Bengals legend gets passed up for the Pro Football Hall of Fame once again by senior committee

The finalists are former Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Maxie Baughan, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, and former Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jim Tyrer. 

Anderson, now 75 years old, made the nine-player cut for the semifinals for the third consecutive year after making the initial 183-player list all the way back in September. Per Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson, Anderson, Baughan, and Sharpe are the only candidates to have reached the semifinals all three years.

Cincinnati and its fans have put forth immense efforts in recent years to ensure Anderson and others are recognized in the voting process. It's a big reason why the Ring of Honor was instituted in 2021, the year Anderson was an inaugural inductee along with the club's now two Hall of Famers, Anthony Munoz and Ken Riley.

Anderson and Willie Anderson, who's still in the running as a modern candidate, are the Bengals' best bets for a third Hall of Fame inductee in the near future. Eventually the likes of Geno Atkins and Andrew Whitworth will have strong arguments when they each become eligible, but it would be ideal for both Andersons to see their moment in the sun before then. 

For the elder Anderson, it's on to next year, again