#10 Ken Anderson | NFL Films | Top 10 Players Not in the Hall of Fame

[@nujeru99]

Ken Anderson is ridiculously disrespected, and should've been in the Hall a couple of decades ago. He was an amazing QB. Not his fault that in the 70s they were in the same division as the Steel Curtain Steelers. They also should've won Super Bowl XVI, they just shot themselves in the foot several times during that game. The Bengals are sorely under represented in the Hall of Fame. Ken Anderson, Ken Riley, Lamar Parrish and Corey Dillon should all be in the Hall

[@nujeru99]

Harry Engel Ken Riley aka “The Rattler” should definitely be in. Not only was he a rock at Cornerback for the Bengals for 15 years (even garnering All-Pro honors in his final season), his almost unfathomable total of 65 INTs still is in the top-5 all-time. The Bengals of the 70s and early early 80s were just overshadowed by more glamorous teams who happened to win championships

[@nujeru99]

Harry Engel Corey Dillon was a fantastic back for many years on some God Awful Bengals teams. People forget that the Bengals from 1991-2003 were absolutely the toilet of the NFL. To be a running back and perform as terrifically as he did, says so much about his talent level. He was also great late into his career...leading the league in rushing in 2004 when he was 30 years old (ancient for Running Backs). And almost got to 1000 yards in his last season, despite not starting every game. He’s HOF worthy

[@caponsacchi]

I agree. Anderson simply HAD to have pinpoint accuracy because he didn't have a defense to make up for any mistake (compare the Steel Curtain for Bradshaw or the Raiders for Plunkett and Stabler). He also had no consistent rushing threat (the reason that the Jets, with 200 rushing yards from Freman McNeal beat the Bengals in the 1982 play-offs). Anderson sent Isaac Curtis to 4 straight pro-bowls and then, in the next decade, sent Colllinsworth to 3 straight. Munoz was a big help (on his blind side) tho Ken still had little time to set up and no defense to make up for an interception or fumble. Still, his 4 #1 Passer Ratings testify to his credentials for enshrinement along with his Career Average Value number (the only player to score over 100 who is not in the Hall).

[@dondajulah4168]

Probably his PED use hurt his chances

[@dwightlove3704]

@@nujeru99 Riley finally got into Canton too bad he isn't alive Class of ('23)

[@SingleTax]

Dan Fouts never won a Super Bowl. Neither did Dan Marino. Neither did Warren Moon. Neither did Fran Tarkenton. Yet all four are in the Hall of Fame. Jim Plunkett, by contrast, won -- not one -- but *two* Super Bowls, yet is *not* in the Hall of Fame. Conclusion? If there's an argument against Ken Anderson not being in the HoF, not having won a Super Bowl *isn't one of them.*

[@yautjawarrior8708]

Hell, Dan Fouts has never been to a Super Bowl and he's a Hall of Famer

[@johnselwitz5362]

No disrespect to Ken Anderson but I would’ve swapped him out on this list for Phil Simms.

[@thechriswood]

Phil Simms won a super bowl in his 14 seasons in the NFL, so what are you talking about??

[@nosajdrewz9345]

Ken Anderson isn’t in the Super Bowl because of Bill Walsh, or namely the management of the Cincinnati Bengals. The west coast offense started in Cincinnati and Walsh took it with him. And because of that, Ken Anderson had nothing to hang his hat on. Just being a good QB doesn’t get you into the hall. You have to have other factors. Dan Fouts: pilot of what is now the blue print of passing offenses in the NFL in Air Coryeyell Dan Marino: literally put Miami on his back year after year with zero running game. And it helped he had the winningest coach in NFL Super Bowl history in Don Sula Warren Moon: went to Canada to show that a black QB could successfully compete in the NFL by winning championships. Fran Takenton went to three Super Bowls and revolutionized the game with his ability to be mobile and throw the ball down the field. Jim Plunkett is only known for the two Super Bowl wins and he wasn’t even QB1 in those teams. He was also a bust in New England and San Francisco. Super Bowls may not be the end all be all but it sure helps if you have no other help.

[@donquixote...]

@Jim Stark Then Moon would should be in the CFL HOF.

[@Muskegon333]

The Hall of Fame should be about the individual player and not about team success. A player has no control over who drafts him or how the team is built. The players who have great stats while on poor teams actually deserve to be in the HOF more than those on the great teams. Barry Sanders comes to mind and so does Ken Anderson.

[@TheStats85]

ledsohio I agree with that comment

[@Mr1sammyd21]

OMG, common sense detected.

[@bowmanmilner8137]

IT'S A DAMN SHAME THAT KEN ANDERSON IS NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME,

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

screw those sportswriters.screw chris russo of nyc mad dog. screw him.

[@coololdluke3905]

Kenny belongs in the Hall of Fame. Most accurate passer of 70's and early 80's. He was the model for the most prolific offense ever designed by Bill Walsh under Paul Browns tutelage. He faced tough defenses in the AFC Central back then. He played injured a lot over 15 years and he was a true "on field" leader. He belongs. P.S. He also was Ben Roethlisberger's first QB coach helping his career blossom.

