The New England Patriots had former players earn Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2019, 2019, and 2022 — but none in the last two years. Could they get back on the board in 2025?
On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 167 modern-era nominees for the 2025 class. The list includes multiple former Patriots, including one first-timer: kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Could any earn enshrinement next year? Let’s look at each player’s case and offer predictions.
Note: We didn’t include short-term Patriots on the list, such as Aqib Talib, Ted Washington, and Fred Taylor)
WR Wes Welker
Many Patriots fans believe Julian Edelman eventually should be a Hall of Famer largely due to his postseason accomplishments. However, in no world should Edelman make it in over Welker, who was by far the more productive slot receiver.
On this date 17 years ago Randy Moss and Wes Welker make their debut in New England
Brady throws for 297 yards & 3 TD’s in 38-14 win pic.twitter.com/VQ9NzSMMLO
— RandomTomBradyHighlights (@TomBradyDaily) September 9, 2024
Welker finished his career with 903 catches for 9,924 yards and 50 touchdowns and is responsible for some of the most productive seasons in Patriots history. Yet, he remains a Hall of Fame longshot, and his Pro Football Reference HOF Monitor score is just 55.28, well under 101, which is the average score for Hall of Fame receivers
Prediction: Won’t get in.
RB Corey Dillon
Corey Dillon was one of the best running backs of his era. From 1997 through 2004, he averaged 1,212 yards and 7.1 touchdowns per season. His best season came in 2004 when he racked up 1,635 yards and 12 TDs for the Super Bowl-winning Patriots.
But Dillon wasn’t truly dominant, and nobody would consider him a generational talent. He’s a classic case of someone who belongs in the Hall of Very Good.
Dillon’s PFR Monitor Score is 51.93 (the average for running backs is 107).
Prediction: Won’t get in.
K Adam Vinatieri
This is a tricky one.
Adam Vinatieri probably will get in someday. He’s the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,673 points and kicked a record 599 field goals, including 29 game-winning kicks. And his postseason heroics need no introduction.
But will he be a first-ballot Hall of Famer? It’s tough to say.
ADAM VINATIERI. 51 YARDS. FOR THE WIN. #DENvsIND pic.twitter.com/9x7xjko7EO
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2019
Only two primary placekickers are in the Hall of Fame: Morten Anderson and Jan Stenerud, with the latter being the only first-balloter. As the greatest kicker in NFL history, Vinatieri should become the second.
Vinatieri’s PFR Monitor Score is 92.70, well above the average of 77.
Prediction: Will get in.
LB Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Bruschi was a really good player and a fantastic leader for many years. He’s a three-time champion and one of the best defenders in Patriots history.
But with just one Pro Bowl nod on his résumé and a 42.35 PFR Monitor Score (the average is 106), he has zero chance of earning enshrinement.
Prediction: Won’t get in.
OLB Mike Vrabel
Ditto for Mike Vrabel, who’s a deserving member of the Patriots Hall of Fame and was one of the best defensive players on multiple championship teams.
But Vrabel, who has a PFR Monitor Score of just 43.23 (the average is 103), wasn’t one of the best outside linebackers of his era.
Vrabel has a better chance of getting in as a head coach — if he ever gets another job.
Prediction: Won’t get in.
OLB Willie McGinest
Throw Willie McGinest into the same bucket.
Arguably a better player than Vrabel and Bruschi, McGinest earned two Pro Bowl selections and was a feared, physical presence on the edge over 15 seasons. The first Patriots dynasty might not have happened if McGinest wasn’t around.
But he’s not a Hall of Famer, despite having a better PFR Monitor Score than Bruschi and Vrabel at 47.03.
Prediction: Won’t get in.
TE Ben Coates
Ben Coates doesn’t get nearly enough Hall of Fame love, but that doesn’t mean he deserves a spot.
Coates undoubtedly was one of the best tight ends of his era. He racked up 499 catches for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns while earning five Pro Bowl nods. He even landed on the Hall of Fame’s all-1990s team.
But was that because Coates truly was a generational tight end, or because there weren’t many great tight ends in the ’90s? Probably the former.
Coates has a PFR Monitor Score of 46.10, well below the average of 97.
Prediction: Won’t get in.
DT Vince Wilfork
This is the part where we saw throw out the PFR scores.
Wilfork’s score is 60.35, well below the 102 average for defensive tackles. However, Wilfork has the 13th-highest score under the average, so he’s pretty close.
But here’s the thing: Wilkfork shouldn’t be lumped in with someone like Aaron Donald, who has the highest PFR score for defensive tackles (an absurd 181.68). Wilfork was a true nose tackle, and his weekly dominance often eluded the stat sheet.
He wasn’t a finalist last year despite being a semifinalist, so he likely won’t earn enshrinement in 2025. But he should get in at some point.
Prediction: Won’t get in.
S Rodney Harrison
This might be a bolder prediction than Vinatieri being a first-balloter.
Rodney Harrison was a finalist last year, so he’s knocking on the door. And, as a two-time champion and two-time first-team All-Pro selection, he was one of the best safeties of the 1990s and the 2000s.
But enshrinement has eluded Harrison, perhaps due to his reputation as a dirty player and his PED-related suspension in 2007. Plus, some of the numbers, like his well-below-average 48.28 PFR score, say he’s not a Hall of Famer.
However, Bill Belichick has pushed Harrison’s Hall of Fame candidacy to a near-comical degree, and his opinion counts for something.
Prediction: Will get in.
G Logan Mankins
Logan Makins has a strong case.
One of the best guards of his era, Mankins earned seven Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection. He also is on the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team. And with a PFR score of 79.15, he’s close to the average of 106.
That said, Mankins never has been a finalist, so it’s hard to envision him making the jump to enshrinement in 2025.
Prediction: Won’t get in.