The fabric was so soft and official. The polyamide-spandex blend hugged, yet still breathed. The speedsuit’s pink piping and yellow Adidas logo practically glowed against the kit’s deep purple, a color Adidas dubs “preloved fig.” McKenzie Long put it on and modeled in the nearest mirror, seeing how it complimented her skin tone, her muscles, the tattoo sleeve covering her right arm.

This speedsuit could be bought for about $300. But her cost was much more. Her price was all of her discipline. An untold number of brutal workouts. The pain in every defeat. The hunger remaining after victory. A life devoid of typical indulgences. But her reward, one of them, came shortly before the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. Long turned pro and signed an endorsement deal with the sports apparel giant. The inaugural donning of her speedsuit punctuated the milestone.

Oh, what she’d have given for her mother to lay the first eyes on it, have the honor of first reaction.

But Tara Elizabeth Jones, neé Murphy, died on Jan. 29 of a heart attack. She was a little over two months from her 46th birthday. When Long left her mother’s home in Hawaii over Christmas break, they both envisioned the success Long would capture. Mom spoke her Olympic dreams into existence, breathing confidence into her daughter’s hidden areas of doubt. Mrs. Jones earned this breakthrough as much as her daughter.

“When I first put this pro uniform on,” Long, 24, said last month. Her voice trembled until it cracked. Tears welled to the brim of her mascara. “I was like, ‘I really wish you could see me in my pro uniform.’”

Grief is reputed for its sucker punches. A master in the art of unbeknownst, its specialty is sneaking up on the grieving, pouncing on the smallest triggers. A song. A piece of candy. A similar laugh. A certain word or how it’s delivered. A random gesture.

Long is increasingly familiar with grief’s stealthy ways. Just before the women’s 100-meter final at trials, she waited in a designated area before the race. One of the officials at Hayward Field, on the campus of the University of Oregon, used the opportunity to gift Long a bracelet. This unknown person learned of Long’s story, how she’d sprinted into notoriety despite the recent death of her mother, and was moved to kindness. The bracelet she gave Long included an encouraging message and was delivered with comforting words.

Suddenly, Long’s focus shifted from pre-race intensity to a brewing sadness she struggled to suppress.

“It was a stone bracelet, and it had a meaning behind it,” Long said. “And I was reading it. … It was, like, an empowerment bracelet. She said, “You’re in my prayers’ and all this sentimental stuff. I was like, ‘Dang, I’m trying to lock in.’”

But grief is also bold enough to show up in significant times. To wait in the open. To stare its targets in the face, challenging them to handle the deluge of emotion.

It sure keeps meeting Long in her biggest moments. At the 2024 NCAA outdoor championships, where she became a hot name in the world of track and field by winning a national title in the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4×100 relay. In her room in Eugene, Ore., after she missed making the women’s 100-meter final at trials (by .07 seconds) and could’ve used a bosom on which to collapse from the disappointment. After she’d taken third in the 200-meter final, beating out Sha’Carri Richardson for a spot on her first Olympic team.

The next climax of Long’s journey is upon her in Paris. This is the part carved from her fantasies, what’s been driving her on this incredible run. It’s full of monumental occasions. Arriving at the Olympic Village. Putting on her red, white and blue uniform with “USA” across her chest. Stepping to the blocks on this most massive stage, against the best in the world.

“That’s gonna be another monumental moment,” she said. “Another hard-reality moment.”

Grief will certainly stalk her in those times, prey on her desire for her mother’s presence and anchoring voice. Mom always knew just what to say to calm Kenzie down when she was going haywire before a meet.

Or turn her up.

“You’re McKenzie Long. They should be afraid of you.”

“Piece of cake” has become their mantra. That’s how mom classified her favorite sprinter’s lofty ambitions.

That’s why Long is so determined to make sure her mother is with her. Every step of the way. She’s been known to find a private spot in the stands before the race so she could talk to her mom. The conversation continues at the starting block.

“Let’s do this, mom.”

“You got this baby girl.”

When Long crosses the finish line, she’s got more words for the maternal spirit she keeps close. Then in interviews, she speaks of her freely, though it may hurt. Because keeping her mother present is preserving a critical element of how she made it here.

