One of the greatest tight ends in Dallas Cowboys history, Jason Witten, and one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history are hoping to share a stage next summer, when the Hall of Fame Class of 2027 is inducted. 2027 is Rob Gronkowski’s first year eligible; it’s Witten’s third, and the ball ot is loaded with talent. Running back and Texas native Adrian Peterson and Ben Roethlisberger are both candidates being considered as first-ballot selections, plus Witten headlines an impressive crop of returning candidates who just missed the cut. Between four and eight candidates can get in each year. Over his 11 seasons with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gronk won four Super Bowls, made five Pro Bowls, and was first-team All-Pro four times. Gronkowski had 92 regular-season TDs (third-most by a TE), 15 postseason TDs (third all-time among all pass catchers), and five Super Bowl TDs (second all-time). Peterson was the most dominant running back of his era, winning MVP in 2012 when he topped 2,000 yards coming off a torn ACL the previous December. His prime years came with the Minnesota Vikings from 2007 to 2016, where he became the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. He ranks fifth all-time with 122 rushing touchdowns and 14,918 rushing yards. Other first-year candidates include Richard Sherman, Antonio Brown, Cam Newton, Andrew Whitworth, Eric Weddle, and Gerald McCoy. Returning finalists include the Gronk’s former coach Bill Belichick, widely considered the greatest coach ever, Eli Manning, Frank Gore, and Darren Woodson. Again, only up to 8 of the 10 players and coaches listed can be inducted. Belichick was the biggest snub last year, with the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach shockingly being left out. The quarterback who cost him two more rings, Eli Manning, will again be considered for his third year on the ballot, along with fellow 2019 retirees in Suggs and Yanda. Gronk talked with NBC about being eligible alongside Witten and Belichick while promoting T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights, which gives cash prizes to small-town high schools across the country. “I don’t have a vote, I don’t have a say, but there’s gonna be no doubt that coach Belichick shall be in the Hall of Fame last year. He definitely got snubbed last year; he should’ve been in as a first ballot. For whatever reason he wasn’t, but 100% needs to go in this year coming up,” Gronk said. “(Witten) is a phenomenal player; he was such a consistent player. That’s what makes a great football player great. It’s not just making a play every so often; it’s making a play every single time you need to make a play and be consistent out on the football field. And he was one of the most consistent tight ends. And not just a tight end, he’s one of the most consistent football players of all time, and he’s definitely deserving.” Gore and Witten were finalists in their first year on the ballot, respectively, and both have strong resumes. Woodson has been a finalist for four straight years. Several returning candidates who weren’t finalists are often elevated to the next stage the following year. With how loaded the 2027 class could be, that may be challenging for this group. Two tight ends have never been inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same season, but Witten has the most Pro Bowl selections of any player eligible for the Hall who has not yet been inducted. Witten has previously expressed just grateful to be among the nominees. ...read more read less