[@charlesgorman4919]

My Dad is a huge fan of Ken Anderson. He strongly believes Anderson belongs in the Hall of Fame because he helped execute Bill Walsh's west coast offense while he was the offensive coordinator of the Bengals.

[@UncleClaudeSportsandThangs]

I'm a Steeler fan and I find Mark Madsen annoying. The fact is Kenny Anderson was better than Terry Bradshaw and Kenny Stabler and belongs in the Hall of Fame. He never had a Hall of Famer to bail him out to hand it off or throw to.

[@odie1584]

Claude White Mark Madden is a douchebag Ken Anderson is a hall of famer no doubt.

[@Deatheragenator]

Bengals Fan #respect

[@Muskegon333]

Classy comment from a Steeler fan. It's amazing Anderson won four passing titles while playing in the same division as the Steel Curtain. Anderson always took the heat when they lost and when they won he gave all the credit to his teammates. Maybe that's why people tend to overlook him.

[@timenyart]

True that, the Frank Ryan vs. Johnny U was a dumb point. Ken Anderson objectively speaking was better then at least two or three of his HOF contemporaries. If lack of a ring justifies him not being a HOFer, then Dan Fouts shouldn't be one either.

[@caponsacchi]

There were years when the opposition's defensive line was in the Bengal backfield the instant ball was snapped, and his only running game was Pete Johnson (except in that Superbowl defnsive stand at the '99er 2.. But he did have receivers. Just compare Isaac Curtis's stats with Hall of Famer Lynn Swann's if you really want to see how out of wack the HOf is. Isaac was faster, ran better routes, and had surer hands--outplaying Swanee in ever aspect of the game. He made All-Star each of his first 4 years, just as Collinsworth did the same each of his first 3. Could they have done it with a less accurate quarterback? Did they?

[@stephaniegormley9982]

Ken Anderson deserves to be in the hall on the strength of the 'freezer bowl' alone. If you watch Dan Fouts in that game or Bart Starr and Don Meredith in the 'Ice bowl' those QBs were tough in the ice cold weather, but you can see their body language telling you it's sub zero. But Anderson's body language shows he was IMPERVIOUS to the ice cold temps. He's scrambling and throwing like it was 65 degrees.

[@JohnPhelan-r7f]

Not only that, he took a hit during that game after which he was so woozy he literally could not stand up. He was out of the game for two plays. Nowadays, a head shot like that would end your day, which is honestly a good thing, but you have to be in awe of the toughness.

[@ShawnC.T.]

One of the best pure passers I ever saw play in the NFL. When the late Bill Walsh was getting ready for the 1979 NFL Draft, after becoming the 49ers head coach, he said that Joe Montana had all of the intangibles that he witnessed in Ken Anderson, while implementing/running the "West Coast" offense, as the OC in Cincinnati...

[@altonwilliams7117]

If Kenny “The Snake”🐍Stabler says you rank with the best of them that’s good enough for me. 🏈👍

[@TheMasterQuests]

Stabler is as slick as they come

[@MikeBelmes]

Kenny Anderson was Joe Montana without the team surrounding him.

[@dantheman5745]

Or, after 1975, the genius head coach.

[@caponsacchi]

Absolutely right. Kenny kept the Bengals in contention until the last game of the season for 2 more years, but his numbers no longer supported #1 Rated QB in the NFL. Not for the next 6 years. (The Bengals still did not have a championship defense or a consistent running game--so opponents simply teed off on Anderson and Curtis. They needed Walsh's savvy at the draft as well as at game-time. Walsh would have hung unto Joiner and selected Winslow in the draft.) But did Brown really "underestimate" the genius of Walsh? Or was he keenly aware of the man's voracious ambition--practically on the same level as Paul Brown's? Those 2 Super Bowls in the '80s had to be a bitter pill--though the defeats to the 49ers in the regular season were almost as gagging.

[@dwightlove3704]

@@dantheman5745 Anderson at 6'3 220 was Joe Montana with more size and strength.

[@Yeomannn]

@@dwightlove3704 Yep Anderson was big enough and athletic enough to play in the defensive backfield as a two way player, same with Terry Bradshaw and Bert Jones. Montana did not have that kind of structure. Montana was fragile.

[@dwightlove3704]

@@Yeomannn In high school Montana was 6-0 165 as a senior when he was a rookie in San Francisco in '79 he was 6-2 180 the AD at Notre Dame lied about him being big saying that he was 6-3 200.Walsh did everything but lock him up in a super market to gain weight

[@caponsacchi]

