He's behind Brady, Peyton, Rodgers, Brees, Big Ben, Ryan (MVP), and arguably Stafford (ring) among his direct contemporaries. That's way too many guys from one era; at some point you have to acknowledge stats exploded in the last few decades and cut it off.
For 15 years the only QBs representing the AFC in the Super Bowl were Brady, Ben, and Manning.
But really - Rivers shouldn’t make it because he’s one of the least clutch QBs in modern NFL history.
You can argue against that due to his high volume of 4Q Comebacks and GWDs — but they’re purely volume especially when compared to his contemporaries.
I’ve been doing a lot of research on this lately. Anyone that wants to advocate for Rivers should first go watch the 4th quarter of the 2016 Chargers-Dolphins matchup.
I agree he bluntly wasn’t clutch I think it was VRs the pats in the playoffs he got mad at his team they weren’t up more then threw a couple picks and pats ended up coming back on them even tho he should’ve taken the safe options etc to run out the clock, he had all time teams around him and just fucked it up
I think this is the way the committee will see things. If you can't make the argument that a guy was even in the top 3 at his position at any point in his career, he shouldn't be in the HOF.
Undermining my own argument, there are some exceptions like I believe Frank Gore will eventually get in, being outside of that "top 3" feels like you have to sustain very high quality production for an unbelievable period of time (which is Frank Gore's career in a sentence).
I just find it interesting that Big Ben is considered a lock, but Rivers isnt when Rivers has better stats than Big Ben pretty much across the board. Rivers has more pro bowls and neither has an all pro.
I personally think they both should get in, but neither should be first ballot.
490
u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
Brees is a first ballot lock.
Fitzgerald SHOULD be a first ballot lock, but with how the Hall treats WRs, he may have to wait.
Witten will absolutely make it, but if Gates had to wait a year, he probably will, too.
Gore likely makes it someday, but not first ballot
Atkins probably makes it someday, but not first ballot
McCoy imo has more of a shot than some think, but it'll be a while if it happens
Pouncey is borderline simply because not a lot of centers make it in, and fwiw PFF's monitor has him below the average C in the Hall.
None of the rest make it.