What does it take to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame these days?
No one really knows. It took New York Giants nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker Harry Carson 18 years to get his gold jacket and Joe Klecko of the New York Jets — one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive linemen of the 1970s and 80s — 35 long years before he got the call to Canton.
So where does that leave a player such as running back Ottis “O.J.” Anderson?
We made a case for induction into the Hall on behalf of Anderson last year here on Giants Wire, but it didn’t seem to move the needle very much with voters.
Anderson, who retired in 1992, is obviously frustrated, enough to publicly voice his disappointment regarding the omission. He recently spoke to FOX5NY about his ordeal.
For those unfamiliar with O.J.’s career, here is a snippet from the article we posted last April:
Anderson essentially had two careers — one with the St. Louis Cardinals and another with the Giants. Cumulatively, they add up to a Hall of Fame career.
Selected eighth overall by the Cardinals out of Miami in the 1979 NFL draft, Anderson earned Offensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro honors later that season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl the next year as well.
In seven-plus seasons in St. Louis, Anderson rushed for 7,999 yards on 1,858 attempts — both still Cardinals’ franchise records — for a 4.3 average. In 1986, he lost his starting gig to Stump Mitchell and was traded to the Giants in October for 1987 second- and seventh-round selections.
Anderson played six-plus seasons for the Giants, won two Super Bowls, was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1989, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXV.
Ottis is one of only four running backs in NFL history to score rushing touchdowns in two Super Bowls and win a Super Bowl MVP (Hall of Famers Franco Harris, John Riggins, and Emmitt Smith are the others).
Anderson’s 10,273 rushing yards are 30th all-time and his 13,335 yards from scrimmage are 44th in NFL history. He is 19th all-time in rushing touchdowns with 81. When he retired in 1992 Anderson ranked seventh in rushing touchdowns and eighth in rushing yards.
Anderson was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor in 2022 but has yet to be recognized by the Cardinals’ organization.
It’s time for the voters to recognize that Anderson has earned the right to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