The Snake, Kenny Stabler, puts his finger on the reason I never tired of watching Kenny Anderson thru good times and bad. He was smooth, calm and consistent but also as tough as they come, unafraid to expose his body to risk, whether running the ball for good yardage or tackling an interceptor or eating the ball. Too bad for the poor dude who says in the clip that he "doesn't want to have to think" about a guy in the HOF. No matter. Anderson may not have been flashy, but underneath that modest, soft-spoken exterior was the heart of a tiger (a Bengal tiger). He was not merely an intelligent but a bad-a--. tough and resilient player, a fearless example to his teammates. And to the point of this video, most of the inducted players, incl. quarterbacks, don't measure up to Kenny's accomplishments--his economy, efficiency and resourcefulness as measured by his seasons as #1 in completion % and his #1 rating as. best passer in the NFL (4 times). As for the Superbowl, put it in context. Kenny had finally put the Bengals on top when, after 3 lousy seasons, he led the Bengals to victories in both of their regular season games against the previously indomitable Steelers, then he showed the Chargers and Fouts how to throw a forward spiral in the -69F "Freezer Bowl." Yes, the Bengals came up 5 points short of the 49ers in the Superbowl. But the score would have been much worse were it not for Anderson leading the Bengals on a furious 2nd half rally with passing yardage almost doubling that of Montana. In the end, Anderson was the Bengals last (and only) winning quarterback. He deserves entry not only alongside his protector A. Munoz but also alongside some of the quarterbacks admitted 2 and more decades ago.

[@91lasalle]

If the argument is that he didn't win a Super Bowl, then explain to me Dan Marino, Dan Fouts(didn't even play in one), and Jim Kelly getting in. Ken Anderson held numerous passing records upon his retirement that have since been broken by Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. Yes, I am a Cincinnatian and a Bengal fan, but Ken's numbers and his career are, without question, Hall of Fame worthy. Ask the Hall of Fame Quarterbacks who are still around. They'll tell you he's worthy. Here's what Terry Bradshaw had to say just recently: “I never saw the West Coast offense until Kenny Anderson started running that thing,” Bradshaw said. “He was 20-for-22 against us one day. Yeah, I would put him in. I thought he was a hell of a quarterback. Absolutely. He was really good. Just really good. He threw a great ball. He was accurate. He was polished. He was poised. I saw a lot of Kenny Anderson. I would put him in a heartbeat. I would have no problem with that.”

[@Loukious]

Kelly got in due to the crazy runs the Bills had in the 90's. Yeah we lost 4 SB's but look at our records those years we went. But I agree Anderson is getting the shaft here.

[@tempest20000]

I agree that Anderson does need to be in. Problem is that every time he makes it far into the HOF voting, more worthy people pop up and they make Anderson wait. They just need to make it a point to put him in. Also here’s a fun fact. Ken Anderson was not the first QB to run the West Coast offense. It was actually Virgil Carter. After Greg Cook got taken out in 1969 by the Chiefs, Bill Walsh and Paul Brown had to design a offense around Carter, who didn’t have a powerful arm. That’s were the principals of the West Coast Offense came from. Bill Walsh even said if Cook never got hurt, the West Coast Offense would be FAR different. He said instead of going for the short pass, you’d go for the deep pass first if they had Cook for longer.

[@91lasalle]

I think those who vote for the Hall of Fame sometimes use subjective, rather than objective, criteria. Sure, he wasn't the first to run the West Coast offense, but he was the guy that helped Bill Walsh perfect it, and showed that it could work really well, just as Boomer Easiason did with Sam Wyche and the no huddle offense. Maybe we'll never see Kenny Anderson in the HOF. That would be a shame....

[@caponsacchi]

@@91lasalle I agree. Esp. since, even without Walsh, Kenny came back from the team's 2 dismal seasons in '78 and 79 to be the league's best QB and MVP-- sort of the "gate-keeper" QB for 2 different decades, a unique feat. He deserved a repeat of the MVP award in 1982, ending with a then record completion rate of over 70% and losing only 2. But besides Virgil Carter, the Bengals had Walsh's buddy Sam Wyche as Virgil's back-up QB. Wyche had no more than 1 or 2 good games as a Bengal QB, but unfortunately for Kenny, it was Sam's place that he took upon entering the league in '71. And Sam had become part of the inner circle with Walsh and the 49ers. Walsh had the harshest view of veterans of any coach. He said get rid of them at their peack--while they still have "re-sale value. Then he used Sam Wyche as an example. All of that was at play in the plattooning of Kenny in Sam's first year (1984) and in his benching Kenny after the first 2 games in 1975. In '84 Sam went with Kenny in San Francisco in what turned out as a close game, won in the closing minutes by a drive almost identical to the one Joe would repeat in the Bengals next Superbowl loss to the 49ers.

[@thescatman5029]

The fact that there were all-time beasts at that position (Bradshaw, Staubach, Stabler, Tarkenton, Fouts, Montana) may be the reason he's not in the hall. But it's a shame he's not! Ken Anderson deserves every bit of Canton......!

[@BrotherApexx]

It's easy to be an "all-time beast" when you're on a team full of "all-time beasts." Just imagine what Anderson could have done on those other teams if his era.

[@AndrewWarrenPatriotsfan]

I think if Bill Walsh replaced Paul Brown in the Bengals with Ken Anderson as his QB he would be in the Hall of Fame by now. But to me Ken Anderson should be in on what he did in his NFL career without Bill Walsh.

