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2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Semifinalists Revealed: 3 Bears Legends Left Off List

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Samir Patel | Last updated Nov 20, 2024 4:57 PM ET

Every NFL player dreams of making it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but very few see this goal come to fruition. On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its semifinalists for the 2025 class. This list will become even tighter as the ceremony approaches next fall, culminating with 4-8 players immortalized with their busts forever on display in Canton.

Three former Chicago Bears stars — center Olin Kreutz, linebacker Lance Briggs, and cornerback Charles Tillman — were among the 167 nominees in a spot for the semifinals, but none were chosen this year. Let's take a look at each player's case.

Lance Briggs

Lance Briggs was a defensive stalwart for the Bears, having played all 12 of his NFL seasons in Chicago. While Briggs played alongside fellow Bears hall of fame Brian Urlacher, he was no second fiddle. So, did he get snubbed from being on this list?

Here's how he stacks up against former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who made the list.

While the numbers heavily favor Briggs, this is primarily because he has played significantly more games than Kuechly. While longevity is certainly a positive attribute for a player, one could argue that Kuechly's "per game" metrics were slightly better. Additionally, Kuechly had more All-Pro selections and earned 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Honors.

Despite this, it's clear that Briggs belongs in the same conversation with his linebacking peer and should've been selected as a semifinalist.

Olin Kreutz

Olin Kreutz played 13 seasons for the Bears and made the Pro Bowl six times. Centers aren't typically selected for the Hall of Fame (12 total), so it's no surprise none appeared among the 2025 semifinalists.

The best comparison for Kreutz would be Nick Mangold, former center for the New York Jets. Mangold also has yet to see his name called for Canton, and when examining their careers, they're nearly identical.

It'd be fair to say that Kreutz may have to wait for Mangold to get inducted before he has his shot.

Charles Tillman

Charles "Peanut" Tillman was a favorite of Bears fans during the Lovie Smith era. He set team records with nine defensive touchdowns, eight interception return touchdowns, and 675 interception return yards. His 36 interceptions are the most by a cornerback in team history and third most overall behind safeties Gary Fencik (38) and Richie Petitbon (37).

Tillman's ability to force fumbles using his unique "Peanut Punch" technique was so revolutionary that it's become a staple among players and commentators. He forced 44 fumbles in his career, including a record 10 in 2012. Tillman's mark is by far the most forced fumbles by any defensive back.

If you have a signature defensive move named after you, that feels like an automatic bid to make the Hall of Fame.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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