CLASS OF 2024

Begun in 2002, the Hall of Very Good seeks to honor outstanding players and coaches who are not in the Hall of Fame.

Henry Ellard
Statistics
Position: Wide Receiver
Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1983–93), Washington Redskins(1994–98), New England Patriots (1998)
Bio: He referred to it as a “blessed career.” Henry Ellard spent the first 11 of his 16 NFL seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. In Los Angeles, he teamed with future Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson and Pro Bowl caliber quarterback Jim Everett to form a for-midable offensive punch. The Rams featured Top 15 scoring offenses in seven of his 11 seasons and earned six playoff berths. Meanwhile, Ellard was a two-time first-team all-pro (1984, 1988) as both a return specialist and wide receiver. He also earned three trips to the Pro Bowl (1984, 1988, 1989). Ellard posted seven 1,000+ yard receiving seasons, including a 1,414-yard output in 1988 that led the NFL and was a career best. Former NFL head coach Norv Turner said of him, “Henry Ellard is the best route-runner ever. No one is better at it.” Upon leaving the Rams in 1994, he held franchise records in receptions (593), receiving yards (9.761), punt return average (11.3 yards per return) and all-purpose yards (11,663). Ellard finished his career with the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots where he continued to be productive, leading the league with 19.5 yards per reception in 1996. At the time of his retirement in 1998, Ellard ranked third all-time in receiving yards (13,777) and sixth in receptions (814). After the NFL, he ventured into the coaching ranks, that included a stint with his alma mater, Fresno State University, as well as the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” team, where he mentored outstanding receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. Ellard was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Jim Lachey
Statistics
Position: Offensive Tackle
Teams: San Diego Chargers (1985–87), Los Angeles Raiders (1988), Washington Redskins (1988–95)
Bio: Another in a long line of great offensive linemen to play for Ohio State, Jim Lachey was a consensus All-American for the Buckeyes in 1984 before being selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He earned a starting left offensive tackle job and was named second team all-AFC by the UPI and to the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team. In 1987, Lachey was named second team all-pro and to the Pro Bowl for the first of three times. Dissatisfied in San Diego, Lachey was traded in 1988 to the Los Angeles Raiders for whom he played one game before being traded again to the Washington franchise. Washington had won the Super Bowl the previous season and was led by the famed Hogs offensive line that featured greats Russ Grimm at guard and Joe Jacoby at tackle. Lachey fit right in, earning first team all-pro honors in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Washington posted records of 10–6, 10–6 and 14–2 in those years and won Super Bowl XXVI over the Buffalo Bills to cap the 1991 season. Propelled by the Hogs, Washington led the NFL with 485 points that year, one of a select number of teams to average more than 30 points per game to that time. Washington’s offense was even more dominant in three postseason victories with an average of 34 points per game. With Lachey, Jacoby, Grimm, Jeff Bostic and Mark Schlereth consistently overpowering Bills’ defenders, Washington posted 417 total yards and allowed zero sacks against Bruce Smith and company in the Super Bowl. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Washington team, Lachey was named one of the 70 best players in franchise history. He has worked as an Ohio State football radio announcer since 1997.

Albert Lewis
Statistics
Position: Defensive Back
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1983–93), Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (1994–98)
Bio: After an outstanding career at Grambling, Albert Lewis was selected in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. The 6' 2", 196-pound Lewis was blessed with rare arm length and speed (4.38 in the forty-yard dash) that allowed him to cover the NFL’s best receivers, leading Jerry Rice to tell Sports Illustrated’s Peter King that he was the toughest guy for him to face. Lewis appeared in 225 games and amassed 42 interceptions and 13 sacks, one of the best career totals by a cornerback in pro football history. His 34.5 tackles for loss, or stuffs, is the third highest career total for a cornerback, as are his 47.5 combined total of sacks and stuffs. Lewis is fifth on the Chiefs’ all-time interceptions list with 38 and in 2002 was named to the Chiefs 40th Anniversary team. His impact extended beyond defense to special teams, where he blocked 10 kicks in his career. He also blocked a punt in a 1986 Wildcard Game, tackled a punter and deflected two other punts making him one of the most—if not THE most—prolific punt blocker in modern NFL history. Lewis’s multifaceted skill set secured him two first-team all-pro honors and a second-team pick alongside five first- or second-team all-AFC nods and four Pro Bowl invitations. In 1986, he was recognized as the Chiefs’ MVP and the year before, he intercepted a career-high eight passes, causing opposing teams to avoid throwing to his side after that. Lewis continued to shine with the Raiders, playing 75 games and tallying 277 total tackles, four interceptions and eight sacks. In 1998, he moved to safety and at the age of 38 etched his name in NFL history with a pick-six, becoming the oldest NFL player to score a defensive touchdown.

