The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have 24 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former wide receiver, Hines Ward is not one of those, as he has missed out on the Hall of Fame six consecutive years now. In fact, he's yet to make the final stage, as he's simply been a semifinalist in all six years that he's been eligible for the ballot. That continued into 2022, as Ward was yet again left off the list on the final candidates.
Photo Credit: Peter Diana/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
At this point, it seems like a debate that has been talked about enough. His impact on the Steelers franchise went far beyond his statistics on the field. Even on the field, Ward's blocking was perhaps the best aspect of his game. Of course, that doesn't show up in the box score. A former rival though thinks the wide out should indeed be in the Hall of Fame. That would be Brian Billick, who coached the Baltimore Ravens for nine years and faced Ward his whole tenure. Billick was on 93.7 The Fan with Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller and had this to say about Ward:
"To me, he's a slam dunk Hall of Famer because to me, the Hall of Fame should be beyond the numbers, the stats," Billick said on 93.7 The Fan. "In my mind, Hines Ward changed the game. [He] changed the mentality, not that it's adhered to all the time, that mentality of a receiver being involved, being versatile."
Now before that, Billick made it clear that he "hated" Ward due to the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. He certainly respects his game though, as he said he would take a team full of guys just like Ward any day of the week. Ward epitomized the rivalry, showing a ton of toughness and physicality, especially for a wide out. Billick's argument is the same that many others make. Ward's impact went far beyond the stats, as aforementioned.
Photo Credit: Arizona Republic
Ward spent all 14 years of his career in Pittsburgh. Not only did he retire as a two-time Super Bowl champ, but the former wide out also made four Pro Bowls in his career. Those four appearances came in four consecutive seasons, from 2001 to 2004. In that four-year span, Ward averaged just over 95 catches, 1,124 yards, and seven touchdowns per 16-game regular season. He didn't miss a single game in that span either. Ward's 12,083 career receiving yards ranks 27th in NFL history, above guys like Rod Smith, Michael Irvin, and Lance Alworth.
Do you think Hines Ward should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? If so/not, why? What were your favorite memories of him in his 14 years in a black and gold uniform? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
#SteelerNation
