Nov. 28, London Fletcher made the first cut for what could be a permanent spot in Canton.
The Villa Angela-St. Joseph and John Carroll product was named one of 25 modern-era player semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. The list was trimmed to 25 from 173 nominees.
In 2018, Fletcher was nominated for the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame class but he did not make the list of 25.
He told The News-Herald not making that list was “disappointing,” adding, “I felt like I was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
While the disappointment of not making the Hall five years ago was there for Fletcher, he vowed at the time to remain patient.
“It’s going to happen,” Fletcher told The News-Herald. “I can’t wait for it to happen because I deserve it. I was a Hall of Famer. I left it on the field, so I’m looking forward to that day.”
He’s hoping for good news when the 2024 class is announced in February.
While at JCU, Fletcher was a Division III All-America linebacker but the 1998 graduate of the school went undrafted. He bucked the odds and made the St. Louis Rams’ roster as a street free agent.
One season later, Fletcher was a Super Bowl champion and starting linebacker for the Rams. Not only did Fletcher stick with the Rams, he became one of the NFL’s best defensive players of his era and top ironman.
Fletcher started 215 consecutive games, the most by a linebacker in NFL history. He played in 256 games during 16 seasons with the Rams, Buffalo and Washington.
One of Fletcher’s contemporaries — Ravens Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis — was the standard during both player’s era. Fletcher’s career stats are right there with Lewis.
Fletcher’s 2,038 career tackles are second all-time in NFL history to Lewis. His 1,384 career solo tackles are also second all-time to Lewis. Fletcher also had 39 carer sacks, 23 interceptions, 19 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.
Next, the 25 semifinalists will be trimmed to 15 players. The 2024 class will be announced ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in February, and will be enshrined in Canton in August.
Other notables on the Nov. 28 list include running back Eddie George, tight end Antonio Gates, wide receiver Hines Ward and others.
If named a Hall of Famer, Fletcher would be the second individual from John Carroll to be enshrined in Canton, joining the late former Dolphins coach Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history and a Harvey graduate.
