Top Modern-Era Candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The following players are contenders for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but haven't been selected yet. Players become eligible five years after their last season.

Players are ranked according to their Legends Score, which is a simple measure of a player's individual career accolades. Tap on other column headers to sort by name, position, or eligible year.

Special Teams standouts have been excluded from this list because the Hall of Fame has been slow to recognize even the best specialists of all-time.

PlayerPosEligibleLegends ScoreAvg/Year
Tom BradyQB20281436.22
Aaron DonaldDT2029626.2
Adrian PetersonRB2027573.8
Luke KuechlyILB2025506.25
Marshal YandaG2025453.46
Steve WisniewskiLG2007453.46
Antonio BrownWR2027423.5
J.J. WattDE2028423.5
Jahri Evans (1x Finalist)G2023413.42
Earl ThomasS2025404
Kevin WilliamsDT2021403.08
Maurkice PounceyC2026403.64
Logan MankinsG2021393.55
Drew BreesQB2026381.9
Antonio Gates (1x Finalist)TE2024382.38
Richard ShermanCB2027383.45
Eric WeddleS2027372.47
Jason KelceC2029372.85
Rob GronkowskiTE2027373.08
Darren SharperDB2016362.57
Larry FitzgeraldWR2026331.94
Geno AtkinsDT2026333
Eric BerryS2024323.56
Fletcher CoxDE2029322.67
Richmond WebbLT2008322.46
Hardy NickersonILB2008301.88
Shaun AlexanderRB2014293.22
La'Roi GloverDT2014292.23
Carnell LakeFS2007282.15
LeSean McCoyRB2026282.33
Ben CoatesTE2006272.7
Jason WittenTE2026271.5
Alex MackC2027272.08
Haloti NgataDT2024272.08
Joe StaleyT2025272.08
Joey PorterOLB2017272.08
Neil SmithDE2006262
Marshawn LynchRB2025251.92
Jared Allen (4x Finalist)DE2021252.27
Mike AlstottFB2012242.18
Torry Holt (5x Finalist)WR2015242.18
Rich GannonQB2010231.28
Mark StepnoskiC2007231.77
Navorro BowmanILB2023232.88
Olin KreutzC2017231.64
Willie Anderson (3x Finalist)RT2014221.69
Hines WardWR2017211.5
Wes WelkerWR2021211.75
James HarrisonOLB2023211.31
Ruben BrownLG2013211.62
Frank GoreRB2026201.25
Eli ManningQB2025201.25
Darren Woodson (2x Finalist)S2010201.54
Nick MangoldC2022201.82
Sam MadisonCB2014201.67
Chad JohnsonWR2017191.73
Herman MooreWR2007191.73
Andre RisonWR2006191.58
Cornelius BennettOLB2006191.36
David DeCastroG2026192.11
Jeff SaturdayC2018191.36
Le'Veon BellRB2027192.11
Levon KirklandILB2008191.73
Nnamdi AsomughaCB2019191.73
Vince WilforkDT2022191.46
Matt RyanQB2028181.2
Priest HolmesRB2013181.64
Vonta LeachFB2019181.8
Steve Smith Sr.WR2022181.13
Darren SprolesRB2025181.2
John AbrahamDE2020181.2
Lance BriggsLB2020181.5
Lomas BrownLT2008181
Ryan KalilC2025181.38
Tom NalenC2014181.2
Jamaal CharlesRB2024171.55
Lorenzo NealFB2014171.06
Reggie Wayne (5x Finalist)WR2020171.21
Andrew WhitworthT2027171.06
Cam NewtonQB2027171.55
Clay Matthews IIIOLB2025171.55
Eric Allen (1x Finalist)CB2007171.21
Gerald McCoyDT2027171.42
Kris JenkinsNT2016171.7
Ryan CladyT2022171.89
Ben RoethlisbergerQB2027160.89
Adrian WilsonS2018161.33
Brian WatersLG2019161.14
Cameron WakeDE2025161.45
Jamal WilliamsNT2016161.23
Jessie ArmsteadLB2009161.45
Justin SmithDE2020161.14
Travis FrederickC2025162.29
Randall CunninghamQB2007150.88
