HOFame: Trying to define Contributor
Blue-Ribbon Committee trims eclectic list to 21.
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(Editor’s Note: This is part of a series on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s journey to select the Class of 2026. It is written by Frank Cooney, long-time Seniors Blue-Ribbon Selection Committee member in his 33rd year as a selector. The Hall of Football is not affiliated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Opinions expressed are those of the Hall of Football [HallofFootball.substack.com])
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Today, Friday, October 24, 2025, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed 21 Contributors still in the running for induction into the Class of 2026, including Ralph Hay, a de facto co-founder of the NFL, who was rejected as a finalist in the last class.
Tough crowd, eh? Founders or co-founders in every other major American sport are in their various Halls of Fame. Look it up. But Hay’s fate isn’t perplexing, considering there isn’t even unanimity on the definition of Contributor. So how can you pick one?
Looking at the 29 Contributors already in the Hall (see list below), then the 21 on this year’s eclectic list, it is difficult to discern a definition that describes who belongs in this category. It’s easier for me to determine who does NOT belong, which we will address later.
As a football geek who follows the evolution of the game’s strategic trends, I am pleased this year to see Clark Shaughnessy presented not only as a coach — where he already made the cut to 12 — but as a Contributor. His inventive mind created the foundation for all so-called modern offenses.
This is his first time on the Contributor list, which may sound like a stretch, but we must remember that years ago there was a Coach/Contributor category. Before this year, he recently made the cut to 12 in the Coach group, at which time his advocate mentioned “all his contributions,” a phrase repeated last year when he was running as a Coach.
So we have created an organic twofer. Why fight it? The seed was planted, let’s see how it grows. Good luck, coach … er, I mean Clark.
Patriots owner Bob Kraft returns after he was cut last year despite a suspiciously coordinated blitz on selectors by certain media. This year Bill Belichick, the Pats’ former coach, is also in the running in his category. We will be shocked if that certain media group doesn’t blitz selectors with praises of a Kraft-Belichick entry, although the coach was indeed fired by New England and is doing poorly as HC of North Carolina. Wonder whether he can find another year of college eligibility for Tom Brady.
In all, the Hall’s Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee (CBRC) trimmed an original list of 32 nominees to these 21: K.S. “Bud” Adams, Roone Arledge, Howard Cosell, John Facenda, Mike Giddings, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Don Klosterman, Eddie Kotal, Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, John McVay, Clint Murchison, Art Rooney Jr., Clark Shaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff, Amy Trask, Jack Vainisi, Lloyd Wells, John Wooten and Buddy Young.
We later provide mini bios on candidates below.
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But first I object to the inclusion of John Facenda and Howard Cosell. Facenda was the unforgettable, baritone “Voice of God” who narrated highlights and documentaries, but was an independent contractor who didn’t work for or in the NFL, which I believe should be a prerequisite to be considered for this honor.
Cosell was a failed lawyer with an enormous ego who exercised his wit, wisdom, bluster and BS as an arrogant but entertaining radio and television sports journalist. Let’s get this straight: Facenda and Cosell weren’t contributors to the NFL, they were benefactors.
Technically, Facenda worked for NFL Films as an independent contractor. After his death, Facenda’s estate sued NFL Films after a clip of his voice was used in a promotion video for the Madden NFL 06 video game. A federal appeals court eventually ruled that this particular use of Facenda’s voice violated a specific clause in his contract prohibiting use of his voice to endorse a commercial product.
As for Cosell, there are more appropriate awards for journalists. In 1994, Cosell was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and was thus properly acknowledged. The Pro Football Hall of Fame should be reserved for those who were employed by the NFL or its member teams.
Longtime friend and former colleague Chris Berman was among those eliminated in this cutdown. He, too, has TV awards and doesn’t belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sorry Boomer, it is what it is. Good job on “The Fastest Three Minutes” recapping each week’s games.
Whenever you heard the voices of Facenda, Cosell or Berman — as well as that of Madden — you knew there was something worth watching and hearing. Again, that is not the point.
Now the CRBC must trim the list of 21 to nine. Results will be announced in early November. Later in the month, they will meet virtually and, through a sequence of reduction votes, will select one finalist. That’s when we finally see the definition of Contributor, for 2026 anyway.
