I knew the announcement was coming. It always comes right before the final week of the regular season, but I was still surprised when I found the tweet show up on my Twitter/X timeline. As I looked at the image, I did a quick scan for the classic black-and-gold uniforms. It was early, so maybe my eyes just missed it.

I kept looking, and nothing.

No James Harrison, but what annoyed me more was no Hines Ward.

In case you haven’t see it, let me give you the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists:

🚨NEWS🚨

The Modern-Era Player Finalists have been selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, presented by @visualedgeit. #PFHOF25

Full story: https://t.co/vVCKLL6I6a pic.twitter.com/sbV8kmyrVA

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) December 28, 2024

Yes, Steelers fans, they did it again. For almost a decade the committee has shunned No. 86 from even being a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I’m not even talking about his getting a gold jacket, the man hasn’t even reached the stage where he is considered a finalist. This is a travesty which I find myself bemoaning every year it happens. It has almost become a yearly tradition with me, and I really wish it would stop.

If I’m being completely honest, it feels as if the Steelers vendetta has now extended to Hines Ward. Too many Steelers in the hall or not, there should be a place for a man with the statistics and accolades to be at least a finalist for a gold jacket.

Before I dive into the numbers, let’s also remember the lengths at which his teammates have tried to help get him the necessary attention. Ward recently got the Donnie Shell treatment. When Tony Dungy was inducted into the Hall of Fame he had Shell introduce him in Canton, OH at the ceremony. It wasn’t long after that when Shell was getting the call to be inducted himself.

When Alan Faneca was inducted into the hall in 2021, he had Ward introduce him. He spoke highly of his former teammate, in hopes of him seeing the same recognition in following years. That hasn’t happened, but the following modern era wide receivers have been inducted since that took place in 2021:

• Devin Hester
• Andre Johnson
• Calvin Johnson

Of the finalists for the class of 2025 are:

• Torry Holt
• Steve Smith Sr.
• Reggie Wayne

I’m not trying to degrade anyone who has reached finalist status, or has been inducted before Ward, but most people have two criteria for which they feel are hall-worthy. Those two criteria would be: Individual awards/accolades, Individual statistics.

What if Ward has both, and more than some who are finalists this year, and some who are already inducted into the Hall of Fame? Mark Kaboly recently posted an image proving my point on Twitter/X showing Ward’s stats/accolades compared to the likes of Steve Smith Sr., a finalist this year, and Andre Reed, who was inducted in 2014. Check it out:

Hate to compare players because it makes it sound like somebody is unworthy. That’s not the case. Steve Smith is a HOF in my eyes. Andre Reed has been in for 10 years. This is more about the person who has been left of the finalist list for the 9th straight year — Hines Ward. pic.twitter.com/ntW5Qo3Aq3

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) December 28, 2024

Again, the case against Ward doesn’t add up to me. Let’s see some of the narratives surrounding why Ward should be left out:

“He was a dirty player!”

If by dirty you mean he played wide receiver with a physicality unparalleled at his position, then, yes, he may have been dirty to some. The way he played the game is now deemed against the rules.

“He wasn’t a flashy receiver!”

Do you have to have a style to get into the Hall of Fame? I thought you needed the stats and accolades? You know, like 1,000 receptions? How about 2 Super Bowl rings and 1 Super Bowl MVP?

“He was just on a great team.”

Clearly whoever says this doesn’t follow the Steeles. Ward was on some great teams at the end of his career, ones which were perennial favorites in the AFC, but early in his career he was a special teams player who was just trying to learn the receiver position after playing quarterback and running back at Georgia.

“There’s too many Steelers in the Hall of Fame.”

What is this a popularity contest?! I thought the purpose of any Hall of Fame was to pay homage to those who are deserving, regardless of what team they played for during their playing days. Did the NHL not put all those Edmonton Oilers in their Hall of Fame because there were too many? Did those legendary New York Yankees teams get snubbed because too many were in prior to them? That is a ridiculous excuse, except I believe it’s why players like Ward are still on the outside looking in.

I make this case every year, and it falls on deaf ears outside of those who follow the Steelers. But let me help you out in this endeavor if you are new to this debate. If you want to know what kind of player Hines Ward was, go back and check out some of his highlights. Everyone has seen his physicality, like the hit on Keith Rivers which broke his jaw, but go look at some of the amazing catches he had in his career. Then, maybe, you’ll know why this is an annual disgrace.

For young Steelers fans who didn’t see Ward play, go back and watch as much as you can. He was one-of-a-kind, and worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.