Does Zach Thomas' Hall Wait End Tonight?

Zach Thomas could become the 10th Miami Dolphins player to get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Is this the day for Zach Thomas?

The former Miami Dolphins great has been knocking on the door of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the hope is it finally opens when the Class of 2023 is announced during the NFL Honors show (televised by NFL Network, NBC and Peacock) on Thursday night.

Thomas is one of the 15 modern-era finalists, the fourth consecutive year as a finalist for Thomas, who played 12 seasons with the Dolphins after arriving as a fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech in 1996.

The other finalists are DE Jared Allen, OT Willie Anderson, DB Ronde Barber, DE Dwight Freeney, PR/KR Devin Hester, WR Torry Holt, WR Andre Johnson, CB Albert Lewis, CB Darrelle Revis, OT Joe Thomas, LB/DE DeMarcus Ware, WR Reggie Wayne, LB Patrick Willis and DB Darren Woodson.

Freeney, Revis and Joe Thomas all are in their first year of eligibility.

The Selection Committee could elect up to five modern-era players for the Class of 2023; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent for election. Four others — Seniors category Finalists Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley, along with Coach/Contributor Finalist Don Coryell — also are candidates for the Class of 2023. Voting on each of those four was held individually, in conjunction with the meeting to decide which Modern-Era Players were elected.

Revis and Joe Thomas seem like very strong candidates to get inducted in their first year of eligibility, but Zach Thomas would seem to have as good a shot as any of the other modern-era finalists — and the feeling here is that this is the year it happens for him.

A best guess Thursday morning would be Revis, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, Ware and Andre Johnson.

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ZACH THOMAS' HALL OF FAME CREDENTIALS

Thomas was inducted in 2012 into the Dolphin Honor Roll along with Jason Taylor, the other half of the Dolphins' dynamic defensive duo of the 2000s. 

It says here that Thomas was every bit as important to the success of the dominant Dolphins defense of the late 1990s and early 2000s as Taylor. It also says here that Thomas is every bit as deserving as Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, a fellow middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears, with both players having very similar stats during their career.

Taylor and Urlacher both were first-ballot Hall of Famers, while Thomas has been waiting his turn and maybe the only reason is that Thomas just didn't look the part of a Hall of Famer because he wasn't super athletic the way Taylor and Urlacher were.

But he was just as effective and just as productive, and he damn well belongs in the Hall of Fame alongside Taylor and Urlacher.

In his 168 games with the Dolphins — all of them starts — Thomas averaged a remarkable 9.7 tackles, according to pro-football-reference.com. That’s an average of 155 for every 16 games.

In all of the 10 seasons when he played at least 12 games, Thomas finished with at least 128 total tackles. He topped 150 tackles six times, leading the NFL in that category twice (in 2002 with 156 and in 2006 with 165).

But it wasn’t just the tackles.

Thomas also made big plays for the Dolphins defense.

He ended up with 17 interceptions in his career, including three in 1996, 1998 and 2003. He forced 16 fumbles and recovered eight, and also had 20.5 sacks.

His stat sheet filled up nicely, but that doesn’t factor in the intangibles he brought to the Dolphins defense. He was the centerpiece of the Dolphins defenses Head Coach Jimmy Johnson built after arriving in 1996.

Thomas’ impact was immediate, evidenced by him earning a starting job as a rookie and leading to the release of established veteran Jack Del Rio, who would go on to become an NFL head coach.

With Thomas leading the way — with major contributions from Taylor obviously — the Dolphins defense finished in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed an impressive seven consecutive seasons (1998-2004). Five times during Thomas’ career, the Dolphins were in the top five.

Thomas’ brilliance was recognized, as he earned eight Pro Bowl invitations and was named an All-Pro five times.

Longtime Jets center Kevin Mawae went up against Thomas many times during his career, which ended with his induction into the Hall of Fame last year. And during his induction speech, while mentioning all the teammates, coaches and other influential people he encountered, to talk about Thomas.

It was one Hall of Famer saying one of his rivals belonged in the Hall of Fame with him.

“Zach Thomas was my nemesis,” Mawae said about three-quarters into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. “My first year with the Jets before my first game we played against each other, (Coach) Bill Parcells told me in front of my entire team, ‘If you don’t block Thomas, we won’t win the game,’ and for the next 16 matchups I never forgot that.

"Zach was one of, if not the smartest player I ever faced. He loved the game, had fun when he played and brought the best out of me. When people ask me who’s not in the Hall of Fame and that I think should be here, it’s an easy one for me: number 54 from the Miami Dolphins.”

THE DOLPHINS IN THE HALL

The Dolphins currently have 10 Hall of Famers, including longtime Cleveland Browns wide receiver Paul Warfield but not including short-time Dolphins contributors like Thurman Thomas or Cris Carter or even Coach Jimmy Johnson.

The other Dolphins Hall of Famers are Coach Don Shula, Marino, QB Bob Griese, RB Larry Csonka, G Larry Little, C Jim Langer, C Dwight Stephenson, DE Jason Taylor and LB Nick Buoniconti.

Tackle Richmond Webb, whose career ended with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002, also might have a legitimate case. He made the Pro Bowl each of his first seven season and his Hall of Fame monitor score is higher than four HOF tackles — Dan Dierdorf, Jimbo Covert, Jackie Slater and Winston Hill.

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