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AFC West: The Biggest Hall of Fame Snub for Each Team

By Erik Lambert

9 Jan 1994: Defensive back Steve Atwater of the Denver Broncos tackles Los Angeles Raiders tight end Ethan Horton during a playoff game at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won the game, 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allspor
9 Jan 1994: Defensive back Steve Atwater of the Denver Broncos tackles Los Angeles Raiders tight end Ethan Horton during a playoff game at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won the game, 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allspor /
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The AFC West was well-represented in the Hall of Fame in the past but this year the division failed to get any of their number inducted into Canton.

This feels like a good time to ask an interesting question. Looking across the four teams that make up the division, who could be considered the biggest Hall of Fame snub for each? Make no mistake. Every franchise in the NFL has at least one player they could pinpoint who probably should be in already but for one reason or another haven’t gotten the call.

Few divisions have louder gripes to make in this category than the West. Here, in no particular order are the names that earned the qualification for most deserving of a gold jacket but never got the attention needed for it.

Oakland Raiders:  Lester Hayes (CB)

The man affectionately known to his fans and his teammates as “The Judge.” Lester Hayes was one of the best cover cornerbacks of his era, routinely shutting down wide receivers with is physical play and making quarterback pay with interceptions whenever they tried him. Between 1979 and 1980 he had 20 picks alone. He was so effective that teams so just started to avoid throwing his direction whenever possible. Despite being a five-time Pro Bowler, Defensive Player of the Year in 1980 and a two-time champion he’s never found his way to Canton.

Kansas City Chiefs:  Ed Budde (OG)

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They were one of the best teams in football in the late 1960s and early 1970s. That much is proven by how many players the Chiefs have in the Hall already from that era. Mostly it was the defense getting all the love in those days. Three members of that group are enshrined. Only quarterback Len Dawson made it from the offensive side, and that’s a crime. The Chiefs offense was revolutionary in many ways and had so much success. A big part of that was their underrated offensive line led by guard Ed Budde who was a nine-time AFL All-Star and Pro Bowler.

Denver Broncos:  Steve Atwater (S)

One of the best hitters in NFL history. That’s going to be the reputation most remember about Steve Atwater. Indeed the former Broncos safety was a heat-seeking missile throughout his career. However, this overshadowed how good of a player he actually was. He had 24 interceptions in his career and made over 1,200 tackles. Probably the best strong safety of that era and critical to Denver winning their two Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.

Los Angeles Chargers:  Leslie O’Neal (DE)

How different might things be for Leslie O’Neal if his Chargers team had somehow managed to win the Super Bowl in 1994? Let’s be honest. Nobody was beating Steve Young that year but it’s a fair assessment. O’Neal was one of the best pass rushers of the 1990s with 132.5 sacks in his career. Men have made it into the Hall of Fame with considerably less than that. Yet his name is rarely even mentioned despite five Pro Bowls to it. This is further proof that team success heavily influences the individual career in Hall of Fame voting, even when it shouldn’t.

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