) in QB drops, racking up 136 despite playing only 12 seasons.
The Chiefs drafted Allen in the 2004 fourth round out of Division I-FCS Idaho State. He immediately became an impact edge rusher but joined a team in transition. As Kansas City’s offense-oriented team aged, Allen ascended and became a star for a franchise in decline. After the Chiefs made the playoffs in 2006 under first-year HC Herm Edwards, Allen led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in his fourth season. The 2007 Chiefs went 4-12, losing their final nine games. The Chiefs cashed out on a player who had encountered off-field trouble, in the form of two 2006 DUIs, early in his career. The trade equipped both the Chiefs and Vikings.
During the 2008 draft, Kansas City dealt Allen to Minnesota for first- and third-round picks. A win-win swap sent tackle Branden Albert and running back Jamaal Charles to the Chiefs in the ’08 draft, while Allen landed an extension (six years, $73.26MM) enjoyed his prime in the Twin Cities. Registering 14.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, the second effort falling just short of a Super Bowl after Minnesota’s Brett Favre-led team lost in overtime in the NFC championship game, Allen then made a run at the NFL record in 2011. Allen tallied 22 sacks during the ’11 season, falling a half-sack short of Michael Strahan‘s official record.
Allen played out his Vikings contract in 2013, signing with the Bears. Chicago then traded him to Carolina for a conditional sixth-round pick during the 2015 season, as he joined fellow former Bear Charles Tillman in going for a championship with the Panthers. Although Carolina went 15-1 and ranked sixth defensively, the team’s high-powered offense fell to a superior Denver defense in Super Bowl 50. Allen needed to wait a bit before his induction, but he has gained entry in this year’s unusually small class.
Antonio Gates, tight end (2003-18)
Gates remains the NFL’s leader among touchdown receptions by a tight end. The longtime Philip Rivers target totaled 116 TD grabs during his 16-year career, bettering Tony Gonzalez‘s mark by five. Gonzalez also played 17 seasons (to Gates’ 16). Gates tied Gonzalez’s then-record in 2016, posting five TDs across his final two seasons. The converted basketball player’s mid-2000s surge helped the Chargers win four straight AFC West titles to close the decade.
The Chargers made Gates an integral part of that climb, which remains the franchise’s best sustained stretch since its Air Coryell years. LaDainian Tomlinson shattered the single-season touchdown record, which still stands nearly 20 years later, and Gates broke through as an impact tight end. The Chargers built their passing attack around Gates for many years, and he helped anchor the team’s skill-position group in between Tomlinson’s exit and Keenan Allen‘s arrival.
Initially playing alongside Drew Brees, the ex-Kent State hooper earned first-team All-Pro honors in his second, third and fourth seasons. Gates only suited up for the Chargers, walking away after his age-38 season. The Bolts and Gates agreed to five contracts, the most lucrative a five-year, $36.2MM extension in 2010.
Although Gates needed to wait a year before being enshrined, he is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. His 116 TD receptions rank seventh all time at any position. While his production tailed off as he hit his mid-30s, after making eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 2004-11, the former UDFA remained a solid red zone target for Rivers.
Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver (1988-94)
If the NFL had a No. 1 contender status to Jerry Rice during his peak, Sharpe would have been the best answer. The star Packers pass catcher was 5-for-7 in Pro Bowl nods, during an era where that meant more, and raced to three All-Pro first teams during a career cut short by a neck injury.
Sharpe was close to doing enough for Hall entry by the time he retired at 29, and he exited just before Favre grew into MVP form. In Favre’s early years, however, Sharpe helped the Green Bay trade acquisition become one of the game’s best.
The No. 7 overall pick in a 1988 draft that also included Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Tim Brown, Pro Bowler Anthony Miller and single-game receiving yardage king Flipper Anderson, Sharpe was the first wideout off the board. The physical South Carolina product, who entered the league two years before brother Shannon (and with much greater fanfare), posted a 1,400-yard season in 1989, helping QB Don Majkowski finish second in MVP voting. Sharpe added another 1,100-yard year in 1990 and soared back to the All-Pro level when the Pack landed Favre in ’92.
