Ex-49ers receiver Terrell Owens elected to Hall of Fame.
Third time’s the charm for Terrell Owens. The former 49ers wide receiver was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday after he was passed over in his first two years of eligibility. Owens possesses first-ballot credentials, but it’s believed he was forced to wait because of his divisive locker room personality.
The wait will continue for 49ers general manager John Lynch, a finalist for the fifth straight year who was not among the five modern-era selections. Lynch, a nine-time Pro Bowl safety with the Buccaneers and Broncos, was the only one among the final 15 candidates who had been a finalist on more three occasions.
“Congrats to a great and deserving class,” Lynch said, via Twitter. “Disappointed but
humbled to be a finalist. Thanks to everyone for the support.”
The four other modern-era selections were linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, wide receiver Randy Moss and safety Brian Dawkins. Lewis, Urlacher and Moss were all first-ballot Hall of Famers. Moss finished his 15-year career with the 49ers in 2012, and his final game was their Super Bowl loss to the Ravens, which took place five years ago Saturday.
Two veterans candidates, linebacker Robert Brazile and guard Jerry Kramer, were voted to the Hall, as was general manager Bobby Beathard, the finalist in the contributor category. Beathard is the grandfather of 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard.
Owens, who spent the first eight seasons of his 15-year career with the 49ers, might have stronger Hall of Fame credentials than Moss. Owens ranks second in NFL history in receiving yards (Moss is fourth), eighth in receptions (Moss is 15th) and third in receiving touchdowns (Moss is second).
However, some voters previously pointed to the fact that Owens was often deemed too much trouble during his career. He left the 49ers and the Cowboys after 1,000-yard seasons, and exited the Eagles a year after playing in Super Bowl XXXIX, a loss to the Patriots in which he had nine catches for 122 yards despite playing with a broken leg.
Last week, Owens told TMZ that he wouldn’t enter the Hall as a member of the 49ers, although Hall of Famers are not identified with a specific team in Canton. Owens, who was in Los Angeles on Saturday, was the only one of the five modernera inductees who wasn’t in Minneapolis, the site of Super Bowl LII on Sunday.
“Terrell Owens gave our organization eight great seasons of service and some terrific memories that will live on in 49ers lore,” CEO Jed York said in a statement. “He is one of the most accomplished wide receivers in the history of the NFL, and very deserving of this selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 49ers organization would like to congratulate him for this great honor.”
Owens announced he had been voted into the Hall on Instagram, congratulating the class of 2018 and declaring “We’re golden!”
Lynch reportedly didn’t make the cut from 15 to 10 finalists after doing so last year.
Like Lynch, Dawkins, who became the ninth pure safety voted to the Hall, was a ninetime Pro Bowl selection during his 16-year career. He was named a first-team All-Pro in four seasons (Lynch had two) and had more interceptions (37 to 26), forced fumbles (36 to 16) and sacks (26 to 13) than Lynch.
Lynch may have trouble breaking through in his seventh year of eligibility in 2019. Players who will become eligible for induction next year include tight end Tony Gonzalez, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Champ Bailey, all of whom could be first-ballot selections.
The other finalists who didn’t reach the Hall of Fame on Saturday were offensive tackle Tony Boselli; wide receiver Isaac Bruce; guard Alan Faneca; offensive tackle Joe Jacoby; running back Edgerrin James; guard Steve Hutchinson; cornerback Ty Law; center Kevin Mawae and cornerback Everson Walls.