Overview of The Athletic Football Show — “Hall of Very Good, Class of 2026”
In this summer episode, the hosts revive their recurring “Hall of Very Good” bit: a vibes-based celebration of excellent NFL players who were never serious Hall of Fame candidates, but whose careers deserve to be remembered. The only hard rule is that players who were Hall of Fame finalists or semi-finalists are excluded, and the group generally avoids players who are too accomplished or too recent. The episode works as a fun mix of nostalgia, football nerdery, and respect for underappreciated careers.
What the “Hall of Very Good” Means
- A tribute to players who were really, really good, even if they weren’t all-time greats.
- Designed to highlight careers that might otherwise fade from memory.
- The hosts emphasized:
- no Hall of Fame finalists or semi-finalists,
- generally no one too close to the real Hall,
- and enough time retired that a player’s career can be judged in full.
2026 Class Inductees
Ryan Kerrigan
- Four-time Pro Bowler and longtime Washington pass rusher.
- Finished with 95.5 career sacks and no All-Pro selections.
- The hosts praised him as the steady, high-motor defensive constant through the end of the Dan Snyder era in Washington.
- Beloved, consistent, and exactly the kind of player this concept is meant to honor.
Tamba Hali
- A punishing edge rusher for the Chiefs and the perfect counterweight to Justin Houston.
- Played his entire career in Kansas City and made multiple Pro Bowls.
- Not a flashy Hall of Fame case, but a classic example of a franchise-defining “very good” player.
Matt Forte
- One of the most productive and versatile running backs of his era.
- Only two Pro Bowls, but huge all-purpose value and major receiving production.
- Between 2008 and 2014, only Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson had more rushing yards.
- The hosts highlighted how rare it was for a 6'2", 220-pound back to be such a polished receiver.
Warrick Dunn
- A compact, elusive back who was nearly impossible to tackle in space.
- Finished with 10,967 rushing yards and 48 receptions per year on average.
- Also recognized for his tremendous off-field charity work, including helping single-parent families secure homes.
- A player who was both beloved and highly impactful on and off the field.
Thomas Davis
- One of the best linebackers of his era, especially in coverage.
- Overcame three torn ACLs and still reached his peak later in his career.
- Became a first-team All-Pro and key part of Carolina’s elite defense with Luke Kuechly.
- The hosts also recalled his broken arm in the 2015 NFC Championship Game and his absurd toughness in playing through it.
Michael Bennett
- An extremely disruptive and versatile defensive lineman.
- Underrated for years, especially during his Tampa Bay and Seattle seasons.
- In 2012, he was one of the best run defenders and pass rushers in the league.
- The Seahawks got elite production from him on a bargain contract, which helped fuel their dominant defense.
Steven Davis
- A big, physical back whose production was better than his name recognition.
- Three-time Pro Bowler with 65 career touchdowns and three 1,400-yard seasons.
- The episode noted how he helped power Carolina’s 2003 Super Bowl run.
- A strong reminder that some excellent careers get lost because they aren’t flashy.
Damon “Snacks” Harrison
- One of the best run-stuffing defensive tackles of his era.
- A dominant interior force for the Jets and Giants.
- The hosts emphasized his rare combination of size, leverage, and actual production, not just “space-eating.”
- He was especially notable as an undrafted player from a tiny college program.
DeBrickashaw Ferguson
- Left tackle for the Jets’ 2009 and 2010 AFC title game teams.
- One of the most remarkable durability cases in NFL history: he missed essentially one meaningful snap his entire career.
- Also remembered as the inspiration for the famous Key & Peele “East/West College Bowl” sketch.
- A great player and one of the most unusual NFL personalities discussed.
Sean Lee
- A brilliant linebacker whose career was held back by injuries.
- One of the smartest defenders the hosts have ever covered.
- Elite at reading plays, covering backs and tight ends, and playing with anticipation.
- The hosts loved his football IQ and his “ball-only” mentality, even if his body never fully cooperated.
Jordy Nelson
- One of Aaron Rodgers’ best and most dangerous weapons.
- Only one Pro Bowl, but highly efficient and devastating on deep balls and back-shoulder throws.
- The hosts stressed that he was much more than a possession receiver; he was a real vertical threat.
- A classic case of a player whose style may not look imposing on paper, but whose production and impact were elite.
Reggie Nelson
- A highly productive safety with more career interceptions than several better-known contemporaries.
- Played key roles for the Jaguars and Bengals, including Cincinnati’s strong mid-2010s defenses.
- The hosts called out how well he fit those physical, hard-hitting defensive backfields.
Antoine Bethea
- Mentioned as another undersung safety from that era.
- A reliable, long-lived defensive back whose name doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.
Sammy Knight
- A deep-cut pick and a childhood favorite for one of the hosts.
- A standout safety for the early-2000s Saints and later with the Dolphins and Chiefs.
- A reminder that the “Hall of Very Good” can also be about restoring memory to forgotten-but-fun players.
Other Names Discussed as “Too Good” or Close Calls
- Cam Chancellor — debated as potentially too good for this exercise.
- Anquan Boldin — discussed as more Hall of Fame-worthy than Hall of Very Good.
- Brian Orakpo, Brian Waters, Steven Jackson, Deshaun Jackson — brought up as examples of players near the line, or not eligible yet.
Key Takeaways
- The episode is less about formal ranking and more about football memory and appreciation.
- A recurring theme was the importance of:
- being beloved by your fanbase,
- playing a long time for one team,
- and being excellent even if you never got major league-wide honors.
- The hosts also highlighted how different eras and rosters produce clusters of “Hall of Very Good” players.
- They ended by saying the segment will return next summer, continuing the tradition of “remembering some guys.”