I know we say this every year but I really do think Fred has his best chance to get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028.

Derrick Henry playing for another 4 to 5 years could help Fred’s chances but it could also hurt Fred’s chances.

Derrick Henry needs 273 rushing yards to surpass Fred Taylor on the NFL All-Time rushing yards list.

Taylor - 11,695
Henry - 11,423

At 30 years old in his 9th season, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and and league leading 16 rushing TD. Henry has led the league in rushing TD, 3 times.

Double-Digit TD for his 7th year in a row, and has 111 total TD.

If Henry rushes for 1,000 more yards, it will put him 11th all-time, in between Tony Dorsett and Jim Brown. 

If Henry rushes for 1500 yards this season, it will put him top 10 on the all-time rushing yards list, and he will be headed to Canton, OH as a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. 

It makes it tough for guys like Fred because Frank Gore goes in as the #3 all-time rushing yards leader. Derrick Henry can probably play another 2 or 3 seasons with 1500-1800 yard seasons, and he’ll probably have 1 or 2 seasons at the end of his career with a couple of 500-800 yard years. You’re talking something north of 17,000 yards which will put him 2nd all-time. Henry needs 6933 to break Emmitt Smith’s record of 18,355 rushing yards. 

Henry has about 4 more years to break it, and I think he will. 

I hope Fred makes it in before Henry becomes eligible which would be in about 8-9 years. 

I just took a peek at the 2026 nominees and Dez Bryant is on the list. Are you kidding me??

2026 will probably be Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Phillip Rivers, Torry Holt, or Reggie Wayne or Steve Smith

2027 Adrian Peterson, Gronk, Richard Sherman, Ben Rothlisberger, and then maybe another WR etc etc etc

2028 Tom Brady, JJ Watt, Matt Ryan, maybe Fred ? ? ? But he will have to beat out guys like Eli Manning, Adam Vinateri, Marshal Yanda, Darren Woodson, Torry Holt has been on this Modern Era list for a while, Terrell Suggs, and Jahri Evans

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He'll eventually get in.

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"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

You would hope it’s the 2028 class or else it could be 2038 before he gets in. At Henry’s current rate, he would get in before Fred.

I’m eyeing the 2028 class.

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