Modern-era Centers—Will Any Advance to the Semifinalist List of 25?

By John Turney 

When the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week released a preliminary list of candidates for its modern-era Class of 2024, 25 of the 173 players were offensive linemen. But of the 25, eight -- or nearly one-third -- were centers.

So what? So that's a disproportionate number. 

Only one in five starting offensive linemen plays that position. Four-fifths are guards and tackles, meaning ... well, meaning a backlog of centers may be developing. Since the Hall began releasing semifinalist lists in 2004, only two pure centers have been enshrined -- Dermontti Dawson and Kevin Mawae.

Bruce Matthews played center, too, but most of his All-Pro seasons were as a guard. So you can decide where to place him. You can also decide which of the eight centers for the Class of 2024 to include in the upcoming list of 25 semifinalists.

Here's a look at them: 

-- In his seventh year of Hall-of-Fame eligibility, Vikings' and Ravens' pivot Matt Birk was a Sporting News first-team All-Pro in 2003 (and second-team by the Associated Press) and six-time Pro Bowler. He played 14 years, was a starter in 12 of them and was part of prolific Vikings' offenses in the early 2000s. He also received a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens.

-- Although he finished his career with the Seahawks, Kevin Glover was a long-time Lions' center blocking for the immortal Barry Sanders. No one from the Lions' line has gained much, if any, attention from Hall voters. Glover and tackle Lomas Brown seem to be the logical ones to look at.

Glover was All-NFC from 1994-97, going to the Pro Bowl three of those years, and was second-team All-Pro in 1995. He played 15 seasons, and this is his last year of eligibility as a modern-era candidate. If not elected, he moves to the seniors' pool for 2025.

-- Olin Kreutz had a career that spanned 14 seasons, 13 of them with the Chicago Bears. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro in 2005 (PFWA, TSN) and 2006 (AP, PFWA, TSN). He was also an all-decade choice for the 2000s.

In his career, Kreutz played 195 games, starting 187. He blocked for six 900-yard rushers, though most people these days couldn't name one, and played in one Super Bowl. His career ended after the 2011 season, making 2017 the first year he was eligible for the Hall of Fame.

-- Having played in the Big Apple, the Jets' Nick Mangold may have an advantage over the others. But he also has higher honors than most of them. While he played fewer years (11) and games (164) than most, he was a seven-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro three times, two being consensus. He also had a clean record in terms of penalties, called for holding 11 times in his career. 

This is his third year of eligibility.   

-- The Broncos' Tom Nalen played for 14 years, in 194 games and with 188 starts. He was the center on the Super Bowl-winning teams of the late 1990s and was part of the successful zone-blocking schemes of line coach Alex Gibbs.

Nalen had his share of notice, even though he and the rest of the Broncos' linemen of that era refused to talk to the media -- unless they were forced to at Super Bowls.  Nalen was the 2003 NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year, a three-time All-Pro in 1999 (TSN), 2000 (AP, TSN) and 2003 (AP, PFWA) and had five invites to Hawaii.

He blocked for Terrell Davis, including his 2,000-yard and MVP season of 1998. When Davis was forced to retire because of a career-ending knee injury, Nalen blocked for six more 1,000-yard rushers.

He first became eligible for the Hall in 2013.

-- Longtime Colts' center Jeff Saturday did a lot more than occasionally change Peyton Manning's calls at the line. Like Nalen, he was a one-time NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year. 

Voted to six Pro Bowls, Saturday was a first-team All-Pro twice, a second-team All-Pro twice and part of a Super Bowl winner. One of his Pro Bowls was as a Packer in his final season.

He totaled 14 seasons, 211 games and 202 starts and has been eligible for the Hall since 2018.

-- Mark Stepnoski won two rings with Dallas but missed out on the third Cowboys' Super Bowl title in 1995 after leaving for Houston that season as a free agent. But that didn't hurt his Pro Bowl run. He added two AFC nods to the three NFC selections he had in Big D. Along the way, he made the NEA All-Pro team in 1992 and was second-team All-Pro in 1994 and 1996 (both AP).

After his five-year deal was up in Houston, he returned to Dallas to finish his 13-year career. Like others on this year's preliminary list, he finished his career north of 190 games played. Unlike others, he was part of one of the best offensive lines of all time. It featured Pro Bowlers at seemingly every position and leveled would-be tacklers for the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith. 

Stepnoski has been eligible for Canton since 2007.

-- Splitting his time between the Seahawks and Saints, Max Unger was able to make All-Pro once, gain three Pro Bowl invites and get his Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks in 2013. Compared to the rest of those on this list, however, he played the fewest years (10) and games (130).

This is his first year of eligibility, and he may be one of those who doesn't appear on a lot of future lists.

SUMMARY

There are nine centers from the two-platoon era currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Together, they average 14 seasons and 191 games ... seven first-team All-NFL/All-AFL selections ... and seven Pro Bowls/AFL All-Star contests. The eight on this list average 13 seasons and 186 games.

So there's not much difference in terms of longevity. 

But there is when it comes to postseason honors. The eight centers under consideration for the Class of 2024 average just under two first-team All-NFL picks and just over five Pro Bowls. Furthermore, seven of the nine Hall-of-Famers made all-decade teams vs. only two Class of 2024 preliminary candidates.

It's a difficult selection for the voters because no one really leads in all the categories. They're spread out, and look for yourself: 

-- Stepnoski and Nalen have the most rings.

-- Mangold and Nalen have the most first-team All-Pros.

-- Mangold has the most Pro Bowls.

-- Kreutz and Stepnoski both made all-decade teams.

-- Saturday and Nalen each were voted Offensive Lineman of the Year.

-- Glover played the most seasons, but Saturday played the most games and started the most.

Just spitballing it, Saturday and Nalen would seem to have the best chances to advance. But that's a guess. Remember: There is no guarantee that any center advances.

Plus, eligible in the next two years are centers Ryan Kalil (2025) and Maurkice Pouncey (2026). Kalil was a two-time All-Pro, while Pouncey went to nine Pro Bowls. So a lot of centers will be fighting for few, if any, available slots.

Good luck, gentlemen.