South Charlotte Today

CANTON, Ohio — Julius Peppers may soon have company from his former team in the Hall of Fame. Three of his decorated ex-teammates are eligible for the next election cycle, with a fourth candidate becoming eligible in two years.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly and center Ryan Kalil will be considered for the first time when voting begins for the class of 2025. They join wide receiver Steve Smith, who has been a semifinalist for three consecutive years.

The recent induction of San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis could bode well for Kuechly, given their similar career trajectories. Both players had eight-year careers with seven Pro Bowl appearances and five first-team All-Pro selections. Kuechly, however, also boasts a Defensive Player of the Year award (2013), which Willis does not.

Willis was elected in his third year of eligibility, marking the third consecutive year that a middle linebacker was among the five modern-era honorees. If there is any positional fatigue among voters, it might mean Kuechly will have to wait longer.

With Andre Johnson's recent induction breaking the receiver logjam, there could be an opening in the final 15 for Smith. Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne remain contenders, with Holt advancing to the final 10 this year and Wayne finishing between spots 11-15.

Smith's statistics surpass those of Holt and are nearly identical to Wayne’s but without having played with a Hall of Fame quarterback. Smith ended his career with 1,031 catches for 14,731 yards and 81 touchdowns—figures comparable to Johnson’s numbers.

Kalil's candidacy is less certain but notable. In his 12 seasons with the Panthers, he made five Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro three times. Although interior linemen often struggle to gain attention, Kalil’s consistent performance makes him a strong candidate.

Other first-year eligibles include quarterback Eli Manning (two Super Bowl wins), running back Marshawn Lynch, guard Marshal Yanda, kicker Adam Vinatieri, pass-rusher Terrell Suggs, and safety Earl Thomas.

Kuechly stands out among these candidates due to his strong resume. With no clear automatic finalists in this group beyond possibly Manning or Vinatieri, there may be room for Smith or other returning candidates like Anquan Boldin or Hines Ward to advance further.

In 2027, former Panthers quarterback Cam Newton becomes eligible. Despite shoulder injuries shortening his career to about eight years at peak performance levels, Newton's achievements include setting records as both a passer and rusher while winning MVP honors in 2015.

Peppers urged patience among his former teammates regarding their Hall of Fame prospects: "You're one of the greatest; you're already that; you don't need someone else to validate you... Your time is going to come... whether it's the first time or the fifth time or the 10th."