Sharpe’s first year with Favre featured the wideout break Art Monk’s single-season record by catching 108 passes. Becoming the first receiver to post back-to-back seasons with 100 catches, Sharpe broke his own mark with 112 grabs in 1993. Sharpe led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1992 (13) and ’94 (18), reaching the latter perch despite dealing with the neck injury and other ailments.
The Favre-Sharpe connection played a central role in the Packers snapping a 10-year playoff drought, and in the duo’s first playoff game, they hooked up on a game-winning score to beat the Lions in Detroit. Sharpe scored three touchdowns in Green Bay’s wild-card win. Sharpe never missed a game and retired ranking 13th in career catches (595) and 18th all time in TD receptions (65).
Maybe if we get a couple Peanut Punches in the Super Bowl Charles Tillman will get his due next year.
No Eli that’s a crazy thing. What a shame
Because Eli sucked. He had two elite defenses that led to the two titles and one he needed probably the luckiest catch in NFL history off the side of David Tyree’s helmet on 4th and 20. Eli Manning is barely above Danny Dimes. If you weren’t a ny sports fan you’d see it too
Elite defenses? They were ranked 15th in 2007 and 29th in 2011. Not to mention 31st in rushing. He then threw for the most yards in any single playoffs in NFL history.
The tyree catch was on 3rd and 5. Eli escaped 2 sacks and put the ball where it needed to be.
Youre an idiot.
Then he retired top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns. Eli gets so much hate bc he played in NY.
If he accomplished that in Cincinnati or Houston this wouldn’t even be a topic of conversation.
Nothing like proving New York Trash wrong
Person A: 60.3%, 4.1 TD%, 3.4 INT%, Yards per Attempt – 7, Adjusted Net yards per attempt – 5.92, Rating – 84.1
Person B: 65.3%, 5.7 TD%, 2.7 INT%, Yards per Attempt – 7.9, Adjusted Net yards per attempt – 7.03, Rating – 97.1
Career numbers for 2 qbs from the NFC East who played against each other. Bet you think your imaginary boy toy Eli Manning is the bottom one?? WRONNNNNNG
Top is Eli Manning bottom is Tony Romo. Oh but Eli is so underrated because he plays in New York. Eli sucks
You were right about it being 3rd and 5 good job on that one.
“The ball was where it needed to be”. Yea on the side of his helmet great throw Danny di.. Eli.
117 to 244. Eli played 3 more years than Romo and had 127 more ints. Eli has about 20k more yards thrown and 127 more ints. I never realized how bad Eli Manning really was.
If we’re letting players into the hall of fame based on numbers Romo would get there 50 years before Eli.
Last one. Eli Manning has more interceptions than games played
He’s played in 236 games and thrown 244 interceptions. How the hell is that a hall of fame qb?
Pretty easy to see how he’s 11th all time passing with those numbers in front of you, ain’t that right NY trash
The more you look the more you find. You’re wrong Eli manning isn’t top 10 in passing or tds he’s 11th in both, Matthew Stafford passed him for 10th in both categories. So surly that means Matthew Stafford is a better qb then Eli Manning since has more yards and more yds right???
It’s like beating a dead horse at this point. Like I said originally Eli Manning SUCKS and if it wasn’t for the defense getting hot both years and David Tyree playing Superman he would have 0 titles.
Wow that was exhausting. Didn’t think I could prove you so wrong but wow and you called me an idiot. Maybe you should stop posting NY trash or you might get another watery dump dropped on you like that. MIC DROPPED
I think YOU need to stop posting, Jdub
Right because you spit so many facts by saying that. What a waste of a post. Must be another Eli lover who can’t take the truth
Stop whining
Agree that Eli is overrated, but Romo should be in the Hall.
I disagree, Romo should not be in the hall and Manning had a .500 record all time. He’s a tough call but I say no.
WOW Jdubbs You must’ve drove your parents to drink like alcohols Smh
I said he retired top 10. Again, idiot.
Brett Favre played 302 games and had 336 interceptions. George Blanda had 277 games played and 277 interceptions. It doesn’t appear to be a disqualifier.
To be fair hall of fame quarterback Dan Fouts had more interceptions then games played. He almost had 3 times as many interceptions as he did wins.
Eli played in 89 more games and threw the ball 4000 more times. Your an idiot.
