Sports
Which player (or coach) from every NFL team will be next to make the Hall of Fame?
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.
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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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(Top photos of Larry Fitzgerald, left, and Antonio Gates: Christian Petersen, Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
Sports
Deion Sanders mourns loss of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder: ‘One of my favorites’
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Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Ponder was 23 years old.
Details of Ponder’s death are not yet known.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.
Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.
The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.
Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.
Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP Photo)
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“Our prayers are with Dominiq and the Ponder family along with all in the Colorado football program,” the university’s football account on X wrote.
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Sports
No. 2 UCLA women dominate rival USC to finish Big Ten play undefeated
Sunday was “Senior Night” for the USC women’s basketball team at Galen Center, but it was the other team’s seniors who stole the show.
Gabriela Jaquez scored 14 points, Kiki Rice had 11 points and four assists and Lauren Betts had 15 rebounds and five assists as UCLA wrapped up the regular season with a 73-50 victory over its rival and finished undefeated in conference play for the first time since going 18-0 in the Pac-10 in 1998-99 under Kathy Olivier.
Having already clinched the regular-season title, UCLA became the first team to navigate the Big Ten schedule without a loss since Maryland in 2014-15.
“These are two elite programs, we knew it would be different tonight, we knew they’d come with fire,” said UCLA coach Cori Close, who improved to 9-4 against the Trojans since counterpart Lindsay Gottlieb started at USC in 2021. “We knew we’d have to do it with our defense, our rebounding and by taking care of the ball.”
It was the Bruins’ 22nd consecutive win, one shy of the record they set last season. Since their lone loss to then-No. 4 Texas on Nov. 26 in Las Vegas, they have won by 20 or more points 17 times.
Ranked second in the nation in both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls behind defending national champion Connecticut (30-0), the Bruins earned the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament in Indianapolis and got a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals.
Charlisse Leger-Walker, nicknamed “X-ray vision” by teammates, equaled her season high with 20 points for the Bruins (28-1, 18-0) while Gianna Kneepkens added 14 points and five assists.
“Anytime we play together we know we can win,” Leger-Walker said. “We did a good job looking into the scout. Every game we just think about going 1-0. People scouting us know that all five players on the court can score the ball.”
UCLA center Lauren Betts, left, controls the ball in front of USC forward Vivian Iwuchukwu during the first half Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
UCLA held USC to 27% shooting in the teams’ first meeting — a 34-point Bruins victory at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 3 behind Betts’ 18 points. It was USC’s most lopsided loss under coach Lindsay Gottlieb. On Sunday, USC shot 39% and was only three for 19 from three-point range.
“Going undefeated [in conference] is a great step in the right direction towards what we want to accomplish,” said Jaquez, who appreciated the flowers she received before the game from USC. “I love this rivalry. It’s super fun to play against them and it was nice that they honored us too.”
UCLA jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first five minutes and carried a 19-11 advantage into the second quarter. The Bruins widened the gap to 18 points by halftime, holding the Trojans scoreless for the last 3:08.
USC (17-12, 9-9) opened the second half on an 11-2 run but gave up 14 second-chance points and allowed 22 offensive rebounds.
UCLA guard Kiki Rice, front, and forward Angela Dugalic celebrate as USC guard Kennedy Smith walks away during the first half Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“If we get more possessions than our opponent we’re most likely going to win,” Close said. “We didn’t allow one basket on an out-of-bounds play and they lead the conference in that.”
Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, USC’s leading scorer, got into early foul trouble but still finished with 12 points. She was held to 10 points on four-for-15 shooting in the first meeting.
“It was a great crowd, we were in the fight but we didn’t rebound or shoot well enough,” Gottlieb said. “We wanted to keep them out of our paint. We swarmed Betts, double-teamed her and got it out of her hands but other people scored.”
Londynn Jones, who spent three seasons in Westwood (playing in 108 straight games) before transferring to USC for her senior year, was held to six points in the team’s first meeting and nine points (on four-of-10 shooting) in the rematch. The Trojans’ other senior, Kara Dunn, was held scoreless in the first half and finished with eight points.
“I love Londynn,” Close said. “We think she looks better in blue, but we love her and I told her that. I appreciate all she gave to our programs.”
Asked if this is the best team she has ever coached, Close had a one-word answer.
“Yes.”
Sports
Israeli national gymnastics team suspends all activities after Iranian counter-attack
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Israel’s national gymnastics team has suspended all training and team activities amid the recent Iranian counter-attack on the country following the U.S.-assisted strikes on Iran.
The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) provided a statement to Fox News Digital announcing the violence has caused “unavoidable disruptions.”
“The current security situation in our region has resulted in unavoidable disruptions to our regular training schedule and has created significant uncertainty regarding the national teams’ professional plans, particularly as we are at the outset of the international season,” the statement read.
“At this time, all training activities have been temporarily suspended, pending approval from the relevant authorities to safely resume operations. Naturally, the suspension of training and the closure of airspace are causing considerable stress and concern. However, the safety and well-being of our gymnasts and professional staff remain our highest priority. We sincerely hope for safer and calmer days ahead, when we can focus solely on sport.”
A source within the team told Fox News Digital on Saturday that the gymnasts have been moving between bomb shelters since Iran’s counterstrikes began.
Israel’s gymnastics team is considered one of nation’s strongest Olympic programs alongside its Judo and sailing teams. The team is only a week removed from a successful trip at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Germany, where the country’s star Artem Dolgopyat won the gold medal in floor gymnastics.
Now, the team will have to seek safety until the attacks are over.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to continue to shelter in place either in or near their residences as Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel.
Additionally, the embassy announced that due to the security situation, it would be closed on March 2, and did not give an estimate on when it would be reopening. The closure includes consular sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The embassy also said it is “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.” It noted that Ben Gurion Airport remains closed and there there are neither commercial nor charter flights operating from the airport.
On Friday, ahead of the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the embassy gave all non-essential workers permission to leave Israel, with reports that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged those looking to leave to do so as soon as possible.
Iranian airstrikes killed at least eight Israelis on Sunday as Tehran’s latest missile barrage landed just miles from Jerusalem.
The strikes landed in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh. Initial reports said four people were killed when missiles landed in a residential area on Sunday, but that death toll rose to eight, according to Israel’s national emergency service.
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Iran’s military has carried out counterattacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East after a joint U.S.-Israeli strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
The strikes also killed several other top Iranian leaders, including the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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