In 2014, the NFL suspended Johnson for four games after testing positive for a banned substance. Two years later, he tested positive again and received a 10-game suspension. Since then, he has been phenomenal. In the past six years, Johnson has had four Pro Bowl nominations, two All-Pro selections, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy.
Even at the age of 33, Johnson shows no signs of slowing. The former Oklahoma star hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 10 of the 2020 season or a quarterback hit since Week 7 of 2021. Those numbers are incredible, but are they good enough to make voters forget the PEDs? That’s TBD.
Young players who could develop into Hall of Famers
Jalen Hurts, quarterback: Why not? His jersey is already there. Hurts’ NFL career got off to a slow start, but if his 2022 season is any indication, a gold jacket could be in his future. His 3,701 yards passing last year were 10th-most by any quarterback and his 13 rushing touchdowns tied for second-most among NFL players regardless of position. Factor in 10 rushing scores from 2021 and Hurts is the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 10 or more touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
More importantly, what Hurts did in Super Bowl LVII can’t be overstated. His 70 yards rushing were the most by a Super Bowl quarterback. His three rushing scores tied Terrell Davis’ record for most TD runs by any player in the Super Bowl and he joined Steve Young and Joe Montana as the only players to account for at least 370 yards and score four touchdowns in a Super Bowl.
With stats like that, it’s easy to forget that Hurts, who’s only 24, has only been the team’s starting quarterback for two years. Not every season will end with a Super Bowl, but if Hurts can maintain his current level of performance, he’ll be a lock for the Hall of Fame one day.
A.J. Brown, wide receiver: Before being drafted in 2019, Brown trained with Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice. Whatever they did appears to be working. After three outstanding seasons with the Titans, Brown had the best season of his career with Philadelphia in 2022. Brown’s 1,496 receiving yards were good enough for fourth place last year and his 11 touchdowns tied for third-most in the league.
Brown, who’s only 25, enters 2023 as the NFL’s seventh-best receiver, per Pro Football Focus, and he should get to play with Hurts for at least four more years. As long as they’re together, Brown’s Hall of Fame chances look pretty good.
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