Grief can be a consumer of energy, a larcenist of zeal, powerful enough to buckle the strongest. Many people need it to run its course and vacate before resuming their usual excellence. Long, though, is among those who can forge through grief and emerge better than ever. A heavy heart hasn’t slowed her down.

She’s been nothing short of spectacular the last couple of months. She had a dominant final season at Ole Miss, capped by a performance at the NCAA championships that put her name on the marquee. Then she was one of the darlings of the Olympic trials. She is convinced it’s with the aid of her mother. She can hear her voice in the wind. Feel her like a sensation.

It seems, for Long, the same thing that makes you fast makes you cry.

“Going into these past couple months,” Long explained, “(I’m) just not separating my mom, including her in everything that I do. … Doing the little things that remind me of my mom and include that into the track and field world. And, honestly, that’s helped me so much. Letting me feel her. Letting me include her. Hearing her voice play back in my head. It pushes me through.”

Gabby Thomas and McKenzie Long embrace after the 200-meter at U.S. Olympic trials. Both qualified for Paris, where competition begins Sunday. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

Jones’ death has been a crushing blow for many in her circle. In addition to her four children — Jake, Isaiah, McKenzie and Karmen — Jones spent her life helping people, including the most in need. As a psychiatric travel nurse, she provided care and support for people struggling with mood and psychotic disorders, substance abuse and even dementia. Travel Psych RNs work everywhere from hospitals to homes, clinics to schools.

Jones’ career matched her reputation as empathetic. It was reciprocated in February as 92 people donated towards her funeral expenses, raising more than $6,700 for her service back in Ironton, Ohio.

“Tara was a cherished friend whose infectious laughter and genuine empathy brightened the lives of those around her,” her husband wrote. “Whether lending a listening ear or offering words of encouragement, Tara’s presence had a profound impact on everyone she encountered.”

No one mistook her kindness for weakness, though. Jones was a straight shooter with little to no hesitancy speaking her heart. She celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary with a transparent post to listeners of the Cup of Jones podcast with her husband about the hurt she’s endured in her marriage. She talked openly about having bariatric surgery — an operation that alters the digestive system to induce weight loss — last August and what she deemed a harmful relationship with food. The surgery seemed to be a physical and emotional success. She created a playlist for her workouts — “Don’t Be A Lazy B—” is what she titled it — including songs by Lizzo and Cardi B. Long was listening to it during trials.

The jewels of a queen’s crown are her children. Jones’ oldest, Jake Long, played football at West Virginia, and now he’s an entrepreneur. Jones moved the family from Ironton to Columbus so he could train at a higher level. Isaiah is a dancer and rave thrower who openly talks about thriving with autism. Karmen, the baby, is a burgeoning model.

And, of course, the nation now knows her beloved Kenzie.

Her explosion onto the scene wasn’t a fluke. It’s been a slow grind. Steady progression made sturdy by adversity. Long spent four years in North Carolina State’s prestigious program, working her way into an All-American. In May of 2021, she had hip surgery to correct an issue bad enough for hip replacement to be considered. A year later, she set North Carolina State’s record in the 200 meters (23.00 seconds). But she didn’t qualify for NCAAs.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Long left NC State — with two bachelor’s degrees, one in psychology, the other in communication. She transferred to Ole Miss as a graduate student.

As a Rebel, she grew into elite.

Her best 100-meter time at N.C. State: 11.49 seconds. At Ole Miss, she dropped it 11.00 in 2023. In the 200 meters, she never posted a time below 23 seconds time at N.C. State. But in 2023 at Ole Miss, she got it down to 22.31.

Running for Ole Miss, McKenzie Long was 2024 NCAA outdoor champion in the 100- and 200-meter. She’ll run the 200 in Paris. (Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Then came the NCAA championships. Long looked like a future star, best in America. She won a national title in the 100 meters (with a personal best time of 10.91 seconds) and in the 200 meters (another personal best, 21.83 seconds). She also ran the anchor leg for Ole Miss’ national title in the 4×100 relay. All of this went down in about 90 minutes. Piece of cake.