Unlike players and coaches, there is no waiting period (mandatory retirement) for Contributor candidates to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so they can be active in the game at the time of their election. Below are brief bios on the 21 candidates remaining in the Contributor category for consideration as a member of the Class of 2026:
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K.S. “Bud” Adams: During his 54 years as founder, owner, chairman of the board, president and CEO of the Titans/Oilers franchise, Adams was a pivotal figure in the American Football League and National Football League.
Roone Arledge: Television industry executive and producer whose creativity, leadership and technical innovations revolutionized the presentation of both news and sports.
Howard Cosell: A member of ABC’s original “Monday Night Football” broadcasting team, Cosell worked alongside football legends Don Meredith and Frank Gifford from 1970 to 1983.
John Facenda: Beginning his career at NFL Films in 1965 until his death in 1984 at age 71, Facenda narrated numerous films and weekly highlights packages.
Mike Giddings: Former player, coach and scout who created the NFL talent evaluation and analytics company Proscout.
Ralph Hay: Owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918–1922 and hosted the NFL’s formational meeting in his automobile dealership in downtown Canton.
Frank “Bucko” Kilroy: Worked in player personnel and scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He was the Patriots’ general manager from 1979 to 1982 and vice president (1983-93).
Don Klosterman: Built successful teams in three leagues (Chargers, Chiefs and Oilers in the AFL; Colts and Rams of the NFL; and the L.A. Express in the USFL).
Eddie Kotal: Scout for the Los Angeles Rams from 1947–61 and was one of the first to scout Black colleges and universities.
Robert Kraft: Owner, chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots from 1994 to present.
Virginia McCaskey: Owner of the Chicago Bears from 1983 until her death earlier this year at age 102.
John McVay: Joined the 49ers in 1979 as the team’s director of player personnel and spent 21 seasons there, ultimately presiding over five Super Bowl-winning seasons as vice president/director of football operations.
Clint Murchison: Founder and owner of the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-83.
Art Rooney Jr.: Employed with the Steelers since 1961, from 1964 through 1986, worked in the Steelers’ scouting department. Currently a Steelers vice president and member of the Board of Directors.
Clark Shaughnessy: Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams from 1948–49 and assistant coach for the Washington Redskins from 1944–47 and Chicago Bears from 1951–62. Credited with modernizing the T-formation and other offensive and defensive innovations.
Seymour Siwoff: Owner and president of Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the NFL, from 1952–2019.
Amy Trask: CEO of the Oakland Raiders from 1997–2013.
Jack Vainisi: Scout for the Green Bay Packers from 1950–60 as well as business manager from 1959–60 until his death at age 33 from a heart condition.
Lloyd Wells: Scout for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1963–74. First full-time African American scout in the NFL.
John Wooten: Director of Pro Scouting for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975–91. Created player development programs for the NFL in 1991. Vice president/player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 and assistant director, pro/college scouting for the Baltimore Ravens until his retirement in 2002.
Buddy Young: First African American executive in any major sports league when the NFL hired him in 1964 in its scouting and public relations department. Was working as director of player relations in NFL when he died at age 57 in a car accident.
To summarize, we have team founders, team owners, a league (co) founder, team and league executives, player/coaches/scouts, personnel execs, General Managers, commissioners, a statistician and, regrettably, journalists and a famous voice over icon.
Have we left out anything? Well, we might consider those whose tireless work on CTE and helmets continue to try to improve the safety of the game, But if the NFL acknowledged them it would be, well, awkward at best. Still, they were and are indeed contributors to our great game.
Results from reduction votes in the three other categories for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 —Modern-Era Players, Seniors and Coaches — were announced earlier this week.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, which can be composed of a minimum of four individuals to as many as eight, will be enshrined next August in Canton.
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A list of Hall of Fame Contributors
Except for founding owners and commissioners, if you spot one thing that defines Contributor in that list, let me know.
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Howdy, Ric. Thanks for your R&React. You are doing some great, tireless work on All-Access Football. Actually there are a couple of plaques in Canton for such honors. 1. Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award: Presented annually to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to professional football through their work in radio and television. 2. Bill Nunn Memorial Award: Awarded by the Professional Football Writers of America to a journalist who has made a long and distinguished career in professional football reporting.
Sounds like they need to create a wing for media members.