There were 15 players and coaches named as finalists for the 2013 Hall of Fame class. The 15 finalists are: Larry Allen, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Edward DeBartolo Jr., Charles Haley, Art Modell, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Dave Robinson, Warren Sapp, Will Shields, Michael Strahan and Aeneas Williams. That list also includes two former Steelers players: running back Jerome Bettis and linebacker Kevin Greene.
Greene played for the Steelers from 1993-1995 and finished his career with 160 total sacks. His 160 sacks stand as the all-time record for most sacks by an NFL linebacker and ranks third on the all-time sacks list behind only Reggie White and Bruce Smith. His only Super Bowl ring came in 2010 as a linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers who defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in that game 31-25.
Bettis played for the Steelers from 1996-2005 and is sixth on the all-time NFL rushing list. Bettis was the offensive rookie of the year in 1993, made the Pro Bowl six times, and has had his number unofficially retired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis retired following the 2005 season which ended with a Super Bowl victory, the only of his career, in his hometown of Detroit.
Greene has now been a semi-finalist for six years in a row and will be a finalist for only the second time after making that list last year also. Bettis was on the ballot for the first time last year and was a finalist, but was not selected to be enshrined. Most analysts believe that there is little to no chance Bettis is not enshrined this year.
Of the 15 finalists. five will be names to the Hall of Fame as the class of 2013. Kevin Greene will have a tough time making the class as he is not looked upon as highly as the other defensive players on the list. Strahan probably has a better chance of making this class than Greene even though Greene’s stats are better than Strahan’s.
Both players played 15 seasons in the NFL and Greene ranks third on the all-time sacks list (160) with Strahan sitting at fifth (141.5). Greene and Strahan have similar stats in solo tackles (Greene leads by two), forced fumbles (Strahan leads by one), and interceptions (Greene leads by one). They also played similar positions (Strahan at DE in a 4-3 and Greene at OLB in a 3-4).
As for Bettis most believe he will be enshrined as part of the 2013 class. Following a victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL Bettis famously said that Detroit was the last stop for the Bus. However, with Canton in his sights it looks like “The Bus” has at least one more stop to make.