Jerry Mays
Statistics
Position: Defensive End/Defensive Tackle
Teams: Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (1961–70)
Bio: Dallas native Jerry Mays was a first team All-Southwest Conference defensive tackle at Southern Methodist University in 1960. Drafted by both the NFL Minnesota Vikings and the AFL Dallas Texans in 1961, Mays signed with the Texans. He played mostly tackle his first four years and earned first team honors on the official all-AFL team in 1962 and 1964 and second team honors on various all-AFL teams in 1963. Mays moved to left defensive end in 1965 and remained there the rest of his career, earning first team all-AFL honors from at least one media outlet the next four seasons. According to football historians John Turney and Nick Webster, Mays had his best sack totals in 1965 with nine, 1968 with 10.5 and 1969 with 11. He was an important part of AFL championship teams with the Texans in 1962 and in 1966 and 1969 after the team moved to Kansas City and was re-named the Chiefs. The Dallas/Kansas City franchise won the most games in the AFL’s ten-year history and posted a 73–34–5 record during Mays’ prime. In 1969, Mays was a part of the Kansas City defensive line whose dominance was instrumental in the Chiefs’ 11–3 season and Super Bowl IV championship. The Chiefs defense led the AFL in fewest points and fewest yards allowed by wide margins that year and then played even better in three postseason victories over the Jets, Raiders and Vikings in which they yielded a mere 20 points and 711 yards (6.7 and 237 per game). Mays was named to six AFL All-Star Games and to the Pro Bowl in his first and only season in the NFL. He was also named to the first team of the AFL’s all-time team in 1970 and was the third-ever member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

Lydell Mitchell
Statistics
Position: Running Back
Teams: Baltimore Colts (1972–77), San Diego Chargers (1978–79), Los Angeles Rams (1980)
Bio: Lydell Mitchell was an electric, versatile running back who fit in perfectly with high octane NFL offenses fielded by the Baltimore Colts and San Diego Chargers. Selected in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Colts, he teamed with 1976 NFL MVP and all-pro quarterback Bert Jones and Pro Bowl receiver Roger Carr on offenses that ranked in the Top 10 in scoring each year from 1975 thru 1977. The Colts won 31 games during that span, capturing three consecutive AFC East division titles. Mitchell earned three Pro Bowl appearances and was named a second-team all-pro two times (1976–1977). He also led the NFL in receptions during the 1974 and 1977 seasons. After six years in Baltimore, Mitchell was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1978, where he excelled in Don Coryell’s offense, led by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts. San Diego won 12 games in 1979, its most since 1961, sparking a run of four consecutive playoff berths. Mitchell finished his career with the Rams in 1980, appearing in just two contests. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 11th on the all-time rushing list, totaling eighteen 100-yard rushing games. He also totaled three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Mitchell’s greatest game as a pro occurred on November 7, 1976, a 37–21 Colts victory over the Chargers. He ran 17 times for 91 yards and Bert Jones connected with him eight times for 125 yards. Mitchell kicked off the scoring in the first quarter on a 40-yard touchdown reception, prompting the Colts to never look back. Mitchell set NCAA records for rushing touchdowns (26), total touchdowns (29) and scoring (174 points) in college at Penn State University, where he earned first-team All-American honors and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1971.

Marvin Powell
Statistics
Position: Offensive Tackle
Teams: New York Jets (1977–85), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1986–87)
Bio: Marvin Powell never backed down from a challenge in his 11 NFL seasons. In practice, he went against the famed New York Sack Exchange of Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. Former teammate and first-team all-pro receiver Wesley Walker recalled, “I would watch him put Gastineau on his back. He and Marvin had to go at it all the time. Epic battles.” Powell bolstered a Jets’ offensive line that reinforced a four-time, Top 10 scoring offense that featured Walker and the two-headed rushing attack of Freeman McNeil and Johnny Hector. Powell was voted the Jets’ MVP in 1979 by his teammates. On the achievement he said, “No young American wants anything less than to accept as much as this country has to offer. And that is to be the best.” He also played a major role bolstering a Jets’ rushing attack that ranked in the Top 5 four times (1979, 1981, 1982, 1984). Powell earned five straight trips to the Pro Bowl (1979–83) in his nine seasons with the team and was named an all-pro three times (1979, 1980, 1982). He finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing nine contests in 1986 and 1987. During his career, he was elected president of the NFL Players Association. Powell was also a two-time first-team All-American in college at the University of Southern California, a member of their 1974 national championship team and earned all-Pacific 8 conference honors three times. On Powell’s career, former Jets’ public relations director Frank Ramos said, “Marvin had a very good NFL career and a good post-career. Whatever he did, it was something he was doing very well.” Powell passed away in 2022 from heart failure at the age of 67.

Pat Swilling
Statistics
Position: Linebacker
Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986–92), Detroit Lions (1993–94), Oakland Raiders (1995–96, 1998)
Bio: Pat Swilling was the right outside linebacker of the New Orleans Saints famed “Dome Patrol,” one of the best linebacking corps in the history of the NFL. Drafted in the third round out of Georgia Tech where he was a 1985 first-team All-American, first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and set the NCAA record for sacks in a single game (7). Swilling played 12 NFL seasons, appearing in 5 consecutive Pro Bowls (1989–93), was AP second-team all-pro twice (1989–90) and AP first-team all-pro twice in 1991 and 1992. He had six seasons with double digit sacks and in 1991 he led the league with 17 sacks and was the AP Defensive Player of the Year. In 1992 the Saints led the NFL in sacks and all four of their linebackers—Swilling, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Vaughan Johnson—were voted to the Pro Bowl becoming the only 3-4 linebacking crew to be so honored. Swilling was traded to the Lions in 1993 where he played two years. He played defensive end for the Raiders in 1995–96, retired for a season and then came back for an encore in 1998. Swilling’s career totals include 107.5 sacks in 185 games (142 starts) with six interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He forced 36 fumbles and recovered 11. After football, Swilling served in the Louisiana State House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004. He was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2000 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Saints head coach Jim Mora had this to say about Swilling “Pat was an excellent player for us. He was a great all-around player, and he really excelled as a pass rusher—he was one of the best during his time in the league.”