[@dantheman5745]

So painfully true.

[@jeremythompson9122]

If Paul Brown had promoted Bill Walsh to HC then there would be no 49ers dynasty in the 80's and Joe Montana might be totally forgotten by now rather than being the GOAT

[@BrotherApexx]

@@jeremythompson9122 Exactly right. I hate to say it, but everything bad that happened to the Bengals was Paul Brown's fault. I don't know why he let Walsh go in favor of Tiger Johnson.

[@howardcosell2022]

Anderson had great seasons under Walsh and than two more under Lindy Infante as offensive coordinators

[@natevart4156]

He was a division 3 qb and got the mvp he deserves it

[@salvatoresultana4058]

Ken Anderson should be a hall of famer.

[@scubasteve1742]

I don't even understand how this is an argument. If you ask me; who is not in the hall of fame that belongs there, Ken Anderson is the first name I think of. I don't care if he has no Superbowl championships. He was a TOUGH QB who played the game the RIGHT WAY. The stats are there. He played for some bad teams and single-handed, made them respectable. Anderson took some licks, and just kept running and throwing. He probably played through more concussions than anyone I can think of. And still ran that team. Never complained.GREAT RESPECT for him. If he would have continued to play for Bill Walsh in Cincinnati (hypothetically), or SF, he would have won many Super Bowls IMHO. He would be Joe Montana. He was that good.

[@SingleTax]

1:35 - Narrator: "But it was our No. 10 player, not Joe Montana, who proved the West Coast offense could work in the NFL." Boomer Esiason: "He was the first quarterback that really ran the West Coast offense that Bill Walsh took from Cincinnati and installed out in San Francisco." That's why I've been saying for years that, if there were truth in advertising, the so-called West Coast offense would be called the *Midwest* offense.

[@Stogie2112]

Or the "Bill Walsh Offense".

[@pennyandwoody]

No it would be called the Ohio river offense

[@caponsacchi]

Anderson was the Cincinnati franchise for over a decade, and he was the sharpest quarterback in the game for some of those years--in passing, ball-handling and rushing. But he didn't have the big football school background or the country-boy rough edges of more "colorful" players. He was humble and refused to blame a team-mate for a thing--ever. He even had the graciousness to forgive. He was face-masked late in his career with a vicious head-hunting tackle by a Steeler lineman. But after retiring, he accepted the position of quarterback coach for the Steelers.

[@edwardyoung522]

Ken. HOF. Should've been there already.

[@thezenitsufan1249]

Kenny Anderson played against my team in the Super bowl even though he lost he did put up very impressive numbers I think he'll be in there someday

[@davidfromcolorado5295]

More deserving than Joe Namath.

[@dantheman5745]

A really good water boy is more deserving than Namath.

[@Mistertbones]

Time for Anderson to get into the hall!

[@BrotherApexx]

Ken Anderson, tied with Roger Staubach for four passing rating titles. The only two players ahead of him are Steve Young (5) and Bart Starr (6). Ken Anderson is the only one not in the Hall of Fame. Anderson also led the league in passing yards twice. He was a great quarterback in an era that didn't coddle QB's the way they are now. I hope he goes into the Hall in the near future.

[@c71score]

The offense Chris Collinsworth was talking about was also very innovative. It was a primitive version of a modern spread and Washington copied it shortly after and won 3 Super Bowls with it, although it was copied from Gibbs/Coryell but tweaked to a power running game and a mobile QB. The offense also was heavy on timing routes, similar to what the Cowboys ran with Aikman. For those that haven't got to see many of Anderson's games, his modern comparable is Russell Wilson. Very similar QBs. 21st century offenses wouldn't exist as we know them if Ken Anderson didn't make West Coast and multi-receiver sets work.

[@Jamesmax22]

Can't believe Ken Riley didn't make this list as well

[@12patstombrady]

Put him in!!! Next year is the year with the nfl extending it to 20.

[@davidfuertes1973]

As a football fan I think it's a travesty that Anderson isn't in the hall .just look at the numbers. There a bunch of players with horrible stats in the hall .and it's sad but there going to do to Ken Anderson what they did to Stabler no sooner he dies they'll put him in. What a bunch of Trolls

[@martyzimmerman9418]

I so agree with you Anderson should be there its a travesty that he isn't. and Stabler should have been inducted before his death.

[@pennyandwoody]

The last guy "if you didn't win a Superbowl your argument is weak"... Um yet Dan Marino is in the hall and didn't win a superbowl.

