Thomas, Revis, Freeney headline 1st time Hall candidates

Joe Thomas, a six-time All-Pro offensive lineman, Darrelle Revis, a dominant cornerback, and Dwight Freeney, a quick pass rusher, top the list of nine first-year eligible players chosen from among the 129 nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2023 class.

Running back Chris Johnson, offensive lineman Jahri Evans, linebackers NaVorro Bowman and James Harrison, linebacker Kam Chancellor, and punter Shane Lechler are the other first-year eligible players.

The nine freshmen collectively earned 52 Pro Bowl appearances, 30 first-team All-Pro selections, five Super Bowl victories, and five spots on an all-decade team. Harrison was chosen as the finest defensive player in 2008, while Johnson also received an Offensive Player of the Year award in 2009.

Over the course of a strong 11-year career, Thomas was one of the best tackles in the league, earning first team All-Pro honors six times and second team honors twice. He spent his entire career playing for the Browns, during which he had a streak of 10,363 consecutive plays.

Revis, who was drafted in 2007 as well, switched teams considerably more, playing for the Jets, Tampa Bay, New England, and Kansas City.

His best performance came in New York, where he was a first-team All-Pro from 2009 to 2011 and finished second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. There, he frequently shut down elite receivers by sending them to “Revis Island,” where they were rendered ineffective.