This was supposed to be the year for retired Jaguars legend Tony Boselli.
After four years of making it into the top-15 finalist list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Boselli will have to wait a while longer. First reported by Action Sports Jax, Boselli was not selected as one of the five modern-era members to be selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Boselli made the final-10 cut for the third-straight year.
Tony Boselli was again passed over for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. https://t.co/5eHN8COEj8
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) February 1, 2020
Boselli spent the first seven years of his career in Jacksonville before being forced to retire due to injuries after being selected by the Houston Texans in the 2002 expansion draft. One of the most dominant left tackles of his era, Boselli has all the makings of a Hall of Fame player, however it seems the longevity argument has won yet again.
The former Jaguars left tackle played in only 90 games during his career, however that has yet to stop the Hall of Fame committee from enshrining players such as former Broncos running back Terrell Davis (78 games) and Seahawks safety Kenny Easley (89 games). Nevertheless, Boselli was not inducted.
At the offensive line position, Hall of Fame center Dwight Stevenson started 87 games, three less than Boselli (90) in his career.
Multiple legends, including arguably the best left tackle in NFL history — Anthony Muñoz —, have spoken highly of the former Jaguars great in anticipation of him making it into the 2020 class. The wait has been brutal for Boselli and the Jaguars organization who have yet to enshrine a single Hall of Fame player — the only franchise yet to have a single player tied to them in the Hall of Fame.
It is not yet known which players received Hall of Fame nods, although former Packers safety and Jacksonville, Florida native, LeRoy Butler announced via twitter he too was passed over this season.
As for next year? It’ll be another long shot for Boselli as he will be up against players such as former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, and Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson. All three players are widely expected to be first-ballot Hall of Famers and it would a shock if they weren’t.
Boselli took to twitter shortly after the announcement was made to give his thoughts:
First of all I want to congratulate all the new @ProFootballHOF members. I have no idea who they are but I know they are well deserving. I want to thank @samkouvaris for the great job he has done presenting me. He put a ton of work into it and I appreciate it
— Tony Boselli (@TonyBoselli) February 1, 2020