Eli should have been called down by the “in the grasp rule” on that play ..
If that happened in today’s game, yea I think that play is definitely blown dead – But that was the 2007 season, you were allowed to hit QBs.
Eli Manning has 2 Super Bowl trophies and a whole lot of derp. Jay Feely Game (missed 3 game-winning FG in 4th/OT). Music City Meltdown (led 21-0 after 3, lost on FG at the gun). DeSean Jackson (Giants led 31-10 in 4th, lost on punt return TD at the gun). 5-INT game. Beckham vs. Norman. Boat Trip. Getting benched for Geno Smith (got both coach and GM fired).
Oh, and when Eli’s Giants were the #1 NFC seed they were one-and-done in the playoffs. Losing to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Anyone else have to look up the meaning of “ derp”?
Derp mcderp first made his appearance on South Park that should give you an idea of its meaning
Chucky’s Giants envy is showing… how are things in Jetsland anyway?
What’s even crazier is that Dan Fouts was a first Ballot hall of famer at QB and Eli had the way way better career
Different Eras.
Fouts –
AP Awards – 5 AP awards, 6 PB Awards, Offensive Player Votes 4x, MVP Votes 4x.
Eli – 4PB awards…Zero for the Rest.
—
During his Time….Fouts was among the Best QBs players in the league.
During his Time…Eli was Good but not among the best.
Eli wasn’t even the best qb of his division a single season he was mediocre at best.
Pro bowls are popularity votes. All-Pros are when you have talent.
Yet Eli had 2 SB’s and Fouts couldnt even sniff 1 let alone 2
And 2 Super bowl mvps
hate to repeat myself but some of you just don’t get it. Eli Manning never made it to an all-pro first or second team and he never even got a SINGLE mvp vote in his career. He had a Michael Strahan ran defense that got extremely hot at the end of both years that resulted in Eli’s two titles. Eli had the luckiest pass in NFL history or it would be one title. Eli Manning is only relevant because of his last name, otherwise he would simply be known as the guy who whined when drafted and wouldn’t play for the Chargers. I showed numbers above that showed Eli Manning was a tier below Tony Romo. Tony Romo is not recognized by most people as a HOF qb, so if Eli is a tier lower where is the argument? Michael Strahan deserves to be a HOF, Eli doesn’t
Eli was more accomplished than Romo with the two Super Bowl wins and his being mvp in both. Romo was more efficient and should’ve been more accomplished but always disappointed in the clutch. Eli was on some really bad teams too by the way that mess with his career numbers and he slung it.
First ballot lmao I don’t think he’s even a HOF guy for the next 5 years
I’m a Green Bay fan, and even I will never forget Tillman outjumping Randy Moss for an interception when Tillman was a rookie. It’s a shame he wasn’t selected to more Pro Bowls, he’s one of the most underrated great corners of all time. He’s like Chicago’s version of LeRoy Butler, so there is hope, Butler got in.
How Gates wasn’t 1st ballot I will never get.
PEDs. If he was a baseball player he never would have gone in
Pretending the NFL cares about PEDs
is like pretending NBA cared about weed
There were seasons where Antonio Gates was the only reason you would even bother to watch the Chargers play. I’m very pleased to see him get this honor.
Kent State legend…in basketball nonetheless.
What a joke that Darren Woodson was passed over again! Disgusting!
There seems to be several players that are deserving, I my self always thought Joe Jacoby deserved his due also!
Seriously They could have picked two more modern era. everyone other then Eli deserves to be in. . they separated coach/executives to make it easier. Ralph Hay started League. Yet every commissioner gets in?
The NFL has turned into a complete joke
That will certainly be true when Goodell decides exporting the Hall of Fame to foreign soil is a great idea.
“Turned into”? Try “Has been for many years”. But you can make the same case for MLB and NBA.
Tory Holt deserved it more than a couple of the guys that got in.
STL getting the shaft from the NFL he had a better career than Sharpe too
Darren Woodson screwed again.
Hall of Very Good
They had room for two more inductees, but didn’t have anyone else get 80? Torry Holt led the NFL in receiving yards in the 2000’s, but he’s not good enough? They let in Tony Boselli, who played 91 games, but Luke Kuechly, who played 118 games isn’t good enough? If the Hall voters aren’t going to do their job, find new voters!