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

I have to say the pretend requirement to win a SB for quarterback is ridiculous. You never see that requirement applied to other players, but offensive linemen should have that requirement and running backs too, if not WRs, if QBs are to be judged this way. Terrell Davis and the Broncos OL were the ones who were the catalysts for the Broncos championships and the defensive play that day is still underrated. The guy who is supposed to put up the career defining performance in the Super Bowl really had up and down moments in Denver's first championship win and he certainly didn't seize the game like the OL and Terrell Davis did. I love John Elway and think he was one of the top five quarterbacks in the game, but XXXII should not define his career, just like not winning a SB does not define pro bowlers Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. The bottom line is it's a team game. You need 22 different players, plus numerous role players and subs to be a champion. In XXXIII he (Elway) really did seize the game. And he is not the reason they lost the first three he played in. The other teams were just better. It's as simple as that. I use Elway as an example because I am more familiar with his career, but consider if Staubach never won VI and XII, you would never convince me that he wasn't deserving of the hall of fame. The way he played in X and XIII to me showed his HoF pedigree much more than the other SBs he played in. See there you made me turn Staubach into a dog. If you're reading this, 12, just remember "THEY" made me say it.

[@johnmccann3964]

I have my own HOF. Kenny, you're in it.

[@edwardyoung522]

His numbers are better than Namath's. But Joe is in. Tarkenton didn't win a Super Bowl, but he is in. Anderson belongs there.

[@patricksullivan7140]

Should be in the Hall of Fame.

[@TheStats85]

I believe he should be in the HOF since he was a pioneer (along with Walsh as the offensive coordinator) of the West Coast Offense

[@penguinrea0088]

God bless

[@Mr1sammyd21]

Anderson will never reach the hall of fame mainly because he played for the Bengals. NFL is no fan of the Bengal franchise.

[@caponsacchi]

Probably a combination. Kenny was "a man of character", a prototypal "team player" for Paul Brown, but he wasn't "a character" or prima donna or celebrity QB like Namath, Bradshaw and others. And it's clear--even from the games preserved on KZbin--that the Bengals were not enough of a major media outlet to be influential. Moreover, Anderson, unlike the alumns of the big universities with the sophisticated football programs and their long traditions, came from a tiny college with no other NFL players and even fewer deep-pocketed alumns. -- Nevertheless, it's important--esp. when he's still alive--than Cincy fans support his enshrinement as long as it takes.

[@mcdonoghrahloh459]

Was injured a lot.But HOFer;YES

[@guygonzalez3893]

Anderson played in a time when there was no qb protection! You would get creamed if you threw it or not! Kenny has better stats than 5 HOF guy's now! Why Ken Anderson and Ken Riley is not in the HOF is strictly in error!!!

[@elinovak3770]

Ken anderson faced joe Montana, ken anderson is a pioneer.

[@Phineas1626]

I’ve watched football since 1978. I’ve seen no quarterback at his best better than Ken Anderson.

[@buicklincoln]

I've noticed that the greats who don't go into national broadcasting and don't win a SuperBowl are neglected in the Hall of Fame voting. Anderson didn't keep his name in the broadcasting or coaching circles in retirement. Not fair, but politics play a part in voting.

[@originnone]

Message to Ray Dittinger: Frank Ryan didn't win 4 passing titles and an MVP in addition to pounding Fouts in his biggest game....dope.

[@originnone]

Ray is a sharp guy but is a bit too Philadelphia centered. I've heard him say that Joe Klecko should be in Canton, so I don't assign too much credibility to his opinion on that topic.

[@originnone]

marginal pro bowler

[@williamhicks7736]

Ken Anderson should be in the HOF… no question about it!

[@michaelsloane9955]

With the Jerry Kramer and Ty Law travesties finally resolved, Ken Anderson is now the biggest snub. Come on 2020.

[@cwahoo1]

Grew up watching Anderson in the 70s. He was a s good or better than most of the qbs in the decade. Sure Griese got 2 rings but I would take Anderson over Griese every time. No disrespect to Griese.

[@goalscorerlajon]

Jim Plunkett: NFL R.O.Y. 1971. First overall pick in 1971. NFL Comeback Player of The Year 1981. Super Bowl XV MVP. 2x Super Bowl champ. 8-2 in the playoffs and yet HE'S NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME. Serious oversight.

[@verde7595]

Plunkett has a 60 passer rating and like 2:3 TD:INT ratio. Ken Anderson has better stats than even Dan Fouts except yards.

[@carlbenson6412]

I feel compelled to add to this comments section...I shared a desk or should I say that I was allowed to use Ken's desk when I was the sports intern for WKRC-12 ABC (now CBS) back in the 1990/91 school year when Ken was doing local sports after he retired. So I'm a little biased as I've always believed that NFL QB's who had won 4 passing titles (every QB that has won at least 4 league passing titles is in the Hall except Ken) & was a league MVP, led his team to a Super Bowl appearance & between 1982 & 2017 owned the NFL single season passing percentage mark until future Hall of Famer Drew Brees broke his record should be in the Hall. Ken was the 1st great QB to be in the 'West Coast' offense when the late Bill Walsh was the QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator for the Bengals from their 1st year of existence in 1968 until the season that Paul Brown retired in 1975. Ken Anderson is simply being screwed by a vindictive sportswriter that started his career in Cincinnati in the late 1970's that got into a fist fight with Kenny at a party in one of his 1st years out of college & that writer vowed to keep Kenny out...that's bullsh--...that writer is supposedly a legendary writer who needs to retire so that Ken can rightfully be inducted in his lifetime...he should have already been in Canton. The politics of how the NFL Hall of Fame chooses & votes for their inductee's besmirches their credibility & everyone knows it.