Suddenly, Long — who is also leaving Ole Miss with two master’s degrees, one in criminal justice and one in public health — emerged as one of the fastest women in the world and was named a semifinalist for the coveted Bowerman Award.

“I have to do a double take,” Long’s dad, Michael, told WSAZ News in their hometown. “Because, like, that’s my daughter. It absolutely blows my mind. … She really didn’t have a lot of time to grieve and go through the grieving process. To push through that, I just look forward to seeing her compete with those Olympians.”

Something’s revealing about her best event being the 200 meters. Speed with a shot of endurance. Long’s fast enough for the 100. Her personal best time would’ve gotten her to the final at trials, where anything is possible. She was so close, she spent the next day or so crying from the letdown.

But the 100 was just the appetizer for her main course. The 200 also requires elite speed, but something more. Running the curve demands additional technique and makes lane position more relevant. But the 200 can also be more forgiving. Rough starts aren’t quite as punishing. Because the 200 is about finishing. Exploding out of the turn. Digging deep for the final stretch. Hitting top speed and holding it. The last 100. The last 60. The last 20. It’s a test of strength and will, to be fast farther.

The finish is when Long’s potential becomes visceral. Determination chisels her jaw. Power concentrates in her eyes. Sometimes, you can see her dig deeper. Summon something extra.

She knows from where that extra comes. Whenever she grabs her phone, she kisses the picture of her mother on the screen before unlocking it. Mrs. Jones looks so happy in that picture, smiling on a beach in Hawaii.

“Mom, I made a commitment to you, and as the strong woman you raised, there is no excuses,” Long wrote on Instagram a week before her mother’s “Celebration of Life” service. “I got a very powerful guardian angel by my side through it all and I know you will never fail me. I live through you. I got you. I got us.”

An open book like her mother, she’s talked of her bouts with anxiety, and how overwhelming the transition to professional has been. Not to mention the daunting prospect of running against fellow American Gabby Thomas, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred and Great Britain’s Daryll Neita.

All of this while grief nips at her heels.

“I’m so inspired by her story,” Gabby Thomas said of Long. “I watched her at the NCAAs. There are so many amazing female athletes in our sport, and some of them just really stick out and stand out. And she’s one of them. I’m so touched by her season and how hard she’s worked and what she’s overcome. … She has something. She has something really special.”

She could very well earn her first Olympic medal. At a minimum, her story will be told to millions while she’s in Paris, her name increasingly known in the track and field world and in her home country.

Long could be one of the star American women in track and field. She’s got the talent for it. She’s got the drive for it. She’s got the resilience for it.

She’s also got the mom for it. Piece of cake.

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(Top photo of McKenzie Long during U.S. Olympic trials: Charlie Neibergall / AP)

The Kansas man who stole a Jackie Robinson statue from a park has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

A judge sentenced Ricky Alderete Friday. Most of that jail time is related to another burglary that happened days after the statue theft.

Alderete was involved in a burglary on Feb. 1 he says was fueled by a fentanyl addiction, and 13½ years of the sentence is related to that burglary.

“I let fentanyl take over me and made a lot of poor decisions. I am not going to deny that. I never meant to hurt anybody,” he said in court Friday. “I am embarrassed, I’m ashamed. Whatever you do today, I accept. I am ready for that. I believe I am where I am supposed to be right now because, at the rate I am going, I might have been dead.”

In May, Alderete pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, aggravated criminal damage to property, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property, theft, making a false writing and identity theft in the statue heist.

The statue was snatched from McAdams Park in January and was later “dismantled and burned,” according to authorities.

The Wichita Fire Department was called to a trash can fire at Garvey Park around 8:30 a.m. Jan. 30, where firefighters discovered remnants of the stolen statue.

Police announced Feb. 13 the arrest of a man in the theft of the Jackie Robinson statue that later was found dismantled and burned.  (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP, File)

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The statue was cut from its base, leaving only bronze replicas of the legendary baseball player’s cleats behind. Robinson broke the Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. The franchise moved in 1957 to California, where it continues as the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After the original statue was stolen, donations to replace it rolled in, including $100,000 from Major League Baseball. The new statue will be unveiled Monday, with Joe Torre and CC Sabathia expected to be in attendance.