Why not look over the entire pool of guys who should be in, while we’re at it? It’s a joke. I’m a Steelers fan so I’ll ask, how is LC Greenwood not in the hall? Given what we’ve seen getting in recently, how is Hines Ward not in?
I’m sure fans of every team has a similar list
There is at least 1 GB Packer great from the Lombardi years that didn’t get in and the reason given was because ‘there were already too many from that team/time frame so someone had to be left out (honestly I just don’t follow closely enough to know if it ever happened and I’m too lazy to look it up..also I can’t remember which one..).
Not saying that’s ever been an excuse since, let alone this year, but it may give you an idea as to the stupidity of how or why some guys get left out.
Jerry Kramer, THE best guard in the NFL for years. All 1960’s Decade Team, the NFL’s 50th Anniversary Team and the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team. Yet he was passed over for the likes of Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary just because the Packers would have had more than the Bears. None of those guys deserved being inducted before Kramer and anyone who knows football, knows it.
He played from 1958-1968, so you must be in your 70s or 80s, welcome aboard!
60…and thanks.
Glad to Sterling get his long awaited due. There was a 4-5 year period where he and prime Jerry Rice were the best 2 WRs in the game and some years Sharpe was better. Add into that Rice had Montana/Young throwing him the ball and Sharpe had Majkowski, Blair Kiel, and a couple years of young Favre and it was an amazing feat that he put up the numbers he did.
He is far from the only one, but he might have been the second best receiver to ever play the game if the injury didn’t force him into retirement early still at the top of his game.
Welcome home to Canton, Sterling!
You said it perfectly. He was great his entire career and played with garbage at QB most of his career. It was a shame he never got to continue with Favre. People who weren’t watching football or are doing it based on just looking at numbers on a page don’t understand how good Sharpe was.
Damn Sterling Sharpe was good and it’s a shame he only had half of a career.
Shannon’s hall of fame speech said it best basically he was in the hall and not even the best player in his house.
Hahaha Eli Manning a bum
I got to meet (sort of) Jared Allen a few years ago, he was on one of the curling teams at the Nationals in Kalamazoo.
Reggie Wayne gets screwed again.
Congrats to Eric Allen, long overdue.
Things get harder next year for deserving candidates like Woodson and Wayne. Brees and Fitzgerald are locks. Witten and Gore have strong cases. Plus other strong leftover candidates like Holt, Smith and Yanda.
This Smells ! Where is FRED TAYLOR !!!
Great post!
Ive been saying for years!
Loved that guy.
If you want to debate Eli Manning not be a HOFer, I’ll listen that argument.
If you tell me he was trash – I don’t have time for that.
He did have a few really great years – lots of mediocrity too, but never was he trash. He certainly had his moments.
I don’t have a large problem with him either way. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think l he was ever considered an elite guy, but he had a great career with some longevity.
And the Mannings are just so likable! (I realize that doesn’t matter)
From SI:
“Eli Manning never was a first or second-team All-Pro selection. He never received a single MVP vote”
need more then scroll up to where I tell the whole story on the terrible qb known as Eli Manning.
Curious when were those really great years you mention?
I can do the work for you – or you could simply look at his prf page.
He hit 30 tds three times. He was often in the high 20s. He once had nearly 5k yards.
But you already knew that.
As a bonus – if you bothered to read and comprehend my own post – I also clearly state I don’t believe he was ever elite.
But you felt like you had something extra to add I guess?
You’ve more than made your argument that Eli wasn’t an elite tier QB, but I don’t think anyone is disputing that. For everything you’ve said, you really haven’t shown why he doesn’t belong in the HoF when you compare him to some of the other players in there. The HoF isn’t exclusively for the “elite” players in history, it is more about accomplishments. Two Superbowls and a couple of quality seasons are accomplishments.
You lose credibility when you claim Eli was “terrible”, as well. In no world was Eli terrible, and I say that as someone who isn’t a Giants fan.
Also – his career int percentage is better than Favre, and right in line with guys like Moon, Kelly, Aikman, Elway and Marino.
It’s not quite as good as Young, or big brother though.
