Randy Gradishar, Art Powell and Steve McMichael were named Wednesday as senior finalists for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s Class of 2024, and it’s a giant leap forward for each. It puts them on the cusp of enshrinement.
The three were chosen Tuesday by a 12-member committee, with the Hall making the announcement early Wednesday afternoon. However, news of McMichael’s election seemed to leak overnight in Chicago, with celebrations there occurring early Tuesday evening.
“It’s just amazing,” McMichael’s wife, Misty, told WGN TV. “It’s suspenseful. It’s been killing me, and now that I have to wait another day, I’ll wait. I’ll be patient.”
With their nominations, Gradishar, McMichael and Powell move to the next … and last … phase of the election process: -- the January meeting of the Hall’s board of selectors, scheduled for Atlanta. If endorsed by 80 percent of the 50 selectors -- and that is almost sure to happen – each candidate will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next August.
The election of Gradishar, a star linebacker of the Denver Broncos from 1974-83, was predicted. In fact, a group of historians on this site last week made him the only unanimous choice in a pre-election poll (Judge & Jury: Which Three Seniors Would You Choose Next for Canton? - Talk Of Fame (talkoffametwo.com). But the choice of McMichael and Powell? Ah, that was a major upset. Prior to this year, neither had been a Hall-of-Fame finalist of semifinalist.
McMichael, a former defensive tackle now battling ALS, was one of the leading figures on a Chicago Bears' defense that, in 1985, was considered one of the game’s greatest. When he retired after the 1994 season, his 95 career sacks ranked first among defensive tackles and today are fourth all-time, behind only John Randle, Aaron Donald and Warren Sapp.
Powell, one of two AFL finalists (Otis Taylor was the other, was one of the most productive receivers in that league’s … or any league’s … history. In 105 career games as a receiver (he played defensive back for Philadelphia in 1959), he had 479 receptions for 8,046 yards and 81 touchdowns – which works out to an average of 1,302 yards and 13 TDs in today’s 17-game season.
“Art Powell’s accomplishments,” said AFL historian Todd Tobias, “speak for themselves.”
Gradishar, McMichael and Powell will join coach/contributor candidate Buddy Parker as finalists at the Hall’s annual board of selectors’ meeting in January. If all four are elected, they will join five modern-era enshrinees in Canton for the Class of 2024 induction in August.
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