Earlier this month, retired New York Giants legend Eli Manning was passed over for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The great tight end Antonio Gates, who was elected to Canton this time around after being bypassed last year,

The five years needed from retirement to eligibility will pass for these all-time great NFL players, who range from an all-time wide receiver in Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald to Super Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. There are some possible first-time ballot Hall of Famers on this list on both sides of the ball.

Normally each year we get five inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so when Rich Eisen listed four players and then there felt like a pregnant pause during the NFL Honors show on Thursday night,

New York Giants legend Eli Manning told to keep his chin up by 2025 NFL Hall of Fame inductee Antonio Gates after his snub. Following his surprising snub from the 2025 NFL Hall of Fame class, two-time Super Bowl MVP and New York Giants legend Eli Manning was offered advice from former Los Angeles Chargers star Antonio Gates.