This is one misconception I think people get, that HOF players are great for their whole careers. It’s usually just one or two standout seasons. It’s why I think Matt Ryan is getting in too despite that blown Super Bowl. Beating the Patriots twice in Super Bowls will get extra mustard put on it.
Matt Ryan? HOFer??!??
His best season was probably the 13-3 season after the first Super Bowl when Burress shot himself and screwed their season. I thought he was about to take the next step as one of the top QBs in the league, but it never happened despite winning another Super Bowl a couple of years later. All things equal, he’s not a Hall of Famer, but you know the voters will grade on a curve and eventually put him in because he’s a Manning and he played in New York.
He nearly hit 5k yards because he threw so many interceptions that by the end of the games it was fling it or have no chance at all. It’s pretty damning they he has no all pros and not a single mvp vote. I was expecting at least his name on an mvp ballot any year but nope. He’s just a glorified Trent Dilfer
I was simply calling you on “he had a few great years”. No he really didn’t
Sam Darnold just threw for 35 touchdowns guess it’s time to say he had a few great years too
Ok buddy.
You are entitled to your opinion.
I mean, I think you are being purposely ignorant – but thats my opinion.
Please – look at his page.
I beg you.
I think its funny and quite telling that this jdubb fella is using Sam Darnold as a red herring bc he is losing his argument.
Yes, Sam had one good year – please show me where he is relevant to the hof debate. Is someone claiming he is a HOFer?
He isn’t interested in being objective but defending his stance at all costs.
And just to reinforce because I know how trolls work – my argument isn’t that he is or is not a HOFer – Im ambivalent. But that Eli was not terrible.
You don’t have to have strong opinions about everything, and you will find life more enjoyable if you are open to being wrong.
Eli wouldn’t have lasted as long as he did in New York if he was terrible. I can see both sides of the argument: he is one of only two quarterbacks to beat Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, and he’s the only one to do it twice. On the other hand, his win/loss record is 50/50 (117-117 if I remember right), and I think he’s sixth in career interceptions. I don’t see him getting in next year, with Drew Brees & Larry Fitzgerald adding to the crowd of nominees. I don’t know if Frank Gore had enough All Pro or Pro Bowl selections to get in.
Would you say Sam Darnold had one great year?
Why is that a question that is relevant?
Yes, Sam Darnold had one good year. I mean – very clear. Absolutely no ambiguity there at all.
Just in case you were actually serious.
Jim Plunkett also has 2 Super Bowl trophies yet he’s not in Canton. Perhaps it’s cos his early career was so cluttered with injury — actually missed an entire season — then got saved by the Raiders when Dan Pastorini fractured his ankle.
Plunkett was never the full-time starter for those Raider teams. He took over for Pastarini for the first one and was platooning with Marc Wilson for the second one. He was basically Nick Foles on those teams.
Where’s Willie Anderson? One of the best offensive lineman in the NFL and he’s denied? HORSES**T !!!
I made all his numbers up I didn’t look at his page once. Get real.
We are aware.
Willie Anderson and Kenny Anderson snubbed yet again! What a joke!
Reggie Wayne and Marshal Yanda should have made it.
Jared Allen, seriously? Not a fan of Eli Manning but Eli deserved it over Allen.
After the painting I just did on my nuts I am now a top-tier sack artist like Jared Allen.
Honest question here. Why is Kurt Warner in the hall of Fame?
He had a doughnut in his career, but those highs are some amazing highs. His breakout season was equal to Marino’s season that no QB had approached until he did it. He also took the Cardianls to places they had only dreamed of when he took over for Leinhart. The Ram and Cardinal franchises being train wrecks before he became their QB has to be part of the equation.
He had a few great years in Stl, albeit with Isaac Bruce, torry holt, and marshall faulk. In arz he had Larry Fitzgerald, anquan boldin, edgerrin James and Steve breaston. From 2002-2006 he threw 27 TDs, total. In his two super bowl losses he threw pick sixes that swayed the game in the wrong direction. I know he was good but he has 208 TD in his career. I never understood that one. Good for him though.
Fan fact, Kurt Warner could have been a Chicago Bear if not for a bug bite. Which either would have made the Bears a totally different team than today, or made Kurt Warner lost to the annuls of just being another QB that failed with the Bears.