Jamal LewisRB2015151.5
Steve McNairQB2013151.15
Chester McGlocktonDT2009151.25
Elvis DumervilOLB2023151.25
Mario WilliamsDE2022151.36
Rodney Harrison (1x Finalist)S2014151
Terrell SuggsOLB2025150.88
Brandon MarshallWR2024141.08
Wesley WallsTE2009140.93
Erik WilliamsRT2007141.27
Mitchell SchwartzRT2027141.4
Simeon RiceDE2015141
Mike TolbertFB2023131.3
Eric MetcalfWR2008130.93
Mark RypienQB2007130.93
A.J. GreenWR2028131.08
Al WilsonILB2012131.63
Aqib TalibCB2025131.08
Chad BrownLB2013130.87
Jimmy GrahamTE2027131.08
Julian PetersonLB2016131.18
Todd GurleyRB2026132.17
Troy VincentCB2012130.87
Eddie GeorgeRB2010121.33
Brian MitchellRB2009120.86
Albert HaynesworthDT2017121.2
Arian FosterRB2022121.5
Asante SamuelCB2019121.09
Bob SandersS2017121.5
Bruce ArmstrongLT2006120.86
Chris SneeG2019121.2
Clyde SimmonsDE2006120.8
Derrick O. JohnsonILB2024120.86
Jake LongLT2022121.33
Jeremiah TrotterILB2015121
Josh SittonG2024121.09
Lawyer MilloyS2016120.8
Mike IupatiG2026121.09
Nick CollinsFS2017121.71
Ted WashingtonDT2013120.71
Trevor PryceDT2016120.86
Irving FryarWR2006110.65
John KuhnFB2023110.92
Jimmy SmithWR2011110.79
Chris McAlisterCB2015111
Dana StubblefieldDT2009111
Devin McCourtyCB2028110.85
Hugh DouglasDE2010111.1
Jon BeasonILB2021111.22
Keith BrookingLB2018110.73
Ken Norton Jr.ILB2006110.85
Lincoln KennedyRT2016110.61
Mo LewisOLB2009110.85
Patrick SurtainCB2014111
Shawne MerrimanOLB2018111.38
Tamba HaliOLB2023110.92
Larry JohnsonRB2017101.11
Jermaine LewisWR2009101.25
Glyn MilburnRB2007101.11
Michael TurnerRB2018101.11
Leon WashingtonRB2020101.11
Roy WilliamsWR2017101.25
Carl NicksG2019101.67
Cris DishmanCB2006100.77
Dale CarterCB2011100.71
Darrell RussellDT2009101.43
James FarriorILB2017100.67
Jeff HartingsC2012100.91
Justin TuckDE2021100.91
Kam ChancellorS2023101.25
Kris DielmanLG2017101.11
Osi UmenyioraDE2020100.83
Patrick KerneyDE2015100.91
Robert MathisOLB2022100.71
Le'Ron McClainFB2019101.43
Ray RiceRB201991.5
Greg OlsenTE202690.64
Desmond HowardWR200790.9
Steven JacksonRB202190.75
Eric MouldsWR201390.75
Tony RichardsonFB201690.56
Jeremy ShockeyTE201790.9
Rod SmithWR201290.75
Chris WarrenRB200690.82
Roddy WhiteWR202190.82
Antonio CromartieCB202290.82
Antrel RolleFS202190.82
Bryce PaupOLB200690.82
Demaryius ThomasWR202590.9
Jay RatliffNT202190.82
Keith BulluckLB201690.82
LaVar ArringtonLB201291.29
London FletcherILB201990.56
Matt BirkC201890.6
Michael RoosLT202090.9
Mike BrownS201590.9
Chris JohnsonRB202380.8
Tiki BarberRB201280.8
Deion BranchWR201880.73
Maurice Jones-DrewRB202080.89
Sam GashFB200980.67
Santonio HolmesWR202080.89
Carl PickensWR200680.89
Philip RiversQB202680.47
Aaron KampmanDE201780.8
Andre GurodeC201980.67
Bryan CoxOLB200880.67
DeMarco MurrayRB202381.14
Dez BryantWR202680.73
Jairus ByrdS202380.89
Jason GildonOLB201080.73
Jessie TuggleILB200680.57
Jevon KearseDE201580.73
Jordan GrossLT201980.73
Jurrell CaseyDT202680.8
Kyle WilliamsNT202480.62
Lofa TatupuILB201681.33
Matt LightLT201780.73
Max UngerC202480.8
Thomas DavisOLB202680.5
Todd SteussieLT201380.57
Malcolm SmithLB202780.73
Dexter JacksonS201480.8
Julian EdelmanWR202680.67