[@JoFlirt]

Harold Jackson should be in the hall of fame as well

[@tank75nc]

That last guys is ridiculous. Not winning a SuperBowl does not make your case thin or immediately remove you from HOF consideration....case in point - Dan Marino. Football Nation www.footballnation.com/content/injustice-canton-the-case-for-ken-anderson/2416/ does a pretty good job of the statistical comparison. Whether Anderson should be in I can't say but I can see the validity of the argument.

[@everythingfootball62bigtex42]

what killed Anderson was 1977-1980 (20-32) and 1982-1986 (15-22) he didn't finish his career strong after the sb loss to put him in canton . that is 9 yrs of poor team play , poor coaching and not very good quarterbacking either . numbers don't exaggerate , but people do !!

[@Mike-nh9ki]

Not a fan, but he had 4 passing titles. The Bengals also only had 4 losing seasons in his first 12 years. In 82 they were 7-2. In 85 and 86 he was basically shot and Esiason was the starter. He had a few bad years in there, but idk where you're getting all these years of bad play.

[@everythingfootball62bigtex42]

@mike 5150 all you have to do is look at my breakdown. that was the games he started at from 1977-1980 the bengals as a team went 22-40 Anderson was 20-32 as a starter. thats bad !!!! just look up the stats of the team and him. people have feeling , but numbers don't !!!! they went 7-2 in a strike season that's fine but after the 1981 season he was on the decline and it went fast !!!! he needed at least another 2 years of what he did at least that would have put him in canton . he lead the league in completion percentage 3 times and yards 2 times that is why I said his numbers are comparable too any qb of that era the problem was HE DIDNT WIN !! that is the tie breaker . from 1973-1976(he at this time was establishing himself as a pro bowl qb) Anderson as a starter was 37-17 but from 1977-1980 you go 20-32 and that's elite ? those were lost years and he couldn't get that back , the only way was a super bowl victory or elite play at least for another 3-4 years . after 1981 he went down he played in the strike season ok what happened in 83, 84, 85 ? he was done !!! his best run was from 73-76 where he won 10 games 3 times in 4 years he didn't have another 4 year like that again . that is where im getting all the years of bad play at look it up !!!

[@Mike-nh9ki]

Didn't win? With rather so so teams in the 70s they only had 3 losing years with him at the helm. You can't look at just certain seasons. Would've won more if his teams were good. Top qbs from his era usually had a decade or so before they fell off. Then unlike now, qbs didn't play at elite levels usually 13-16 years down the road due to the punishment they took. Today that's negated by qb no touch rules.

[@everythingfootball62bigtex42]

im not just talking losing seasons im talking poor play . just because they went 7-6 in 1977 didn't mean anything , he wasn't good at all !! throwing for 11 tds and 11 picks ? like I said he went (at the helm ) 20-32 there is no running away from that or trying to put a spin on it . if his record was 32-20 in that 4 year stretch we aren't having this convo and he isn't on this list. he would be in canton even if he didn't win a super bowl because he would have had over 120 wins and only 61 losses . in 1976 Anderson established himself as an elite qb in the league he was a pro bowler and then came 1977-1980. you cant be an elite qb and put together 3 consecutive losing seasons and poor play and expect that to be not looked at. the 1981 season was his finest hour and 1982 strike shorten season was good , but after 1983 it was a wrap !!! like I said earlier 15-22 from years 82-86 , hell he didn't even play in 86 so he basically from a record stand point of view had a losing record for another 3 straight years . now show me in their prime where bradshaw , griesie , stabler , staubach had 3 consecutive losing seasons . the tie breaker is winning cause he was just as good as those other qbs of that era ,but he didn't win the big game and if you don't win the big game you have to put up numbers consistently that is why a guy like dan marino are in the hall. as well as one of andersons contemporaries dan fouts who put up staggering numbers for that era but no championship but the numbers and consistent play put him in the hall of fame and he went down swinging !! fouts starting playing good at 28 Anderson had established himself before fouts did but from 1977-1980 fouts went 34-16 and even though in 1981 the bengals beat them in the afc championship game and Anderson had his greatest season fouts from 1982-1986 was still averaging 3,000 yrds and 20 tds while Anderson was done !! had he averaged numbers like that he is in the hall , but he didn't and that's why he isn't in the HOF . people get emotional numbers don't !! I have way more respect from qbs from the 60's , 70's , 80's and 90's than the qbs of today you cant touch these guys and it makes you wonder if guys like brady would play as long as they did if defensive players could unload on them like the guys of the 70's ?

[@Fireyninjadog]

Best qb in bengals history

[@Moose46316]

Anderson absolutely should be in the H of F

[@toma.4808]

Kenny was the only qb in the 70s to lead the nfl in passing back to back seasons,

[@ahhculdee]

Get him in this year

[@changhongyi2318]

Mark, shut up Jim kelly never won a superbowl. and Marino, tarkenton and many others so he Should be in the hof

[@mattanderson8062]

That’s my grandpa

[@davidmckenzie2952]

Really?! He was an awesome Quarterback!

