National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame Member Statistics - Defensive Backs (DBs)

With the induction of defensive back Rod Woodson into the National Football League Hall of Fame in 2009, the total number of dbs in the Hall of Fame was raised to twenty. Of the 20 defensive backs enshrined in Canton, Ohio, 10 were primarily cornerbacks, 7 were primarily safeties and 3 played enough of both positions to be listed as both cornerback and safety. When discussing defensive backs (dbs), it is important to note we are only talking about the modern era of professional football.

An NFL Hall of Fame defensive back has an average career lasting 13.85 years. On the low end of average career length is Hall of Fame defensive back Jack Christiansen, whose professional football career lasted eight years. However, safety Jack Christiansen also scored eight punt return touchdowns in his eight year career. Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green is the longest tenured - 20 years - NFL defensive back in the Hall of Fame. The other 18 Hall of Fame defensive backs had careers lasting from 11 to 17 years.

The 20 NFL Hall of Fame defensive backs combine to play professional football for 32 years in the 1950's, 81 years in the 1960's, 93 years in the 1970's, 37 years in the 1980's, 25 years in the 1990's and seven years in the 2000's, prior to the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame induction. It is expected for the 2000's to be very light on representation and for the 1990's to be light on representation (explained in this article), but the 1980's seem extra light on defensive back representation.

There is only one Hall of Fame defensive back - Mike Haynes - who played football every year of the 1980's. There are four Hall of Fame dbs who played football every year of the 1970's. There are already two Hall of Fame dbs - Rod Woodson and Darrell Green - who played football every year of the 1990's. And, it's not like the 1980's are bustling with players who played 9 and 8 years during the decade. Quite the contrary; only three NFL Hall of Fame defensive backs played more than four years of football during the 1980's. Thirty seven years of Hall of Fame representation - consisting mostly of Mike Haynes, Ronnie Lott and Darrell Green - split amongst seven players seems low for the 1980's. The 93 years of representation of the 1970's is split among 13 players, while the 81 years of representation of the 1960's is split among 14 players. These numbers indicate that more years and more players need to be represented for defensive back during the 1980's. That is, if decades should be represented similarly through professional football history.

Fans can express their opinion for the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame inductions by voting here. Fourteen defensive backs are nominees for induction into the NFL Hall of Fam in 2010. The defensive back nominees include Steve Atwater, Darren Woodson, Lester Hayes, Donnie Shell, Carnell Lake, LeRoy Butler, Eric Allen, Louis Wright, Joey Browner, Frank Minnifield, Albert Lewis, Kenny Easley, Aeneas Williams and Raymond Clayborn. Perhaps it's time to dip further back into the annals of pro football history, back to the 1980's. Or, at least we can start thinking about it, because a well informed voter is the best voter.

This NFL Hall of Fame Member Series Article examines Hall of Fame member data through 2009.