Inside Deion Sanders’ Transformed Hall of Fame "Upper Room": What Secrets Lie Beyond the Iconic Upgrade?

Outside linebacker: Chuck Bednarik, Bobby Bell, Derrick Brooks, Jack Ham, Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas.

Receiver: Marvin Harrison, Don Hutson, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice.Owner: Al Davis, George Halas, Lamar Hunt, Art Rooney Sr.Return specialist: Devin Hester.The answer to the overcrowding of the Hall of Fame isn’t to raise the bar on the fly. It’s to build an upper room.Here’s our list, by position. The actual list, if they ever make one, would be crafted by the Hall of Famers. They alone know the names of the men who deserve a special place among their ranks.

The Hall of Fame has been bursting at the seams for years, and instead of constantly raising the bar just to keep the crowd thinning, maybe it’s time to think bigger—literally. Picture this: an exclusive “upper room” reserved for the absolute crème de la crème, the legendary legends who don’t just belong in the Hall but deserve a whole new stratum of honor. With the 2025 induction class shrinking to just four members—the smallest since 2004—it’s clear that tightening the voting process has its perks yet also its pitfalls, especially when it comes to the fanfare and financial buzz in Canton. Why settle for less when we could shine an even brighter light on the giants of the game? Remember Deion Sanders throwing down this idea back in ’22? Well, the concept has evolved, now featuring Devin Hester as the ultimate upper-room return specialist. It’s a fresh take, an elite tier for those whose greatness transcends the usual gold jacket, a nod not to diminish others but to elevate the unforgettable. Curious to see the full lineup and dive deeper? LEARN MORECenter: Jim Otto, Mike Webster. And while a thicker filter could indeed be the new normal, the impact of limited membership will impact the bottom line for Canton’s annual spotlight weekend. Why not instead create a brighter spotlight for the all-time, no-brainer, absolute best of the absolute best?Punter: Ray Guy.Defensive tackle: Joe Greene, Bob Lilly, Alan Page, John Randle, Randy White.Kicker: Jan Stenerud.Middle linebacker: Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, Willie Lanier, Ray Lewis, Junior Seau.Tackle: Walter Jones, Anthony Muñoz, Jonathan Ogden, Art Shell, Joe Thomas.Cornerback: Mel Blount, Willie Brown, Darrell Green, Dick “Night Train” Lane, Darrelle Revis, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson.Deion Sanders made the argument in 2022. In 2023, we took a crack at crafting a proposed upper room. Here’s the current version, which adds Devin Hester as the upper-room return specialist.Coach: Paul Brown, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll, Don Shula, Bill Walsh.Changes to the voting process, spurred by concerns that too many get in, resulted in a lighter-than-usual class of four new members in 2025.It’s the smallest class since 2004.Safety: Ken Houston, Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed.Tight end: Mike Ditka, Tony Gonzalez, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow.Running back: Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Marion Motley, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith.That’s our rough guess at who would make it. To officially do it, put Deion in charge and add a few other no-brainer selections, like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Barry Sanders, and let them figure it out.Quarterback: Sammy Baugh, John Elway, Brett Favre, Otto Graham, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas.Guard: Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel, Gene Upshaw.It’s not a slight to those who merit enshrinement. It’s a way to acknowledge those who have earned something more than the gold jacket and the bronze bust.Defensive end: Deacon Jones, Gino Marchetti, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Jack Youngblood.The standard is simple. You know them when you see them.