[@Sonicxchubs42]

The only reason he isn't in, is because he played for the Bengals. As a fan its a disgrace that him, max montoya, ken riley, and nearly 10 others should be in. but aren't solely because they played in Cincinnati. We only have one hall of famer, that's bullshit we have had many throughout the years. Willie Anderson is another.

[@devanshouse5027]

They don't seem to realize that Anderson was THE best QB of the 70's! Bradshaw, Staubach and Stabler all won super bowls, but that was due in large part to their defenses... and that they only threw the ball like 10, maybe 15, times a game (because every team back then favored running the ball) Anderson was the first QB to throw 25-35 passes per game, and he was successful at it. He became the bar for today's NFL quarterbacks! His stats also are enough to warrant being enshrined!

[@YoshimizRobots]

Joe Klecko should be in the HOF

[@patrickgray5633]

Kenny should be in as a Bengals fan, I know how great he was. MVP 4x Pro Bowls 4 time passing champ, also guys there who never won a Super Bowl Marino though he should be in. Now real issues guys in the HOF with 0 Conference Championship Dan Fouts who Anderson destroyed in the AFC title game & Warren Moon. Lol what a joke Moon or Fouts shouldn't be in sorry.

[@glizzzerd]

Chris Collinsworth looks like shaggy 😂

[@KennethFord-y7c]

I thought he was already in !

[@melbias5046]

madson and the twins annoy the hell out of me. please enough with those 3.

[@timg2088]

Yes! Thank you!

[@thewordnow]

Man, could KENNY RUN the Ball. In his Career, he Averaged 5.6 yards per carry!

[@stevew6910]

Ken Anderson should be in. He had really just a couple years with a great team, He made the team, He was a big enough threat a Steeler did a run by and broke his neck by grabbing his face mask .... That one play not only ruined Kens career but it also changed the rules of the game

[@robbycatalina226]

Roger Craig deserves to be on this list ahead of most of these folks!

[@derkwayne1833]

I mean. He was an NFL MVP, pro bowler and a 4 time passing champion. People put too much stock in winning Superbowls. Also. The Bengals should have retired his number a long time ago.

[@terrylbateman4030]

I still think Ken Anderson definitely belongs in the hall of fame

[@melbias5046]

randy gradishar should be in the damn hall of fame. and i'ma steeler fan from back in the 70's, so i've seen plenty of football and in person at shea stadium. and the meadowlands, now i cannot afford the new joint.

[@mikeyerian2562]

Dan Fouts wasn't even IN a Super Bowl. And there he is, in the HOF.

[@mcarlkv53]

greenewood, wagner, bleir, mullins, brown, grossman, edwards, thomas, russell all those steelers from the seventies should be there!

[@kingbee1500]

Why not Winston Hill (Jets), Lionel Taylor (Broncos) and Gino Cappelletti (Patriots)...three GREAT ex-American Football League stars whom I think certainly belong in the Pro Football HOF...along with Kenny Anderson from the '70s/'80s Bengals.

[@sunofgod480]

Am I the only one that thinks Ken Anderson has a amazingly small and funny shaped helment that makes his head appear tiny?

[@ashsherod6321]

Quarterbacks that are in the HOF that aren't as good as Ken Anderson: Joe Namath Warren Moon Bob Griese Jim Kelly

[@professorwiesy1351]

3:35 So dan marino shouldnt be in the Hof either? Football is a team sport QBs are arguably the most important position but the still need a good coach and good team And even than they need luck

[@vinauttv7167]

Mark Clayton (Miami Dolphins).

[@williamperry01]

Not to mention when he retired he was the ALL TIME PASSING LEADER, AND AN NFL MVP!

[@ThankGodImBlack370]

Ed Too Tall Jones is missing from Canton and this list. The disrespect... Ken Anderson had a QB twin in New England named Steve Grogan.

[@frood6523]

Ken Anderson isn't there because after they lost the Super Bowl, his O-Line gave up on him and he became injury prone. Also Boomer Esiason kinda backed him up.

[@caponsacchi]

Compare the offensive stats of the 2 QB's in their respective Super Bowls.

[@pauldeveaux6292]

The voting process is questionable. How is it that Jim Plunkett isn't in the Hall? Ken Anderson had a superb completion percentage during his career. Had Paul Brown given Bill Walsh a chance to coach, he might be mentioned with the likes of Joe Montana.

[@cyrillesu]

He's basically Joe Montana but with better athletisicm,a stronger arm,and no strong supporting cast

[@dcb99filmz]

Yeah he had Muñoz and Collinsworth but no one else....

[@dukesilve1629]

Where’s Cliff Branch??

[@boogitybear2283]

Both Ken and Boomer belong in the Hall of Fame.

[@dB_944]

Kenny is smarter than any of the two-bit sports writers voting against him.

