Walter Jones, a nine-time Pro Bowl tackle for the Seahawks, and Don Coryell, a Seattle native who won more than 100 games at the collegiate and professional levels, are among 25 semifinalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee chose the semifinalists from a previously announced list of 125 nominees.
The list of 25 will be reduced to 15 finalists Jan. 8 and the 2014 Hall of Fame Class announced Feb. 1, the day before the Super Bowl.
Jones, eligible for the first time, starred for the Seahawks from 1997-08, playing in 180 games. In addition to his nine Pro Bowl selections, he made first-team All-Pro six times. Jones was Seattle’s first-round pick in the 1997 NFL draft, selected sixth overall.
Coryell, a Lincoln (Seattle) High graduate and a former University of Washington letterman, served as head coach at San Diego State before embarking on an NFL career. He coached the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973-77 and the San Diego Chargers from 1978-86. Under his direction, the Chargers led the NFL in passing seven out of eight seasons.
Seven other individuals with connections to the state of Washington did not receive sufficient support to make the semifinal round. They were, alphabetically, Shaun Alexander, former Seahawks running back; Drew Bledsoe, former Washington State quarterback and the No. 1 overall pick in the 1993 draft; Tom Flores, former president and head coach of the Seahawks; Mike Holmgren, former head coach of the Seahawks; Chuck Knox, former head coach of the Seahawks; Eric Metcalf, a Seattle native who played in the NFL from 1909-02; and Ricky Watters, former Seahawks running back.
Hall of Famers With Washington Connections
Ten individuals with ties to the state have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mel Hein, who starred at Washington State, was a member of the inaugural Canton class in 1963.
| Year | Inductee | Position | School | Skinny |
| 1963 | Mel Hein | C | WSU | Selected the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1938 — as a center |
| 1969 | Glen Edwards | OT | WSU | Selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1930s |
| 1970 | Hugh McElhenny | RB | UW | The six-time Pro Bowl star also enshrined in College Hall of Fame |
| 1974 | Tony Canadeo | QB/RB | Gonzaga | “Gray Ghost” made the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1940s |
| 1976 | Ray Flaherty | Coach | Gonzaga | Posted an 80-37-5 record as an NFL head coach |
| 1981 | Red Badgro | DE/WR | USC | Orillia native elected to the Hall at 78 (oldest-ever inductee) |
| 1984 | Arnie Weinmeister | DL | UW | Played for New York Yankees (1948-49), New York Giants (1950-53) |
| 1995 | Steve Largent | WR | Tulsa | Seahawks’ first superstar inducted in first year of eligibility |
| 2006 | Warren Moon | QB | UW | Made 9 Pro Bowls during tenures with Oilers, Vikings and Seahawks |
| 2012 | Cortez Kennedy | DT | Miami | Eight-time Pro Bowl choice with Seahawks; All-Decade Team, ’90s |
2 Comments
He may a bit peripheral compared to others listed here, but you could probably get away with adding the recently-deceased Mike McCormack as a HOFer with Washington ties based on his seven seasons as a front office guy and interim coach of the Seahawks. He’s not like Franco Harris or Carl Eller, who spent just one year in Seattle and as such don’t belong on this list.
You might also include John Elway, since he was born in Port Angeles and lived in Washington until he was in his teens (his father was a WSU grad).