Nor did the voters approve contributor finalist Ralph Hay, owner of the the Canton Bulldogs when the NFL was born in Canton in 1920. Modern era finalists who didn’t get elected are quarterback Eli Manning,

The four-person class is the first since 2005 with fewer than six inductees. Adam Vinatieri also missed out in his first chance.

During the NFL honors, which airs on FOX 11 at 9 p.m. PT on February 6, Gates was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Longtime teammate and fellow Bolts legend LaDainian Tomlinson helped welcome Gates into Canton, Ohio, during the Class of 2025 induction announcement.