Vikings’ Kevin Williams falls quickly in first swing as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Kevin Williams’ first time as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame ended quickly when the 50-member board of selectors met virtually for more than eight hours on Jan. 13.

The five-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle with the Vikings didn’t survive the first cut when the selection committee, which includes this reporter, trimmed the field of modern-era finalists from 15 to 10.

Ultimately, the committee settled on a five-member class that includes first-ballot picks Drew Brees and Minnesota native Larry Fitzgerald Jr. Joining them are kicker and all-time NFL scoring leader Adam Vinatieri, five-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly and running back and seniors finalist Roger Craig, whose 11-year career ended with the Vikings in 1992-93.

Craig was the only person to come out of the combined group of five from the senior players (Craig, L.C. Greenwood and Ken Anderson), coach (Bill Belichick) and contributor (Robert Kraft) categories. Told to vote for three of these five, with 80% needed for selection, selectors sprayed their votes in so many directions that four of the finalist fell short, including, infamously in his first year of eligibility, Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as a head coach and two as a coordinator.

Williams made his finals debut in his sixth year of eligibility. Bowing out with him in the cut to 10 were receivers Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt, guard Jahri Evans and quarterback Eli Manning. Wayne and Holt were seven-time finalists. Evans was in his third year, Manning his second.

The selectors then cut the field from 10 to seven. Eliminated then were first-year finalists Frank Gore, who ranks third in career rushing yards; tight end Jason Witten; and safety Darren Woodson, a four-time finalist in his 18th year of eligibility.

Selectors then voted for their top five among these seven: Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly, Vinatieri, Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson, edge rusher and Minnesota native Terrell Suggs and guard Marshal Yanda. Anderson, Suggs and Yanda become automatic finalists next year.

Williams’ case for the Hall of Fame was quiet through the first five years of eligibility. He didn’t even make it to the 25-member semifinals until this year.

Momentum for Williams is gaining, however. With Kuechly’s selection, Williams is now one of only four eligible players in NFL history to make an All-Decade team, earn five first-team All-Pro selections and not reach the Hall of Fame.

Selectors spent 10 minutes, 4 seconds discussing Williams, 16th longest among the 20 finalists. The longest discussion was on Belichick, which lasted 45:52 and included “Spygate” and “Deflategate,” two cheating scandals Belichick and the Patriots were found guilty of, as well as the voting procedure that pits five finalists from three different categories against each other as opposed to yes or no votes on each one.

Manning was discussed for 35:57 followed by Craig (32:37), Woodson (25:30), Ken Anderson (21:16), Fitzgerald (20:50), Holt (19:05), Vinatieri (18:38), Brees (16:56), Willie Anderson (16:48), Kraft (16:16), Greenwood (14:16), Gore (12:54), Witten (10:44), Kuechly (10:17), Williams, Wayne (9:59), Evans (9:27), Yanda (9:09) and Suggs (6:31).