Rodney Harrison Belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their 15 finalists for the Class of 2024 in December. Included among the group was a member of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Rodney Harrison. was included among the finalists for the first time. Now Harrison deserves to be honored in Canton.

Despite winning three Super Bowls in four seasons from 2001-to-2004, that edition of the Patriots has only had two members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame to date. Cornerback Ty Law was a member of the Class of 2019. Three years later, Law was joined by defensive lineman Richard Seymour.

There will be at least four inductees from that run in the coming years. Owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady, and placekicker Adam Vinatieri will all be heading Pro Football Hall of Fame members before long. However, even at six that run of greatness leaves New England under-represented compared to their elite peers from the previous decades.

Representatives in Pro Football Hall of Fame
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1960s Packers-13
1970s Steelers-14
1980s 49ers-9
1990s Cowboys-8
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1991-1994 Bills-8

2001-2004 Patriots-2
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If/when Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady & Adam Vinatieri get in, still feels like Pats are under represented. pic.twitter.com/0SbYkTkYUd

— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) September 26, 2022

The finalists were selected from 25 semifinalists announced in November. That group came from 173 nominees originally unveiled in September 2023. That initial list included 22 former Patriots players, including Vince Wilfork was among the semifinalists.

From Western Illinois to the Super Bowl

Harrison began his career in San Diego. He was a fifth-round pick of the Chargers in 1994 after playing college football for Western Illinois. By 1996 he was a full-time starter, and in 1998 he was selected to his first Pro Bowl. That year, Harrison was also named an All-Pro. After his first nine seasons with San Diego, Harrison joined the New England Patriots before the 2003 season.

Rodney Harrison would play his final six seasons in Foxboro. He helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl in each of his first two seasons in New England. During those championship runs, Harrison had six interceptions in six playoff games. He proved to play his best when it mattered most. He was also the starting safety on the 2007 Patriots, the first NFL team to finish with a 16-0 regular season record.

Along with Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, Rodney Harrison is one of only two players in NFL history to record at least 30 sacks and 30 interceptions during their careers.

New England Patriots Rodney Harrison returns an interception 87 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Reputation

Despite being a two-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro, Harrison’s individual accolades are not as impressive as they should be. Voting for awards can be a popularity contest. Harrison’s reputation for being a dirty player did not make him popular.

In 2004 Rodney Harrison finished fourth in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting and was named first-team All-Pro. Yet somehow Harrison was not voted to the Pro Bowl. During his entire, impressive run with the New England Patriots, Harrison’s peers never voted him to the Pro Bowl. He was, however, voted “dirtiest player” in player surveys in both 2004 and 2006. In 2008 an ESPN survey of coaches again identified Harrison as the NFL’s “dirtiest player.” This reputation affected his ability to garner recognition during his player that would have made him a Hall of Fame shoo-in long ago.

Why Isn’t Harrison Already In?

A reputation for dirty play wasn’t the only thing holding back Harrison’s candidacy. The prime of his career was divided up between two decades, the 1990’s and 2000’s. When players get voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, “All-Decade” honors are always mentioned. Although the timing of his career prevented him from adding that honor to his resume, the prime of his career was the best of any safety in the NFL.

From 1995-to-2004, Harrison was one of only seven NFL players with over 1,000 tackles, and the only non-linebacker among that group. He also led all NFL safeties during those 10 years in both tackles for loss (36) and sacks (27.5). His sack total was 9.0 more than any other safety during that stretch.

Rodney Harrison was first eligible to be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 but was not even named a semifinalist for another seven years. Since 2014, peers to be elected who played safety include Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, Steve Atwater, Troy Polamalu, John Lynch, and LeRoy Butler. Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson joins Harrison among this year’s semifinalists.

Other Finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Along with Rodney Harrison, there is another player with New England Patriots ties among this group of 15. Running back Fred Taylor finished his career in New England. However, he is better known for his years with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tight end Antonio Gates and defensive end Julius Peppers are the only first-year eligible candidates among the finalists.

The complete list of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Running Backs (1): Fred Taylor

Wide Receivers (3): Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne

Tight Ends (1): Antonio Gates

Offensive Linemen (2): Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans

Defensive Ends (3): Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers

Linebackers (1): Patrick Willis

Cornerbacks (1): Eric Allen

Safety (2): Rodney Harrison, Darren Woodson

Return Specialist (1): Devin Hester

Announcement During NFL Honors

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. It took Rodney Harrison seven years of eligibility just to be named a semifinalist. It took him ten years before he was named one of the finalists. As was previously the case, if Harrison gets bypassed for induction it will not be because he did not deserve such recognition. Rodney Harrison was a Pro Football Hall of Fame player, gold jacket or not.