The bronze cleats that were left behind when the original statue was stolen are now on display at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

This March 4, 1946, file photo shows Jackie Robinson of the Montreal Royals in Sanford, Fla. (AP Photo/Bill Chaplis, File)

In the majors, Robinson hit .313, won an MVP in 1949 and was named an All-Star six times. He also was a Negro League All-Star, giving him seven all-star nods in professional baseball.

Robinson died in 1972 at the age of 53, and it is widely thought that the stress he endured throughout his playing days contributed to an early death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

With the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 set to be enshrined on Saturday, let’s look ahead at who might be in Canton next.

For some teams, it’s easy to predict who the next inductee will be. With the Arizona Cardinals, it almost certainly will be wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Tight end Antonio Gates should be the next Charger. The next Indianapolis Colt inducted is likely to be wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

On other teams, it isn’t as clear who could be next.

Some teams, like the New York Jets and Detroit Lions, don’t have an obvious Hall of Fame candidate in the pipeline. With other teams, like the New York Giants (Eli Manning? Everson Walls? Carl Banks? Tiki Barber? Tom Coughlin?), Dallas Cowboys (Jason Witten? Darren Woodson?) and Jacksonville Jaguars (Fred Taylor? Jalen Ramsey? Calais Campbell? Coughlin?), the case could be made for more than one person.

Here are some possibilities, courtesy of Hall of Fame voters Dan Pompei (who wrote on all AFC teams) and Mike Sando (NFC).

The 11-time Pro Bowl choice ranks second to Jerry Rice in all-time receiving yards. Fitzgerald, who becomes Hall-eligible in 2026, spent his full career with the Cardinals and was an elite playoff producer as well (942 yards in nine playoff games). His 64-yard touchdown catch in Super Bowl XLIII gave Arizona the lead over Pittsburgh with 2:37 remaining.

Jones’ elite production over an eight-year stretch makes him a strong candidate. He had six seasons with at least 1,300 yards, tied with Randy Moss and Torry Holt for second behind Rice. Like Fitzgerald, Jones stood 6-foot-3 and weighed nearly 220 pounds, making him a primary game-plan consideration for defenses.

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He wasn’t as celebrated as defensive teammates Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but Suggs clearly has a Hall of Fame resume. He ranks eighth in career sacks and was voted to seven Pro Bowls. He also was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Suggs will be Hall-eligible in 2025, along with former teammate and guard Marshal Yanda, who also should be a strong candidate.

Terrell Suggs, who won two Super Bowls, one with the Ravens and one with the Chiefs, becomes Hall-eligible next year. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

He will be remembered mostly as an Eagle because Peters played 11 years in Philadelphia, including all of the 2010s, when he was voted all-decade. But he started in Buffalo and made two of his nine Pro Bowls as a Bill. Peters has not retired, so if the 42-year-old keeps playing and 35-year-old Von Miller retires first, Miller could beat him to Canton.

Kuechly’s credentials mirror those of the recently enshrined Patrick Willis. Both were seven-time Pro Bowl selections and five-time first-team All-Pro choices before retiring earlier than expected. Willis played in 112 games, compared with 118 for Kuechly. Receiver Steve Smith is another strong candidate for Carolina, but Kuechly, who becomes eligible for enshrinement in 2025, could beat him to Canton at a position where there’s less of a logjam.

Reggie White called Hilgenberg one of the five best offensive linemen he faced, along with Anthony Munoz, Jackie Slater, Ed White and Erik Williams. Hilgenberg was a seven-time Pro Bowl choice known for his quickness. It’s tough faulting him for missing the 1980s all-decade team cut when Dwight Stephenson and Mike Webster were the choices.

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He has been a Hall of Fame semifinalist for three straight years and was voted to the top 10 last year before missing the cut. A three-time first-team All-Pro, Anderson is widely considered the best right tackle of his generation. Quarterback Ken Anderson also has been close in recent years as a senior candidate.

Even though Garrett is only 28 years old and has played just seven seasons, he looks like a shoo-in. It’s possible Joel Bitonio will jump him, but it’s difficult for guards to get into the Hall of Fame. Bitonio has an impressive resume, but there are several guards with similar resumes already in the queue, including Jahri Evans.

