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Pro Football Hall of Fame: 5 Dark Horse Candidates For 2019

By Erik Lambert

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 1: Cliff Branch #21 of the Los Angeles Raiders runs the ball against Mel Blount #47 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional playoff game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 38-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 1: Cliff Branch #21 of the Los Angeles Raiders runs the ball against Mel Blount #47 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional playoff game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 38-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 18: Ty Law #24 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2004 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Colts 24-14. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 18: Ty Law #24 of the New England Patriots celebrates during the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2004 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Colts 24-14. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies are right around the corner. The class of 2018 is getting ready to take its place among the immortals.

Most of the members of this class could hardly be called a surprise. Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher were virtual locks. Brian Dawkins was a heavy favorite while Randy Moss and Terrell Owens were impossible to keep out given their amazing production. That said, there were a couple notable additions who probably weren’t expected. One was former outside linebacker Robert Brazile and other was the long-overlooked Jerry Kramer, former guard of the Lombardi Packers.

That leads to an interesting question. As we look towards the 2019 class, there are plenty of locks to note including Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed, and Champ Bailey. It’s more about who could sneak in to join them? Here are a few names that will be looming in the shadows with only the need for a strong enough push from voters.

Ty Law (CB, 1995-2009)

It’s amazing how overlooked Ty Law throughout the early part of his career. Despite helping the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl during just his second season, nobody mentioned his name much at all for almost a decade. This despite him piling up interceptions and Pro Bowls at an impressive rate. Not until January of 2004 at the age of 29 did he finally get due recognition.

It came when he intercepted league MVP Peyton Manning three times in the AFC championship game, securing a 24-14 win for the Patriots and serving as the springboard to their second Super Bowl title in three years. Law would help them win another the next season and would retire with 53 interceptions in his career. He was a principal playmaker on defense for a dynasty.

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