[@NightmareTeeVee2]

Joe Namath is a HOF & Ken Anderson isn’t Smfh

[@michaelsloane1555]

THIS!!! Namath has a career TD-INT ratio of -47 and Ken Anderson has a TD-INT ratio of +37. Anderson's completion % is over 9 points better than Namath's at 59.3% vs 50.2%. That Namath is in the Hall of Fame is a disgrace in and of itself and the fact that Ken Anderson is not n the Hall of Fame is a disgrace in and of itself. Combine the 2 and well SMFH about sums it up."

[@jeremythompson9122]

Namath is the most overrated QB in pro football history. He threw 50 more interceptions than touchdowns. And there's some very interesting facts behind Super Bowl 3 that lead me to believe that it was rigged for the Jets to win in order to legitimize the AFL-NFL merger. Makes perfect sense because that 68 Colts team was looked upon as maybe the most dominant team in NFL history up to that point and wouldve blew out the Jets 99 out of 100 times they played

[@RobVollat]

Both deserve to be in the HoF. You know who doesn't? Eli Manning

[@Reck-i5o]

I don't know about Ken Anderson but his. Numbers and how he lifted the Bengals for sake within reach of the superbowl championship makes him a hall of fame. If he doesn't get in next year then the hall is becoming a joke

[@Yeomannn]

Joe Namath was the best downfield passer of his era and won the most important game in football history. In addition to that he was named to the AFL All-time first team. Over Len Dawson (second team), Jack Kemp, Daryle Lamonica, and John Hadl. Namath is a rightful HoFer.

[@drbonesshow1]

Had the Bengals beat the 49ers in 1982 he'd be in the HOF.

[@icewaterslim7260]

As much as I've enjoyed watching Bob Greise, Anderson should've been in his spot '74 Pro Bowl. The place was mostly empty anyway so Greise wasn't sellin tickets and fillin' the stands. It wasn't like Bob wasn't ever picked so new blood was needed. Sports should be a break from politics but . . . Thats all I'd better say about that.

[@devanshouse5027]

Trent Dilfer won a super bowl, does he need to be in the HOF too?

[@Patrick-tt3ig]

You can say Anderson isn't a HoFer all you want, but now that Stabler's in it's just getting ridiculous that Anderson is not.

[@jjb1908]

Ken Anderson should be in the Hall Of Fame. He should take Ken Stabler's spot, because Stabler was not a good QB at all, like the NFL media says he is

[@tbird33mojolane]

2:37 Nobody says Anderson should be in the Hall b/c of this one game. He did have a better passer rating, better completion percentage and lower interception % than Dan Fouts. www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FoutDa00.htm www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeKe00.htm

[@carlossamayoa642]

those two Jewish guys have never been funny to me

[@Crusader1815]

Why is it always Jews getting paid to sit there and spew their opinions?

[@luisbohorquez7096]

Orvey.....🙄. ...

[@timg2088]

Not at all. It seems like they think they are hilarious, but they're the only ones. Seems just silly to me

[@BrotherApexx]

They're annoying af

[@caponsacchi]

Most Bengals fans fault Paul Brown for letting Bill Walsh go at the end of the '75 season, after he had coached Ken Anderson to top QB spot for 3 consecutive seasons. But just imagine if Bengals hadn't allowed the defected Bill Walsh to pry loose receiver Charlie Joiner, who wasn't even at the midpoint of his HOF career, in exchange for Coy Bacon, a lineman who lasted 2 seasons with the Bengals. And then imagin. if they had drafted the big open-field receiver and scorer Kellen Winslow instead of bypassing him in favor of Dan Ross (a most capable pro receiver but half as productive in total-yardage as Winslow).. Were it not for these 2 decisions the Bengals most likely would have had 3 Hall of Fame players before 1981 instead of none. More importantly, they might have won a Super Bowl (and not suffered through 2 dismal seasons in '78 and '79, when the Bengals apparently assumed Isaac Curtis really WAS Superman, capable of doing it all alone).

[@pennyandwoody]

Ok wrong... Ken looked good with the mustache.

[@sammyvh11]

The west coast offense is the John Unitas offense. Don't believe me look at Bmore Colts film from mid 60s to 72. Walsh just tweeked it some and ripped it off.

[@pennyandwoody]

The one guy who says the fact that Ken Anderson beating Dan fouts in the afc championship is a dumb argument then used Frank Ryan beating Johnny Unitas... That's a silly argument as ken anderson had waaaaaaaay better stats than Frank Ryan.

[@oditz]

For once, I agree with Mark Madden.

[@obrapro]

The measuring statement the hall of fame peeps use is this: Can you tell the history of the NFL with this player? Ken Anderson is already forgot and has no championships and he's not a crucial player in the history of the game. Plunkett needs to go in cuz you can't tell the history of the NFL without him. He was the winning / Super Bowl MVP of the first Wildcard Team and the first Latino QB to do both and validated his greatness by winning another. His season and post season numbers are better than Namath.

[@rjmacready8830]

Kelly and Marino never won a ring, nor did Fouts nor Moon. Poor argument. Get Anderson in!

[@maureencora1]

Should Be in the Hall of Fame 2025.