
These guys may be on Canton’s doorsteps, mere yards away from entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They may have had short or shortened careers for one reason or another. But one thing’s for sure, they left impacts on the game that deserve recognition. Introducing: The “Hall of Very Good.”
Note: The research for these articles was completed independently and the selected players have zero connection to the Professional Football Researchers Association.
Requirements for Entry:
- Must be Retired
- Must NOT Currently be a Member of the Pro Football HOF
- Must Have a Story to Tell
- Must Have 2+ Pro Bowls/All-Pros
- Legacy Picks Must Have Completed Their Careers Before 2000
The First Class of Modern Era Inductees:
“Certified Tough”
Anquan Boldin – Wide Receiver
- Arizona Cardinals (2003-2009)
- Baltimore Ravens (2010-2012)
- San Francisco 49ers (2013-2015)
- Detroit Lions (2016)
Boldin didn’t just catch passes, he punished defenders. He sure wasn’t known for blazing speed, but don’t let his combine’s 4.71 40-yard dash fool you. He brought physicality. Lining up at 6’1’’, 223 pounds, Boldin brought a linebacker’s mentality to the wide receiver position, earning a reputation as one of the most physical, fearless, and consistent pass-catchers of the 2000s and 2010s.
His impact was immediate. In his very first NFL matchup in 2003, he erupted for 217 yards, still the most ever by a rookie in a debut game. He finished that year with 101 receptions and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, a rare feat for a second-round pick. If you want to talk about “speed,” following this season, Q would become the fastest wide receiver in the NFL to post 400 receptions (67 games), 500 receptions (80 games) and 600 receptions (98 games) until Saints WR Michael Thomas came around.
However, the 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year was more than just a stat sheet stuffer, he was a winner. Boldin played in three NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls, and was instrumental in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII title, leading all players with 104 receiving yards and a touchdown in the nail-biting victory.
He was as tough as nails and as consistent as the sunrise. Boldin didn’t need to be flashy… he just needed a sliver of space, and he would take advantage of it. When it was all said and done, he tallied over 13,000 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns over the course of his 14 rugged seasons, solidifying himself as arguably the greatest Cardinals wide receiver behind 11x Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer, Larry Fitzgerald. The former high school quarterback hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark in seven different seasons, was named to three Pro Bowls of his own, and ranks top-15 all-time in receptions (1,076), ahead of Hall of Famers like Andre Reed and Michael Irvin. With this in mind, Boldin’s lunchpail toughness and consistent production make him our first offensive selection for the HOVG.
“The Undrafted Tackling Machine”
Jessie Tuggle – Linebacker
- Atlanta Falcons (1987-2000)
You don’t earn the nickname “The Hammer” by accident. Jessie Tuggle was the literal and figurative beating heart of the Atlanta Falcons defense for over a decade, a relentless linebacker whose career defied the odds and then some. Undrafted out of DII Valdosta State in 1987, Tuggle didn’t just make the roster, the College Football Hall of Famer made history.
By the time he hung up the cleats, Tuggle put together five seasons of over 180 tackles, racking up an absurd 1,805 (combined) career tackles. For quick reference, this stat is good enough for 5th on the list of career NFL combined tackle leaders. To support this production, the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honoree led the league in combined tackles four times and earned five Pro Bowl selections along the way.
However, Tuggle wasn’t just padding stats on bad teams, either. While the Falcons aren’t exactly known for historical success in the playoffs, the seasoned veteran anchored the Dirty Birds’ defense that stormed all the way to Super Bowl XXXIII, mentoring the next wave of Atlanta talent, including a young Keith Brooking, who ended up finding his way to five Pro Bowls too.
Though he didn’t play for the most glamourous franchise or flaunt eye-popping sack totals, Tuggle’s resume speaks for itself: 14 seasons, 100+ tackles in 10 of them, and an All-Pro selection in an era that included Hall of Fame pillars like Junior Seau, Ray Lewis, and Zach Thomas. Sure, he was undersized, standing at just 5’11’’, 232 pounds during his career. Yeah, he was overlooked and undrafted, but he made sure no one outworked him and no one out-hit him. Jessie Tuggle may not reside in Canton, Ohio, but the Hall of Very Good was built for guys like him.
The First Class Legacy Inductee:
“Modern Middle Linebacker Blueprint”
Bill Bergey – Linebacker
- Cincinnati Bengals (1969-1973)
- Philadelphia Eagles (1974-1980)
Before there was a Brian Urlacher or aforementioned Ray Lewis, there was Bill Bergey, a 6’4”, 245 pound wrecking ball who set the standard for what a middle linebacker could be. Although he started his collegiate career as an offensive lineman and noseguard, he made the transition to linebacker and never looked back. It definitely helps when you start your career with the Paul Brown-coached Cincinnati Bengals. However, the five-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro is known best as the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles “Gang Green” defense in the 1970s and as one of the most feared tacklers of his era.
Drafted by the Bengals in 1969, Bergey was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders. But, it was in Philly where he made his biggest impact, literally and figuratively. Bergey brought instant attitude and leadership to a struggling Eagles team, becoming the cornerstone of Dick Vermeil’s eventual NFC title contender.
He once recorded 233 tackles in a single season, an absolutely staggering number by any standard, and finished his career with 27 interceptions. The previously mentioned Brian Urlacher finished his career with 22. Hence, this is a rare total for a linebacker and a testament to his football IQ. At one point, he even held the league record for INTs by a linebacker with five. For this, opponents feared him, teammates followed him, and opposing coaches built game plans around him.
Though a serious knee injury slowed down and resulted in the end of his career around the time the Eagles reached Super Bowl XV, Bergey’s impact was undeniable. His physical style, leadership, and instincts, that may have been gathered from his time as a U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant during his playing days, made him a Philadelphia legend and household name in an era when middle linebackers were the backbones of great defenses.
From a Pro Football Hall of Fame standpoint, Bergey rallied some attention last year. In October of 2024, Bergey was among 60 former players considered for their 2025 class in the Senior category. Sadly, he did not make it to the next round of 31 candidates. The Philadelphia Sports and Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer would pass away from cancer (screw cancer) on Christmas Day later that year at the age of 79. For all of his achievements, he will honorably and posthumously be inducted into the HOF.
Congratulations to these players!
They are our first inductees, and, while they may not have gold jackets just yet, their legacies are undeniable. Tough, productive, era-defining, teammate-inspiring, and game-changing, Anquan Boldin, Jessie Tuggle, and, may he rest in peace, Bill Bergey… the Hall of Fame may not have called just yet, but the Hall of Very Good just did. Welcome.