Antonio Gates, Jared Allen leads the smallest Hall of Fame class since ’05; Eli Manning Misses Cut

New Orleans – Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen and Sterling Sharpe consists of a streamlined 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class after changes in the voting process raised the bar for posts this year.

The class revealed at the NFL Honours Show Thursday night is the smallest of the hall at 20 years and the smallest possible under the new rules.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, whose candidacy has touched discussion of reasons why Manning himself found convincingly missed cuts in his first year with eligibility.

Gates and both Allen’s (non-related) were the only modern time finalists selected for closure, which broke a 17-year-old line where the maximum five players from this category were introduced.

The reduction in the size of the class in modern times reflects changes implemented this year, in the words of the hall, “help ensure that membership in the Hall of Fame remains elite.” The rules call for between three and five finalists in modern times to earn each year. Three are the fewest since 2005, when Dan Marino and Steve Young were the only modern time players introduced.

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Prior to this year, there had been at least seven members of each hall class since 2012 and at least six in each class since 2005. The class in 2025 joins until 2004 and 2005 as the only classes of this century with only four total inductors.

Sharpe came out of a separate five-man group with three senior candidates (Sharpe, Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer), a coach (Mike Holmgren) and a contributor (NFL co-founder Ralph Hay). At least one and no more than three of these five could be chosen under the new rules.

In a surprise to some, Hay New England Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft, to become a finalist from the contributor category, beat as chosen by the nine-person contributor committee. If power emerges as the contributor’s finalist in 2026, he could compete for votes with his former long -time coach, Bill Belichick, who may be eligible as a coaching finalist if he does not return to the NFL in 2025.

The table below orders the 15 finalists in modern times after how many times they have achieved finalist status. None of the first-ballot finalists were selected. Gates, whose 116 Touchdowns are a NFL record for tight ends, earned the closure of his second chance while Jared Allen came on his fifth and Eric Allen in his 19th place.

Jared Allen, who spent most of his career with Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, won four first-team all-pro elections and five Pro Bowl-Niks, while twice led the league in sacks. In 2011 he had 22 sacks and came up a half -sack shy for Michael Strahan’s record for a single season.

Eric Allen spent seven years with Philadelphia Eagles, three with New Orleans Saints and four with Oakland Raiders who collected six Pro Bowl selection and a first-team all-pro nod. He spoke at least five interceptions in six different seasons, including eight in 1989. He returned to four interceptions for touchdowns in 1993 and added three elections of sixes in 2000.

Gates in a year later than expected

Many expected gates to be voted the Hall of Fame last year, in his first year of eligibility. The only spot in his career was a four-game Ped-Suspension in 2015. He attributed the question to over-the-counter supplements and holistic medicine that he did not know was banned by the league. The voters made him wait a year, but there was no doubt that he would be introduced.

Gates, a non -drawn free agent who came to chargers like basketball player out of Kent State, who wasn’t good enough for the NBA, marked each box as an NFL player and was one of the most dominant tight ends in history. His 116 receiving touchdowns are the most ever for a tight end (39 more than Travis Kelce, for the sake of comparison) and seventh most among all players. Gates was a three-time first-team all-pro and a two-time second team all-pro. – Dan Pompei, senior writer

Why it took so long for Sharpe

A short career is the reason why Sharpe had to endure 25 years of eligibility before he was elected to the Hall of Fame as a senior candidate. Sharpe, who retired 29 years after seven seasons with Packers due to a neck injury, was first team all-pro for three seasons or 43 percent of his career. He led the league in reception three times. For a six-year period, Jerry Rice was the only more productive recipient than Sharpe, who had more production than the Hall of Famers Andre Reed, Michael Irvin and Cris Carter.

Some of Sharp’s production could be attributed to Brett Favre, but not all. For four of his seven seasons, Hans Quarterback’s Don Majkowski, Anthony Dilweg, Randy Wright and Mike Tomczak. Prior to him into the Hall of Fame, his brother Shannon, who says Sterling was the best footballer in the family. – Pompeii

(Photos by Antonio Gates, Left and Jared Allen: Harry How, Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)

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