Among other things, star power has been one of the reasons for the Super Bowl’s popularity since the Chiefs and Packers played in the first big game 56 years ago. The Super Bowls usually feature the biggest faces in professional football, players whose careers have been immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Super Bowl XIII, the first to feature two teams that had previously won the Super Bowl multiple times, featured a record 17 future Hall of Famers. All the talent on the court in Miami that day resulted in one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played.
This year’s Super Bowl may not match that tally, but rest assured there will be representatives from the Chiefs and Eagles who will one day be outfitted for a gold jacket. With that in mind, we set out to predict which Super Bowl LVII players have already established Canton-worthy careers, and which ones may need to add a bit more to the resume before hanging up their cleats for good.
As good as gold
Patrick Mahomes
The future two-time league MVP has already done enough to earn a gold jacket. The Super Bowl LIV MVP is also a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro during his five years as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. Mahomes’ 64-16 regular season record and 10-3 record are testament to his unique talents.
Mahomes’ career has already placed him among the greatest to ever hold the quarterback position. He is currently just behind Matthew Stafford in Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor and just ahead of Cam Newton and Hall of Famers Len Dawson, Troy Aikman and Jim Kelly, among others.
Travis Kelce
One of five tight ends with 10,000 career receiving yards, Kelce is also second only to Jerry Rice in playoff history in receptions and receiving yards.
A Pro Bowler every year since 2015, Kelce is also a four-time All-Pro and a member of the 2010 NFL All-Team. The only question is whether or not he will be inducted in his first year of eligibility.
Jason Kelce
For some reason, it can sometimes take offensive linemen a while to get their Hall of Fame due. Dermontti Dawson, considered by many to be the greatest center in NFL history, was only inducted into his seventh year of eligibility.
While his younger brother is a slam dunk, Jason Kelce’s Hall of Fame chances should be considered a layup. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, and was the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning first-team MVP. His incredible longevity (he hasn’t missed a game since 2014) is another feather in Kelce’s Hall of Fame cap. Another Super Bowl ring would be the icing on the cake.
Not quite there, but trending towards Canton
Chris Jones
Jones will be remembered as the defensive cornerstone of this rich era in Chiefs history. A Pro Bowler every year since 2019, Jones was named an All-Pro for the first time this year after matching his career-high 15.5 sacks. Jones’ impact was felt in a big way in Kansas City’s AFC title game win over Cincinnati, as he came on with two big sacks from Joe Burrow that helped the Chiefs win a 23-20 victory.
Jones needs another 35 sacks to reach the century mark, which is the gold standard for pass rushers. At just 28, Jones has time to flesh out his stats while garnering more individual accolades that will help his case. A great performance on Sunday would do wonders for his future Hall of Fame chances.
Great career that can be cut short
Ndamukong Suh
Suh has had a remarkable if odd career. A former No. 2 overall, Suh was named to the NFL All-Decade Team in 2010 after winning five Pro Bowls in his first seven seasons. And while his Pro Bowl selections have dried up since 2016, Suh has played a vital role on a Rams team that went to the Super Bowl and a Buccaneers team that won it all in 2020.
Suh’s numbers don’t skip a page, though. He has 71.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries in 199 career games. He’s 7.5 more sacks in 14 playoff games and is currently ranked No. 12 on Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor in defensive tackles.
His induction chances don’t seem likely, but Suh’s first Pro Bowls, his ring in Tampa, his inclusion on the team for the entire decade as well as the longevity of his career will be worth discussing when he’s eligible for the roster. enthronement.
Carlos Dunlap
Speaking of 100 career sacks, that’s the exact career total for Dunlap, who had four sacks in his first season in Kansas City after spending the majority of his career in Cincinnati. Dunlap, who turns 34 later this month, is among a group of several former Bengals whose careers have been strong but who may ultimately fall short of the Hall of Fame. This group of players also includes defensive tackle Geno Smith and receiver AJ Green, who recently announced his retirement.
Although he has the stats, two Pro Bowl selections and no All-Pro nods will surely come against Dunlap when his career is considered for induction. The fact that he only had one season that saw him reach double figures in sacks won’t help either.
All of that being said, a great performance in a big game can do wonders for a player’s Hall of Fame career. A big game against the Chiefs could be a springboard for Dunlap’s induction chances.
Lane Johnson
As stated earlier, linemen have a tougher road when it comes to the Hall of Fame. But Johnson is building a record as a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. At 32, Johnson will have to continue playing at his current level for several more years in order to strengthen his case.
Early promise, but there is still work to be done
Haason Reddick
The former Cardinal and Panthers saw his career trajectory soar in 2022. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection while recording a career-high 16 sacks while leading the NFL with five forced fumbles. He had 3.5 more sacks in the NFC playoffs while helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.
A former first-round pick, Reddick has made up for the slow start to his career. He now has 47 career sacks after posting just 7.5 sacks in his first three seasons. He’s had at least 11 sacks over the past three seasons while establishing himself as one of the league’s top passers.
At 28, Reddick will have to continue playing at this pace for several more years in order to consolidate his Hall of Fame record. Like the other players on this list, a great performance on Sunday would accelerate Reddick’s future Hall of Fame chances.
Humphrey’s Creed
Overlooked in Super Bowl storylines, there’s a clash between two of the NFL’s top centers. In just his second year, Humphrey is set to take over from Kelce as the league’s No. 1 center. He made his first Pro Bowl this year after being a stabilizing force on the Chiefs offensive line.
A.J. Brown
Receiver has become an increasingly difficult position when it comes to Hall of Fame induction. Ask Torry Holt, Hines Ward and Reggie Wayne, among others.
Changes to the game over the past few decades have had the biggest impact on the wides when reviewing their careers. A receiver playing in this era will have to accomplish more in his career than reaching 1,000 catches and 10,000 career receiving yards.
Although it’s been a rough road, Brown has helped his cause with a strong career start. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and had a record breaking first season in Philadelphia. Brown’s Hall of Fame chances will only get better as long as he continues to perform and build his chemistry with Jalen Hurts.
Jalen hurts
Yes, including Hurts is probably premature considering he’s only in his second year as a starting quarterback. But because he’s playing quarterback, and given that he’s about to play in the Super Bowl, it’s only fair to start projecting his possible place in Canton one day.
Hall of Fame voters like quarterbacks who win. That’s great news for Hurts, who is 25-12 as an Eagles starter and 16-1 this season. His and the Eagles’ success in winning games will be what will ultimately determine Hurts’ future fate in the Hall of Fame.
His versatility will surely help his case, but Hurts can really help his future Hall of Fame chances by winning the Super Bowl MVP on Sunday. An MVP performance against the Chiefs, with Mahomes on the opposite sideline, would catapult Hurts’ early career into an even higher stratosphere than he currently occupies.