Woodson played a leading role on the Jimmy Johnson-built Dallas defenses that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s. A finalist for the Hall in each of the past two seasons, Woodson has gotten further in the process than Jason Witten, who ranks second to Tony Gonzalez in receiving yards among tight ends. He had 23 interceptions, including 12 from 1994 to ’96, when he was named first-team All-Pro each season.

Shanahan won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver and took his teams to 10 championship games. With a remarkable coaching tree that continues to shape his legacy, Shanahan is one of the strongest contributor candidates. His offensive philosophy remains prevalent in the NFL, partly because his son Kyle has thrived using it.

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This is a tough one after the Hall of Fame selection committee rejected former Lions coach Buddy Parker as a contributor. If Stafford makes it, he’ll do so based on whatever team success he enjoys in his current job with the Rams. Ndamukong Suh and Darius Slay had excellent careers as Lions, but were they Hall of Famers? Detroit short-timers such as Adrian Peterson don’t count here.

Holmgren turned around the Packers and Seahawks, leading both to the Super Bowl while developing Pro Bowl quarterbacks and ranking among the elite play callers of his era. The Hall’s subcommittee for contributors has named Holmgren one of its 12 semifinalists in recent years. That puts Holmgren in strong position to reach Canton before Aaron Rodgers, who will have to wait five years after retiring.

Mike Holmgren reached three Super Bowls as a head coach, winning one. He has a good shot to get into the Hall before another legendary Packer, Aaron Rodgers. (Rick Stewart / Allsport)

Watt might have been a Hall of Famer if he retired after five seasons. By that point, he had already won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. He is likely to be voted in as soon as he is eligible, but when that will be is uncertain, as Watt has entertained the possibility of a comeback after one year of retirement.

A finalist for the last five years, Wayne appears to be moving closer. He was caught in a wide receiver logjam with Andre Johnson and Torry Holt, but that was broken this year when Johnson was voted in. Wayne finished in the top five in NFL receiving yards four times, including in 2007, when he led the league.

Taylor was a Hall of Fame finalist for the first time this year. If he advances, it will be because he averaged 4.6 yards per carry. The only other running backs with a 4.6-yard average or better with at least 2,500 carries are Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders. But Taylor was never a first-team All-Pro, and he appeared in only one Pro Bowl, as an alternate. Other Jaguars possibilities include Jalen Ramsey, Calais Campbell and coach Tom Coughlin.

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A compelling case was made for Lewis in 2023 when he was a first-time finalist. Now he’s a senior candidate, which could work in his favor. Tony Dungy, who coached Lewis, believes he is one of the top five cornerbacks of all time. If Lewis gets lost in the seniors pool, Travis Kelce (or perhaps Andy Reid, depending on how much longer he coaches) could be the next Chief inducted.

He has come close repeatedly. Hayes was a four-time modern-era finalist and has been a senior candidate since 2012. With the help of Stickum, Hayes was at his most dominant in 1980, when he led the league with 13 interceptions and was voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He also was all-decade in the 1980s. Raiders guard Steve Wisniewski also merits consideration.

Many were surprised when he was not voted in this year as a first-time eligible. It’s only a matter of time, as Gates scored more career touchdowns than any tight end and is the most prolific pass catcher in Chargers history, which is saying something. He was an all-decade player, a three-time first-team All-Pro and an eight-time Pro Bowler.

Holt is a five-time finalist for the Hall whose chances improved when another receiver, Andre Johnson, earned enshrinement with the 2024 class. He and Reggie Wayne will likely become finalists again in 2025. Meanwhile, the five-year waiting period for enshrinement has begun for another Rams great, Aaron Donald.

Webb deserves a share of the credit for Dan Marino’s success as a passer in the 1990s, but he hasn’t received it from Hall of Fame voters. Though he was voted to seven straight Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro teams and the all-decade team of the ’90s, Webb never has been a Hall of Fame semifinalist. He has three years of modern-era eligibility remaining.

The former Vikings and Chiefs pass rusher is a four-time Hall finalist, indicating he’ll likely earn enshrinement eventually. Allen, whose 136 sacks rank 12th on the official list (since 1982) and 16th on the unofficial list (since 1960), might soon have competition from another Vikings great. Running back Adrian Peterson would become eligible in 2027 if he does not play again.

