PFHOF 70th anniversary special class in 2033 proposal

[PaulPFHOF]

At this point as even former seniors were getting to time in which even they played since 1990s/early 2000s, I am wondering if my efforts, and perhaps of others, should forget about a senior category as part of annual elections, and see if we can get enough support from some voters and historians to press Hall for one last special class-for PFHOFs 70th anniversary on September 7, 2033. Perhaps cap at 15 total of all seniors (12 players plus 3 coaches/contributors) who played before 1990. Final means to address those eras, and let annual Hall move on to focus on elections of candidates from 2000s.

As seems doubtful to me that Hall will revisit the seniors category any time soon, and truth is that the 1980s is soon to be over 50 years ago, obviously earlier decades even further back in time, unlikely any future Hall selection committee regardless of # of voters and their backgrounds will understand those eras and candidates-and that situation gets more challenging by the year.

Like 2020, give historians the role of reviewing and selecting final class of "senior" players, coaches and contributors to make sure the most deserving have the honor-make it the last step of recognition for the "distant" past of the game

[Brian wolf]

A good proposal Paul ... and the HOF has enough time to make it happen and encourage the voting committee to make it a memorable election. We will see if it happens, doubtful but possible. The families of senior players will want to stay vocal about any chances of election and staying relevant in the minds of younger fans and future historians-researchers.

[JuggernautJ]

I'm all in favor!
That said...

75 years is more recognized as a special anniversary than 70th.
Perhaps 2038 would be a date that would generate a more enthusiastic response (although that means some of us won't be around to see it).

Personally, I think the 1980's may be too recent... many voters will still choose guys who they saw play.
I'd be in favor of maybe splitting the class into half of the enshrinees being from the first 50 years of the league's existence.

And as long as we're shooting for the stars why not ask for 25 new members?

25 players/coaches from the first 50 years of the NFL on the 75th anniversary of the Hall of Fame has a nice "round" sound to it...
It might be considered... and if the Voters wanted to lower the limit (to say 15) it'd give them room to maneuver.

[Brian wolf]

Haha ... by 2038 Jay ... the NFL will go from tackle to flag football. Lets hope SOME seniors get elected by then ...

Dilweg
Lewellen
Emerson
Wistert
Benton
Barwegan
Brito
Matheson
Patton
Howton
Grayson(AFL)
A Woodson

[SeahawkFever]

As the years pass, the performances of players from earlier generations would be more overshadowed as they get further out of view.

I definitely think at least a couple senior classes should be done still though.

[PaulPFHOF]

A good proposal Paul ... and the HOF has enough time to make it happen and encourage the voting committee to make it a memorable election. We will see if it happens, doubtful but possible. The families of senior players will want to stay vocal about any chances of election and staying relevant in the minds of younger fans and future historians-researchers.

To be clear, the current PFHOF selection committee (well the new one that has 25+3 alternates) is not whom I am proposing take on this task, as I would not trust them to be prepared and have knowledge of history to do so... but as BBHOF has done in past, PFHOF should create a 10-12 member special committee of historians only to elect that special class. Yes would be like 2020 centennial class, which did not result in perfect results but now like back then, I think its only way we ever see seniors from 1990 and before ever elected in PFHOF

[Brian wolf]

I dunno Paul ... the BRP in 2020 disappointed themselves. Hopefully, another panel will do much better for this hypothetical class?

[PaulPFHOF]

Yep there remains a risk a 2033 committee would also get it wrong but truth is getting any pre 1990 seniors in under this new process is next to impossible, special class might be only way to ever get any in PFHOF

[conace21]

Yep there remains a risk a 2033 committee would also get it wrong but truth is getting any pre 1990 seniors in under this new process is next to impossible, special class might be only way to ever get any in PFHOF

Amazing how quickly the bar was reset from "pre-1960's" to "pre-1990's."

[PaulPFHOF]

Its not so much a bar but as the full selection committee (voters) are getting younger with careers that started in 1990s or early 2000s, very few are historians so not as aware of the game before they started their media career..thus we have started to see more awareness and support for post 1990s players, in terms of the full committee(hence Sharpe and Craig get elected), other finalists presented to the full committee in recent years-when they had direct path to election-yes or no vote-were rejected, eg. Art Powell. Those outcomes are a direct result of a "younger" voting committee, many are not aware of older seniors and frankly don't care about electing them.