The NFL announced a list of 167 modern-era players who are nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
The list includes seven former Cincinnati Bengals, although only three of them played the majority of their career with the franchise – running back Corey Dillon, wide receiver Chad Johnson, and offensive tackle Willie Anderson.
The others are fullback Lorenzo Neal (two seasons with Bengals, 16 total), defensive end Justin Smith (seven with Bengals, 14 total), and linebackers James Harrison (one season out of 16) and Takeo Spikes (five out of 15).
Which Bengals Have a Shot at the Hall of Fame?
The next step toward naming the Class of 2025 is to reduce the list to 50 players (plus ties).
That final 50 list will be announced next month.
Later this fall, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee will whittle the list to 25, and that will be followed by a cut to the 15 finalists.
In addition to those 15, there will be three seniors finalists, a coach, and a contributor as part of a group of 20 who will be presented to the full 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame committee during its annual meeting the week of the Super Bowl
Finalists must receive at least 80% support from the Selection Committee to join the Class of 2025. The Modern-Era Player Finalists will be trimmed during the annual selection meeting from 15 to 10, then to seven. Committee members then will vote for five of the seven Finalists.
Let’s examine the case for the three former Bengals who played at least half their careers with the team.
Willie Anderson’s Case Is Strong, But Strong Enough?
He’s reached the final stage three consecutive years but hasn’t received enough votes for enshrinement.
Anderson was one of two offensive linemen on the list of finalists last year. Jahri Evans also came up short, so it will be interesting to see how many other linemen make the final 15.
Of the 167 announced today, 16 are first-time eligible players. And four of those 16 are offensive linemen, the most of any position.
Vying to edge Anderson out are Marshal Yanda, Ryan Kalil, Joe Staley, and Travis Frederick.
Anderson was the first right tackle to be named All-Pro three years in a row, doing so from 2004-06 in Seasons 9-11 of his 13-year career.
Former Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander commissioned Pro Football Focus to go back and grade Anderson’s 1996-99 seasons, which predate the website’s database. PFF did the work and ranked Anderson ahead of recent Hall inductees Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Kevin Mawae, Orlando Pace, and Will Shields.
Prediction: Anderson will make the finalist list again but will not be among the Class of 2025.
Unfortunately for Anderson, who is more than deserving, the same people vote every year, and they typically vote the same way on a player who has reached the final step multiple times.
Corey Dillon Is the Most Deserving Former Bengals Player
The franchise leader in rushing yards, Dillon has a stronger Hall of Fame case than Anderson but has never advanced to the finalist round.
Dillon is one of just 10 running backs in the Super Bowl era who averaged at least 4.3 yards per carry, 70 yards per game, and tallied 10,000 yards in his career.
Eight of those 10 are either in or are locks to be first-ballot Hall of Famers (Adrian Peterson). The only two who aren’t in the Hall are Dillon and Fred Taylor, who was a finalist in 2023.
Dillon won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, and it wasn’t a case of riding Tom Brady’s coattails. Dillon rushed for a career-high 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns in that 2004 season.
He also rushed for 292 yards in three postseason games that year, averaging 4.5 per attempt and scoring two touchdowns.
Prediction: Unfortunately for Dillon, going into the Bengals Ring of Honor next week may be the highest accomplishment he earns in his post-playing career.
He belongs in the Hall of Fame, and it’s stunning how far away he remains from serious consideration.
Chad Johnson Entertained But Didn’t Merit Hall Induction
One of the most entertaining players in franchise history, Johnson is the team’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
"I'm not the bad guy… I LOVE YOU!" –@ochocinco 🤣
Think Chad Johnson should move on to the next round of #BestMicdUp? 🤔
VOTE HERE ➡️ https://t.co/Qb6zeSq5O0@Bengals pic.twitter.com/qTyG0iczw2— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 26, 2017
That’s a hell of a trifecta for a franchise with so many great wide receivers.
But when putting Johnson’s numbers up against the greats of the game, he falls short.
His 11,059 receiving yards rank 39th in the Super Bowl era. His 766 receptions are 43rd. And his 67 touchdowns are tied for 46th.
Prediction: Johnson won’t even make final 50.
Listen to the PFN Bengals Podcast
Listen to the PFN Bengals Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Bengals Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Bengals Podcast on our NFL YouTube channel.