Before Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Bill Belichick are inducted, Kraft likely will be given a gold jacket for his contributions to New England and the NFL. He’s had strong support from the contributor committee in recent years. Adam Vinatieri might get in before Kraft. He is eligible for the first time next year. It’s also possible Rodney Harrison will jump Brady, Gronkowski, Belichick and Vinatieri as he was a finalist for the first time last year.

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Brees is such a lock for Canton upon becoming eligible in 2026 that he’s a safer bet than 2024 finalist Jahri Evans to be the next Saint enshrined. Brees trails only Tom Brady in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Evans was a top guard during his era, but his candidacy needs to gain momentum for him to beat Brees to Canton.

Tom Coughlin’s candidacy in the contributor category remains very much alive, but Manning will move front and center once he becomes eligible in 2025. The quarterback’s longevity, prominence and performance during two Super Bowl-winning playoff runs make him a fascinating candidate. Manning was arguably never a top-five quarterback, but those Lombardi Trophies could make the difference.

He won’t make the Hall of Fame for the four snaps he’s played as a Jet, but he will for the 230 games he played for the Packers, and maybe for the snaps he has yet to play for the Jets. After Winston Hill, Joe Klecko, Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae and Darrelle Revis were inducted recently, Jets players have not had much Hall of Fame traction. Mark Gastineau and Nick Mangold are possibilities.

The Jets don’t have an obvious Hall of Fame candidate in the pipeline other than Aaron Rodgers, who won as many MVPs with the Packers (four) as he has snaps played with the Jets. (Fred Kfoury III / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kelce’s recent retirement makes him Hall-eligible for 2029, which leaves a wide berth for Eric Allen, Brian Westbrook or another Eagles great to make a push. Kelce was a six-time first-team All-Pro over his final seven seasons and is on a very short list of all-time NFL centers from a movement/athleticism standpoint. Fletcher Cox, who also just retired, and Jason Peters (mentioned above in the Bills section) are also worthy candidates, but Kelce seems like the surest bet to get in first.

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He was overshadowed in his era by Brady and Peyton Manning, but Roethlisberger won two Super Bowls and led the league in passing twice. He will be Hall-eligible in 2027 and will probably become a Hall of Famer not long after. The dark horse in this race is Hines Ward, an unconventional but worthy candidate.

Gore becomes eligible in 2026 and will have a case with 16,000 yards in 16 seasons. Only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton have rushed for more yards in NFL history. Another former 49ers rusher, Roger Craig, was a Hall finalist in 2010 and 2020, but he hasn’t advanced that far again.

With Holmgren listed in the Packers’ slot, Sherman becomes a logical next choice for the Seahawks. The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback was the voice and face of Seattle’s famed Legion of Boom secondary, which helped the Seahawks become the first team since the 1950s Cleveland Browns to lead the league in fewest points allowed for four successive seasons. Coach Pete Carroll also seems like a strong candidate, but Sherman will likely get in first.

With Buccaneers mainstay Mike Evans still going strong, we do not yet know when he’ll become eligible for enshrinement. Brady (like Rob Gronkowski) was primarily a Patriot, but the role he played in helping Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl legitimizes his classification here.

A two-time NFL rushing leader and one-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Henry is regarded by many as the best running back of his time. He’s still building his resume, and expectations are high for the 30-year-old as he begins a new chapter of his career after signing with the Ravens as a free agent.

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Williams is entering his fifth season with the 49ers after nine with Washington, with no indication he’s slowing at age 36. In fact, Williams only seems to have gotten better. His streak of 10 successive Pro Bowl seasons (in seasons in which he’s played — he missed 2019 because of a contract dispute) includes first-team All-Pro selections in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the first such selections of his career. Joe Jacoby is another former Washington tackle to watch. A three-time Hall finalist for his work on the Joe Gibbs-era “Hogs” offensive line, Jacoby could reappear as a seniors candidate.

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The story of the greatest players in NFL history. In 100 riveting profiles, top football writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NFL in the process.

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(Top photos of Larry Fitzgerald, left, and Antonio Gates: Christian Petersen, Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)