Former New Orleans Saints offensive guard Jahri Evans narrowly missed out on being elected to the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Evans, 40, was one of the 15 finalists announced on Thursday morning. However, he just missed out in the final selection process.
Several postseason awards were handed out at The 13th Annual NFL Honors Ceremony on Thursday night, including the latest Hall of Fame elections. The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees are DE Dwight Freeney, KR Devin Hester, WR Andre Johnson, DE Julius Peppers, LB Patrick Willis, LB Randy Gradishar, and DE Steve McMichael.
Wideouts Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Evans, and former Saints CB Eric Allen were among a handful of notable players who just missed the cut. Evans was in his second year of eligibility. He was a semifinalist last year, taking it one step further this year.
Jahri Evans grew up in Philadelphia, PA and attended Frankfort High School. He attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, a Division II school, where he earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors in each of his last three seasons. He was a two-time Divisional II All-American.
The New Orleans Saints selected Evans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft with the 108th overall pick. He was among a Saints draft class, Sean Payton's first with the team, that included franchise greats Reggie Bush, Roman Harper, Zach Strief, and Marques Colston.
Evans was an immediate starter at right guard for New Orleans. In fact, he'd start 122 consecutive games for the team between 2006 and 2013, including playoffs. Over an 11-year career with the Saints, Evans started 193 of a possible 200 contests.
A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time 1st Team All-Pro selection, Evans was a key member of a New Orleans offense that was historically proficient and part of the Super Bowl XLIV championship squad. He was voted onto the 2010s All-Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Reference. One of the best interior linemen of his era, Evans finished his career in 2017 with the Green Bay Packers.
In 2020, Evans was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame and was also voted onto the Saints 50th Anniversary Team in 2016. He has been an assistant offensive line coach with New Orleans for the last two seasons.
Linebacker Rickey Jackson, OT Willie Roaf, K Morten Andersen, and LB Sam Mills are players who spent most of their careers with New Orleans that are now enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Former General Manager Jim Finks is also enshrined with them. After coming up just short, Jahri Evans will have other opportunities to take his rightful place among the game's all-time greats.
More must-reads: