Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Paul Kuharsky and John McClain posted on social media that they are no longer voters, expect to hear from other well known and experienced voters soon, Hall has updated webpage listing 28 slots but have yet to fill with all the names as they contacting current voters is ongoing

"We can spend our energy fighting the change, or we can spend it adapting to it. I’d rather we focus on succeeding under the new rules."

In my view, we can and should do both...there is no need to accept the premise that by reducing voters and removing those with decades of experience as voters and members of the NFL media, when we all know the significant impact these changes will have on "senior" candidates as the Hall shifts from less of a museum honoring the entire 100+ years history of the game, from one using its most high profile and important role to undertake that mission (election of new PFHOFers) to just focus on the more recent two decades.

update:

Hall of Fame Cuts 19 Selectors With 280 Years of Combined Experience by PAUL KUHARSKY
https://www.paulkuharsky.com/news/hall- ... experience

“NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s dramatic reduction of its Selection Committee is eliminating some of its longest-serving members.

Rick Gosselin, who served for 31 years, is out. So are Frank Cooney after 33 years, longtime Houston representative John McClain after 33 and Cleveland representative Tony Grossi after 31.

Ron Borges, who represented New England for 24 years, and Carolina’s Darin Gantt, a selector for 16, are also out.”

Rick Gosselin (31, Dallas)

Frank Cooney (33, at large)

John McClain (33, Houston)

Tony Grossi (31, Cleveland)

Ron Borges (24, New England)

Darin Gantt (16, Carolina)

Clark Judge, (15, at large)

Geoff Hobson, (13, Cincinnati)

Jason Cole (12, at large, announced on X)

Armando Salguero (12, Miami)

Mary Kay Cabot (11, at large)

Matt Maiocco (10, San Francisco)

Tony Dungy, (6, Hall of Famer, at large)

Bill Polian (6, at- large, hall, of Famer)

Lisa Salters (6, at large)

Joel Bussert (4, at large)

Paul Gutierrez, (2, Las Vegas)

Rich Cimini, (1 NY Jets)

Those 19 account for at least 280 combined years on the committee, an average of nearly 15 years per departing selector.

One stated purpose of returning to an in-person selection meeting with a smaller committee is to encourage more robust debate.

I spent 11 years in those meetings. Several people on the cut list were among the most willing to challenge an argument or push a discussion in another direction. Some selectors who may remain rarely spoke.

Thirty-one selectors remain standing after this reporting. The Hall has said the new committee will be formed from the old, though Hall of Famer spots may be filled by new Hall of Famers. That means at least three others are off the committee but have not yet been identified.
Who Is Staying on the Hall of Fame CommitteeStream Football Games

My understanding is that among the 28 who will remain are:

Charean Williams (at large)
Calvin Watkins (Pro Football Writer of America rep)
Jim Trotter (at large)
Jeff Legwold (Denver)
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Bay)
Howard Balzer (LA Rams)
Gary Myers (NY Giants)
Vahe Gregorian (Kansas City)
Mike Sando (Seattle)

Gregorian made headlines after acknowledging he did not vote for Bill Belichick, who failed to gain election in his first year of eligibility. Gregorian wrote that he would have supported Belichick in a straight up-or-down vote but, forced to choose three of five candidates in the combined Seniors/Coach/Contributor group, prioritized senior candidates whose opportunities were more limited.

Kaufman broke protocol by revealing before the official announcement at NFL Honors that Eli Manning didn’t make the cut in 2025.

This is the same reaction posted on the ZoneBlitz but I’m reposting it here so everyone here can see it

My thoughts

I can’t tell you how angry I am I’m so angry with the Pro Football Hall of Fame I feel like a volcano about to erupt

The only thing I like is returning to in person meetings

I can’t believe they’re reducing the committee to 25 members getting rid of the senior category and reducing the modern era finalists to 13

I want to share with you a quote from the press release

Porter said previous selection process bylaws left open the possibility of “unintended biases” in three main areas: the disparate skills of the individuals making the initial presentations of nominees for election at the annual meeting; the assignment of a Selector to each of the NFL’s 32 member clubs; and issues related to players reaching their final years of eligibility in the Modern-Era Players category.

Upton Bell was right the Pro Football Hall of Fame should be sponsored by a funeral home given the number of posthumous inductions

I thought Jim Porter was the savior in reality he’s the devil you know why he made these changes because he was born without a heart

This is worst than the last changes they’ve made it even worst than before

It’s official I’m not going to Canton in 2028 for Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame induction I’m done with the Pro Football Hall of Fame

I’ve been planning this trip for three years ever since Tom Brady announced his retirement and now it’s not going to happen

I haven’t felt like this since Atlanta lost the MLB All Star Game in 2021 but we got it back once the Braves won the World Series in 2021

You don’t treat people like this especially those who’ve been waiting for so long

It’s like someone gave my heart a wedgie it’s like someone punched me in the stomach

I can’t believe these are the changes they made this is only going to make it worst they didn’t address the root cause which is the voting process

We should all protest in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

I think the public outcry is going to be so strong they’ll have no choice but to make changes again

Knowing I won’t be attending Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame induction I feel like Brock Lovett at the end of Titanic when he realizes he’s never going to find the Heart of the Ocean

Three years that’s all I’ve though of attending Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame induction but I never got it and I never will

Sorry for the complaining and long post I’m just expressing how I feel just know we are all upset not just me

Charles Schulz was right happiness isn’t funny

Let’s just get ready for another small class in 2027 and be prepared to be disappointed again

update...23 voters removed..still waiting on Hall to post new list

updated list from Frank Cooney story in SubStack today

Thanks Paul ...

Hall has posted new 28 voters = 25 returning voters+1 new PFWA rep + 2 PFHOFers (WShields, JAllen)

https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of- ... l-of-famer

note by new election rules there are 25 voters plus 3 alternate non-voters (hall list doesn't indicate who each are in terms of those two roles)