The NFL released the 100 nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Tuesday afternoon. Among the 100 nominees, exactly 10 of them are former New England Patriot players.
While not all the players will wear New England Patriots gear if selected into the Hall of Fame, it shows the talent that Bill Belichick has worked with in his time in New England. Below is a list of all ten former Patriots up for nominee:
Tedy Bruschi, LB, 1996-2008
Bruschi played his whole 13-year career with the Patriots, piling up over 730 tackles and 30 sacks. He was the center of the defense for the Patriots first three championship teams, even recording a clutch interception in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Bruschi was one of the first examples of the “Patriot Way” and earned the compliment of being called “the perfect player” on the day he retired by Coach Belichick.
Ben Coates, TE, 1991-1999
Coates was one of the Patriots first dominant tight end, before the Rob Gronkowski era started. In nine seasons in New England, Coates racked up over 5,400 yards while catching 490 passes.
On the all-time Patriots receiving list, Coates ranks sixth in yards and tied for third with 50 touchdown receptions. His 490 receptions also rank fourth in Patriots history.
Corey Dillon, RB, 2004-2006
Dillon ended his historic career with three years in New England. Before leaving Cincinnati, Dillon rushed for over 8,000 yards, including six straight 1,000-yard seasons.
When arriving to New England in 2004, Dillon made an immediate impact, rushing for 1,635 yards, a career high. Dillon also found the end zone 12 times that season, which was a career high when it happened.
The next two years, Dillon didn’t find the same success on the ground rushing for just over 1,500 yards. However, Dillon did find the end zone a combined 25 throughout those two seasons.
New England Patriots
Rodney Harrison, S, 2003-2008
After nine seasons in San Diego, Harrison came over to join the Patriots defense and made an immediate impact. In his first season, Harrison combined for 126 tackles. He topped that number the following year with 138 combined tackles.
Harrison made his presence in the secondary felt, one of the hardest hitting safeties the Patriots, and the league, have ever seen. Along with his hard hitting ability, his interception in Super Bowl XXXIX sealed the deal for the Patriots over the Eagles.
Chad Johnson, WR, 2011
Chad Johnson is one of the best wide receivers of this generation, but found zero success during his one season in New England. The Pro-Bowl receiver put up over 10,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Bengals, but managed just 276 yards and one score in 15 games in New England.
Ty Law, CB, 1995-2004
During the Patriots first three Super Bowl runs, Ty Law was one of, if not, the best player on the entire roster.
After selecting Law in the first-round of 1995 Draft, he made four Pro Bowls and was elected to two, first-team All-Pro nods in his 10 years. Law hauled in 36 interceptions, tied for the most in franchise history.
In the 2001 Super Bowl, Law picked off Kurt Warner and took it all the way for a score. The Pick-6 were the first points of the game and one of just two touchdowns the Patriots scored. Law has also received the nickname of Peyton Manning’s kryptonite. In the 2003 AFC Championship Game, Law intercepted Manning three times in rout to a 24-14 victory.
Willie McGinest, DE/LB, 1994-2005
Robert Kraft’s “first son” according to Kraft. McGinest was Kraft’s first draft choice while owning the team, taking him fourth overall in 1994.
The teams first three Super Bowls were in large part due to McGinest’s production on the field. During the first two Super Bowl runs, he collected a sack in every postseason game but one. McGinest owns the NFL record for most playoff sacks with 16 (11.5 coming under Belichick) and a single-game record with 4.5 in 2005.
Randy Moss, WR, 2007-2010
Moss came to New England after seven seasons in Minnesota and two in Oakland. In his first game in New England, he beat up on All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, catching all nine of his targets for 183 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown.
In his three full seasons with New England, Moss put up at least 1,000 yards and 10 scores every year. His historic 2007 campaign ended with over 1,400 yards and a NFL record 23 receiving touchdowns.
Richard Seymour, DL, 2001-2008
Much like Ty Law, one could argue Seymour as the Patriots best player on their early championship teams. Seymour started 108 games during his eight seasons in Foxboro. During that time, Seymour earned five straight Pro Bowl nods and was selected to First Team All-Pro in three seasons.
Even though Belichick dealt Seymour after eight seasons with the club, he was the prototypical defensive end for a Belichick defense. Seymour piled up over 40 sacks, 350 tackles and 20 pass deflection in his time here to go along with three Super Bowl rings.
Next: Ranking the 10 greatest QBs in franchise history
Fred Taylor, RB, 2009-2010
Almost identical to Chad Johnson, Taylor had the majority of his success before coming to New England. In 11 seasons with Jacksonville, Taylor rumbled for over 11,000 yards and 60 touchdowns.
Taylor currently ranks 17th all-time in career rushing yards, but just over 420 of them came in New England. He scored four touchdowns with the Patriots while playing a total of 13 games.
We will have to wait and see if this will be the year for any of these former Patriots.