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The NFL unveiled the inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 during the NFL Honors on Thursday night, and it was a star-studded group headlined by first-ballot finalists Darrelle Revis and Joe Thomas.
Revis and Thomas will be joined in this year’s class by defensive end DeMarcus Ware, defensive back Ronde Barber, linebacker Zach Thomas, late Chargers coach Don Coryell, defensive lineman Joe Klecko, linebacker Chuck Howley and late Bengals cornerback Ken Riley. The ’23 inductees were selected by a 49-person committee comprised of media representatives from every NFL city and at-large selectors, with each finalist needing to receive at least 80% of the vote in order to be elected. The 18 finalists for the ’23 class were previously announced on Jan. 4.
With the latest crop of Hall of Famers now set, here’s a brief recap of each player’s career as they prepare to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio and enter the hallowed halls of football immortality:
Joe Thomas, offensive tackle (2007 to ’17)
The former Browns star came to be known as the NFL’s ironman during his 11 seasons en route to becoming just the seventh O-lineman to join the HOF in his first year of eligibility. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds, Thomas entered the league as the 2007 third overall pick and went on to play a record 10,363 consecutive snaps to open his career. The towering offensive tackle’s impressive streak came to an end in Week 7 of the 2017 season when he suffered a season-ending torn triceps, an injury that ultimately led to his retirement in March ’18.
Thomas moved on from the game into a successful media career, and while he may look a little different these days after shedding 50 pounds post-retirement, the former All-Pro is still widely recognized as a titan in the sport. Over 11 seasons, Thomas, who allowed just 30 sacks in his career, was a six-time first-team and two-time second-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler and a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team.
Darrelle Revis, defensive back (2007 to ’17)
Forever known for locking up receivers on “Revis Island,” the legendary DB earned a reputation as one of the greatest defenders of all-time over his 11 seasons. Revis, who was selected 11 picks after Thomas, spent his first six seasons with the Jets before joining the Buccaneers and Patriots for a pair of noteworthy one-year stints. The lockdown DB later finished his career with another two seasons with the Jets and one year with the Chiefs.
While in New England, Revis earned his sixth Pro Bowl and fourth first-team All-Pro nods, and went on to earn an elusive Lombardi Trophy after helping the Pats defeat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. A starter in 142 of his 145 career games, Revis earned four All-Pro nods, seven Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the 2010s All-Decade Team. He compiled a stat line of 29 interceptions, 139 passes defensed and 497 tackles.
DeMarcus Ware, defensive end (2005 to ’16)
Ware will enter the Hall nearly seven years after retiring in 2016 following an illustrious 12-year career. After being selected by the Cowboys with the 11th pick in 2005, Ware embarked on a dominant run that saw him earn seven All-Pro selections (four first-team) and become Dallas’s all-time sacks leaders (117). In 2014, Ware joined the Broncos, his NFL home for his final three years, and helped the franchise defeat the Panthers to win Super Bowl 50 to cap that same season.
A two-time NFL sacks leader, Ware racked up 138.5 career sacks, giving him the ninth-most sacks all-time. He is also nine-time Pro Bowler and a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team.
Ronde Barber, defensive back (1997 to 2012)
One of the most decorated players in Buccaneers history, the former third-round pick still owns the top spots as the franchise’s leader in interceptions (47) and defensive touchdowns (12). Barber, who played 16 seasons for the Bucs, was a key piece on Tampa Bay’s run to winning Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002, a year after leading the NFL in INTs (10). A member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, Barber made first-team All-Pro three times and second-team twice, in addition to being named to the Pro Bowl five times. For his career, Barber logged 47 INTs, 1,231 tackles and 28 sacks in 241 games played.
Zach Thomas, linebacker (1996 to 2008)
A fifth-round pick by the Dolphins in 1996, Thomas logged 168 starts in his 12 years with the franchise before ending his career in 2008 with the Cowboys. Thomas, a member of the NFL’s All-2000s team, concluded his career with 1,734 career tackles, the fifth-most all time, 20.5 sacks and 17 interceptions. Additionally, Thomas garnered seven Pro Bowl selections, and was named first-team All-Pro five times to go with two second-team nods.
Don Coryell, head coach (1973 to ’86)
Coryell, who died in 2010, is the only coach/contributor finalist to earn a spot in this year’s class. The architect of the famed “Air Coryell” offensive scheme, Coryell earned a spot in history as the coach of the Chargers for nine seasons following a five-year stint with the Cardinals. During his 14 seasons, Coryell posted a combined 111-83-1 record and a 3–6 mark across six playoff appearances, four of which came with a San Diego offense led by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts and tight end Kellen Winslow.
Chuck Howley, linebacker (1958 to ’73)
A member of the Cowboys for 13 seasons, Howley forged an impressive career in Dallas after the former seventh pick spent his first two seasons with the Bears. During the 1970 season, Howley made history after being named Super Bowl V MVP with a two-interception effort in a loss to the Colts, making him only player to earn Super Bowl MVP honors in a loss. For his career, Howley earned six Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro nods (five first-team), and earned his only championship in the ’71 season after a Super Bowl VI win against the Dolphins.
Ken Riley, defensive back (1969 to ’83)
Riley, who died in 2020, spent his entire 15-year career with the Bengals, where the ballhawk became one of the franchise’s first stars. A sixth-round pick of Cincinnati in 1969, Riley finished his career with 65 interceptions, currently tied for fifth-most in NFL history, and one first-team All-Pro honor which he earned his final season. Riley was also named second-team All-Pro in ’75 and ’76, a stretch that saw him log 15 interceptions and two pick-sixes.
Joe Klecko, defensive lineman (1977-88)
A four-time Pro Bowler with the Jets, Klecko is perhaps best known for his superb 1981 season where he led the NFL with 20.5 sacks and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting to Giants star Lawrence Taylor. Klecko, a sixth-round pick in 1977, earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections in ’81 before later switching from defensive end to tackle in ’83. Over the next three seasons, Klecko made second team All-Pro in ’83 and first-team again in ’85, on top of earning three straight Pro Bowl nods. He retired in ’88 after a one-year stint with the Colts, and finished his career with 78 sacks in 155 games played.
The other finalists who qualified for the Class of 2023 but were not inducted include: defensive end Jared Allen, offensive lineman Willie Anderson, defensive end Dwight Freeney, kick/punt returner Devin Hester, wide receiver Torry Holt, defensive back Albert Lewis, wide receiver Andre Johnson, linebacker Patrick Willis, receiver Reggie Wayne and defensive back Darren Woodson.
