The Pro Football Hall of Fame released its list of 52 modern-era players to make it to the next stage of the selection process for the 2026 class. Three former Tennessee Titans have made it through: Running back Eddie George, placekicker Gary Anderson and fullback Lorenzo Neal.
George goes all the way back to the Houston Oilers days when he was drafted No. 14 overall in the 1996 NFL Draft out of Ohio State University. Not only do his career numbers hold up to Hall of Fame standards, he of course passed the eyeball test as well. George was an absolutely bruising running back who nearly defined the term “bell cow.”
In nine years in the NFL, George ran for 10,441 yards, 68 rushing touchdowns and 10 receiving touchdowns. All were with the Titans outside of his final year in 2004 with the Dallas Cowboys.
George made the Pro Bowl four times in his career, was Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1996 and made first-team All Pro in 2000. He was second-team All Pro the year before when the Titans went to the Super Bowl and lost to the St. Louis Rams.
Anderson and Neal have a tougher road ahead to make Hall of Fame
Anderson absolutely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He kicked for 23 years in the NFL for crying out loud beginning with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1982 and finishing with the Titans in 2004.
Over the course of his lengthy career, Anderson also kicked for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. Remember 1998? Anderson was 100% on his field goals all season and then the NFC Championship Game happened and he missed the most important kick of the season. Rough break, but he was still first-team All Pro that year and that one kick won’t keep him out of the Hall (although it’s going to be tough as a kicker regardless).
Neal will have an even more difficult road than Anderson. He’s one of the best fullbacks of all time, but it’s really tough to measure the success of that position. It’s highly doubtful you’ll rack up many stats as the crux of the fullback’s job is doing the dirty work. Maybe his work on the Music City Miracle will help?
List of final 52 to make it to the Selection Committee for Hall of Fame
The full list of the players who made it through the initial cut are right here:
(*-Finalist (final 15) for the Class of 2025. Underline indicates first year of eligibility.)
QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, *Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.
RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), *Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, *Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, *Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne.
TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen, Jason Witten.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): *Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), *Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), *Marshal Yanda (G).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).
LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison, *Luke Kuechly, *Terrell Suggs.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), *Darren Woodson (S).
PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), *Adam Vinatieri (K).
SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).
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