Is Wilfork headed to Canton?
By: Jake Rajala
The New England Patriots legend Vince Wilfork was recently inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. The news of Wilfork’s announcement brought emotion to Pats nation and the entire NFL audience that has witnessed Wilfork consistently dismantle offensive lines with ease. Here is a closer look at Wilfork’s production in his career:
- 560 tackles
- 38 career TFLs
- Five-time Pro Bowl selection
- All-Pro in 2012
- Two-time Super Bowl champion
After Wilfork made it into Pats heaven, the next question unequivocally is: is Wilfork headed to Canton next? Well, it would seem to be hard to deny Wilfork’s case for the NFL Hall of Fame. He has many Pro Bowl nods, an All-Pro team, and SB rings.
Yet, it’s quite difficult for any superb noseguard to crack a spot in Canton. The legendary noseguard Fred Smerlas has five Pro Bowl selections, an All-Pro spot, and Pro Football Journal pens him as a Top-3 NG of all time. Yet, he has not made it into the Hall of Fame.
There have been other noseguard legends to make it into Canton. For example, Curley Culp and Bill Willis have made it into the HOF. Wilfork doesn’t have the sexiest career production, but he was a key member of a dynasty team in New England. It’s impossible to ignore Wilfork’s numerous SB rings, which should brush over any minor concern about his top-end success.
Noseguards are people, too, and Wilfork was a damn good NG. It will not be easy/short for Wilfork to hear his name selected for the NFL HOF, but I imagine that the football gods won’t leave the well-rounded Patriots DT out of the NFL HOF in the end.
