Story by
2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame: Jacksonville Jaguars RB Fred Taylor misses the cut
- Story by
- 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame: Jacksonville Jaguars RB Fred Taylor misses the cut
Not this time.
Jacksonville Jaguars legend and all-time leading rusher Fred Taylor will have to wait another year to get his name enshrined in Canton. The ceremony announcing the inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was held at NFL Honors in New Orleans , the site for this year's Super Bowl.
Advertisement
Taylor was a Hall of Fame finalist this year, among the 15 modern-era candidates who must receive a minimum positive vote of 80% for election. He did not receive enough "yes" votes to pass through to the maximum final five slots for modern-era enshrinees.
Taylor was the only running back among the 15 finalists.
DENVER - OCTOBER 12: Running back Fred Taylor #28 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts after fumbling the ball and turning it over to the Denver Broncos during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on October 12, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Jaguars defeated the Broncos 24-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
FRENETTE: Jacksonville Jaguars legend Fred Taylor must be patient for Hall of Fame
The list starts at 167 names before being cut down to 50 and 25.
This marks the second time that Taylor has made it to the finalist list, making it last year for the first time since becoming eligible in 2015. Taylor had been named a semi-finalist for six straight years dating back to 2019 .
Advertisement
The only former Jaguars player to be enshrined in Canton is the team's executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli , who earned enshrinement in 2022. Boselli was a finalist six times before getting inducted into the Hall.
Fred Taylor has credentials for HOF despite being passed over, future odds favorable
17 Dec 2000: Cincinnnati Bengals Takeo Spikes #51 tackles Jacksonville Jaquar running back Fred Taylor # 28 during their game Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won the game 17-14 on a Neil Rackers 27-yard field goal as time expired. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT
Taylor ranks 17th in NFL history in rushing yards with 11,695. He posted 66 total touchdowns in 13 seasons and was the No. 9 overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft by Jacksonville. Taylor played for the franchise for 11 years from 1998-2008, rushing for 11,271 yards and 62 touchdowns. He finished out his career with two years in New England .
Advertisement
Among players ahead of Taylor on the all-time leading rusher list, only Frank Gore is not in the Hall, ineligible for enshrinement until 2026.
Taylor's 4.6 yards per carry ranks 32nd all-time in the NFL, tied with Adrien Peterson and Hall of Famer Terrell Davis. There are only three players in NFL history who averaged 4.6 yards or better with at least 2,500 carries: Barry Sanders, Peterson and Taylor.
Taylor's Hall of Fame credentials speak for themselves, but his fate relies upon a committee of knowledgeable football experts. Some contend that championships are valuable. Taylor has none.
"Maybe I've got an old-school view of it, but if he was that great he would've lifted them to a title or two," one voter told ESPN's Mike DiRocco in 2023 .
Advertisement
Still, the odds lie in Taylor's favor of making it at some point in the future.
Of the 152 modern-era players who have been passed over at least twice as a finalist, 140 (92%) got into Canton. That list includes Boselli and Jacksonville native LeRoy Butler.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates retired as the Chargers career leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches, as his 116 touchdown receptions remain the most all-time by an NFL tight end.
Among modern-era candidates inducted into the Hall of Fame this year are former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen , Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe and San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.
The only other player to get in was senior-committee candidate, Eagles, Saints and Raiders cornerback Eric Allen .
Advertisement
The four inductees, including three from the modern-era, mark the smallest Hall of Fame class since 2005 when Dan Marino, Steve Young, Benny Friedman and Fritz Pollard got in with just two of the players as modern-era candidates.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Fred Taylor misses out on Pro Football Hall of Fame 2025
