JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jaguars star running back Fred Taylor has made the cut as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist again.
Will this be the year that it happens for one of the most iconic players in franchise history?
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Taylor was one of the 15 modern-era finalist selections on Saturday morning, the second consecutive year that he’s hit that mark. That means Taylor will at least have his credentials discussed by the full voting bloc as he attempts to become the second Jacksonville player to reach Canton.
Among the finalists joining Taylor under consideration are two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates. A receiver who also played in Jacksonville for one season, Torry Holt, is a finalist as well.
No more than five players can be elected in a year. The results will be announced during the week of the Super Bowl.
Taylor rushed for 11,695 yards in his career, a number that ranks 17th in NFL history. Taylor scored 66 rushing touchdowns and had another eight receiving during a career that spanned from 1998 to 2010. He spent all but two of those seasons in Jacksonville, finishing up his time with New England. Many feel that Taylor’s spot in Canton is long overdue.
All but two of the running backs in front of Taylor are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the exceptions of Frank Gore (16,000, No. 3) and Adrian Peterson (14,918, No. 5), both of whom aren’t yet eligible.
This may be a difficult year for Taylor to make it. Among the first-time finalists are Manning, linebacker Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri. No more than five modern-era players can be inducted in a year. Former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin was one of nine semifinalists in the Coach category for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but wasn’t voted to move on earlier this month.
Only the team’s first draft pick, Tony Boselli, who was enshrined in 2022, has made the Hall of Fame.
Former News4JAX sports director Sam Kouvaris is a longtime member of the voting contingent and presented Boselli’s case for years before he was inducted.