The Hall of Very Good’s Second Class: Wilson, Rison, Schafrath
These guys may be on Canton’s doorsteps, mere yards away from entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They may have had short or shortened careers for one reason or another. But one thing’s for sure, they left impacts on the game that deserve recognition. Introducing: The “Hall of Very Good.”
Note: The research for these articles was completed independently, and the selected players have zero connection to the Professional Football Researchers Association.
Requirements for Entry:
Must be Retired
Must NOT Currently be a Member of the Pro Football HOF
Must Have a Story to Tell
Must Have 2+ Pro Bowls/All-Pros
Legacy Picks Must Have Completed Their Careers Before 2000
The Second Class of Modern Era Inductees:
“The Desert Enforcer”
Adrian Wilson – Safety
- Arizona Cardinals (2001-2012)
Adrian Wilson didn’t say too much, but his hits said everything. The 3rd-round selection out of NC State was a 6’3”, 230-pound specimen at strong safety. Boasting linebacker size with impressive closing speed after adding 17 pounds in the league, Wilson was the embodiment of controlled violence in the Cardinals’ secondary for over a decade. He made five Pro Bowls, earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2009 on top of two Second-Team selections (2006, 2008), and was a centerpiece of the defense that helped take Arizona to its first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Earning an easy spot in the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor, Wilson was the first defensive back in NFL history to record 25+ sacks and 25+ interceptions, finishing with 27 INTs, 25.5 sacks, and 894 tackles in 181 games. Having learned behind the late, hard-nosed Pat Tillman in his first season, Adrian picked up where Tillman left off and them some, posting 100+ tackles in three different seasons, forcing a fumble in every one of his 12 participating seasons besides three, and grabbing an interception in all but one season including two returned for touchdowns (one of which was returned 99 yards, tied for the 2nd-longest in Cardinals history). The Cardinals’ all-time leader in passes defended also brought elite run support and blitz ability to the position before more modern safeties began to catch up on the trend, proving it by posting the second-most sacks in a single season by a DB with 8 in 2005.
Quiet off the field but ferocious on it, Wilson struck fear across the middle and demanded respect from quarterbacks and receivers alike. Though he never played in a huge market or chased headlines, his game spoke volumes. After the game was over, Wilson chose to stay involved in the game, finding staff or executive positions with the Cardinals and Panthers. When it was all said and done, he may not have been a household name, but Adrian Wilson is exactly the kind of player the Hall of Very Good was built to remember.
“Bad Moon”
Andre Rison – Wide Receiver
- Indianapolis Colts (1989)
- Atlanta Falcons (1990-1994)
- Cleveland Browns (1995)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1996)
- Green Bay Packers (1996)
- Kansas City Chiefs (1997-1999)
- Oakland Raiders (2000)
Andre “Bad Moon” Rison wasn’t just a receiver; he was a performer who made sure he always put on a show. With electric footwork, smooth route-running, and a knack for big plays, Rison became one of the most dangerous weapons of the late ’80s and ’90s. A five-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro, and two-time Second-Team All-Pro, he hit the 1,000-yard mark in five of his first six seasons and scored 10 or more touchdowns in four straight years, a rare feat in any era.
Before being shipped off to the Falcons, the first-rounder spent just one year in Indianapolis, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team. His arrival in Atlanta kicked off five seasons of pure production, ending that tenure as only the 5th receiver in NFL history to score 60 touchdowns in his first six seasons. During that stretch, Rison wasn’t just very good. He was elite, finishing near the top of nearly every receiving category and co-leading the entire NFL with 15 touchdown catches in 1993. He also led the NFL in receptions through his first four and first five seasons, ranking second through the sixth.
Running routes throughout 12 NFL seasons with seven different teams, Rison racked up 743 receptions, 10,205 yards, and 84 total touchdowns, production that kept rolling no matter the uniform. He scored the opening touchdown in a Super Bowl XXXI victory with the Packers, the CFL (he was a Grey Cup Champion in 2004!), and all seven NFL teams, proving his game translated anywhere. Although some saw Rison as a headache, at his peak, he was nearly un-coverable. After his professional career was over, the Michigan Sports Hall of Famer found high school coaching roles, made appearances on reality show television, and raised his son, Hunter, who played college football with Michigan State, Kansas State, and Grand Valley State. Explosive, clutch, and entertaining, Rison left his mark on highlight reels and defensive backs alike, and his contributions landed him a spot in the HOVG.
The Second Class Legacy Inductee:
“Cleveland Early Iron Man”
Dick Schafrath – Tackle/Guard
- Cleveland Browns (1959-1971)
Before Cleveland football became the embodiment of heartbreak and pain, it was built on grit, dominance, and championships. Few embodied that better than Dick Schafrath. Born and raised in Ohio, Schafrath was a hometown hero, playing both ways at Ohio State, where he won a National Championship before joining the Browns in 1959 as a 6’3,” 220-pound offensive lineman. Although this was a different era, upon beginning a new eating and training regimen under the legendary Paul Brown, the second-rounder ballooned to 270 pounds, which would become a wall of muscle and willpower, anchoring the offensive line for 13 seasons.
Schafrath’s value can be measured in yards gained by the men running behind him. The left tackle protected the blind side of three different Pro Bowl QBs (Bill Nelsen, Milt Plum, and Frank Ryan) and paved the way for three Hall of Fame running backs, Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly. His blocking helped each of them lead the league in rushing and was a major factor in the Browns’ 1964 NFL Championship, the last title in franchise history, when Cleveland dominated the heavily favored, Johnny Unitas and Lenny Moore-led Colts by a score of 27–0.
Durability was his trademark. The Browns Legends Club member played in 150 consecutive games, a remarkable streak for an offensive lineman who constantly battled the league’s fiercest pass rushers and run stoppers, including sixteen Hall of Fame defensive ends and thirteen Hall of Fame linebackers. A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro, he was consistently regarded as one of the finest tackles of the 1960s, excelling in both pass protection and run blocking at a time when linemen had to do it all.
After retiring from playing and a short stint working on the Redskins’ coaching staff alongside Hall of Famer George Allen, Schafrath remained a Cleveland icon, serving in the Ohio State Senate and staying connected to the game he loved. The Browns’ 1963 Team MVP passed away in August of 2021 at the age of 84. Posthumously, he might not have the Hall of Fame bust he deserves, but his role in protecting legends and winning championships cements his placement in the Hall of Very Good.
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Congratulations to these players!
Our second class of inductees may not have gold jackets yet, but their legacies are carved into the game’s history. Play-making, physical, and era-shaping, Andre Rison, Adrian Wilson, and, may he rest in peace, Dick Schafrath, each left a mark that demands recognition. The Hall of Fame may not have called, but the Hall of Very Good just did. Welcome.