10 biggest Hall of Fame snubs in NFL history

Marshall might be best known for running the wrong way following an interception, but that overshadows the brilliance he brought to the Minnesota Vikings and their Purple People Eaters defense for almost two decades. Sacks didn’t exist during Marshall’s career, spanning all of the '60s and '70s, but he was a consistent force in the backfield creating mayhem for opposing quarterbacks. Marshall started an NFL-record 282 consecutive games and recovered the most fumbles in league history. Surely, this giant of a man belongs in Canton.

John Lynch, safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Lynch has been a finalist for the Hall of Fame a whopping six times. That seems to be a clear indication that he’ll end up getting in one day and for good reason. The current San Francisco 49ers general manager earned nine Pro Bowl appearances in a career that spanned 15 seasons. He also played an instrumental role on a historic Buccaneers defense that defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. He should be in already. It’s that simple.

Pat Swilling, linebacker, New Orleans Saints 

Swilling doesn’t get a whole bunch of credit because he suited up for a bad Saints team throughout the majority of his career, but for a good four-year span in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Swilling was right up there with the best linebackers in the game. That span saw Swilling record 55 sacks and 18 forced fumbles. For comparison’s sake, Khalil Mack has 49 sacks and 14 forced fumbles over his past four seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler and the 1991 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Swilling certainly belongs among the game’s best.

Alan Faneca, guard, Pittsburgh Steelers

Faneca's pure domination was something to behold. He earned nine Pro Bowl appearances in his 13 seasons and opened up running lanes for a Steelers offense that dominated on the ground with the likes of Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley and Willie Parker. The one constant here was Faneca. He should be recognized.

Chuck Howley, linebacker, Dallas Cowboys 

A Super Bowl MVP, six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro during his time with the Cowboys, Howley was one of the primary reasons this team transitioned to Super Bowl contender during the early years of Tom Landry’s legendary tenure.

He does not get enough credit for instilling life into a previously weak defense, enabling the Cowboys to boast a sense of bravado on that side of the ball. It led to a turnaround from 4-9-1 during Howley’s first season in Dallas to consistent title contention. The likes of Roger Staubach, Bob Hayes and Mel Renfro get most of the press, but Howley was just as important for the creation of America’s Team.

Roger Craig, running back, San Francisco 49ers 

Craig was the modern NFL running back before we even knew what that meant. A true dual-purpose player during the 49ers’ dynasty of the 1980s, this three-time Super Bowl champ became the first back in NFL history to put up 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. He gained north of 2,000 total yards twice, earned four Pro Bowl appearances and was recognized as a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team in the 1980s. If that weren’t enough, Craig tallied 420 total yards and four touchdowns in his three Super Bowl appearances.

Torry Holt, wide receiver, St. Louis Rams 

Dominant would be the best way to describe an eight-year span in the 2000s that saw Holt average 95 receptions for 1,450 yards and eight touchdowns. He gained north of 1,100 yards all eight seasons and earned seven Pro Bowl appearances during that span. It took Isaac Bruce a while to get in, representing the first of two receivers from the Greatest Show on Turf to make his way to Canton. Holt should follow here soon.

Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers 

Sharpe played only seven seasons in the NFL, but he made the most of them. Before seeing his career shortened to injury, the former Packers star earned five Pro Bowls and averaged 85 receptions for 1,162 yards and nine touchdowns. Sharpe amassed 314 receptions for 3,854 yards and 42 touchdowns in his final three seasons. One could have only imagined how his career would have gone if he wasn’t forced into retirement with a neck injury at the young age of 29.

Dick Schafrath, offensive line, Cleveland Browns

In front of every all-time great running back stands an offensive lineman who was willing to do the dirty work. For the vast majority of Jim Brown’s great career with the Browns, that was Schafrath. He anchored Cleveland’s offensive line for the final six years of Brown’s career, helping the Hall of Famer to nearly 11,000 total yards and 84 touchdowns during that span. Schafrath also earned seven Pro Bowl appearances, six All-Pro honors and a championship during his brilliant 13-year run in Cleveland.

Lester Hayes, cornerback, Oakland Raiders 

Yet another all-time Raider great who has been shunned by HOF voters comes in the form of one of the best play-making cornerbacks in modern NFL history. A five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year, Hayes intercepted 39 passes in a nine-year career. That included a whopping 13 during Oakland’s championship run in 1980.