Reed, Gonzalez head the Class of 2019
Bailey, Law, Mawae and Robinson also among honorees
ATLANTA — Ed Reed, who had a short stint with the Texans and is regarded as the best free safety in NFL history because of his outstanding career with the Baltimore Ravens, was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Reed, who played only seven games with the Texans before being released with seven games remaining in the 2013 season, was joined by two other first-time nominees — tight end Tony Gonzalez and cornerback Champ Bailey.
Also voted into the Class of 2019 by the 48-member selection committee were cornerback Ty Law, center Kevin Mawae, free safety Johnny Robinson, owner Pat Bowlen and personnel director Gil Brandt.
Brandt, 85, spent 30 years as the Dallas Cowboys’ personnel director before owner Jerry Jones fired him after the 1989 season, and Bowlen, the Denver owner, were nominated by the contributors’ committee. Robinson, who played for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, was the seniors’ nominee.
The selection committee spent 7½ hours whittling 15 modern-era finalists to the five who were elected. They have to receive 80 percent of the votes to win election, which means 10 negative votes can keep out a candidate.
On the cut from 15 to 10, coaches Tom Flores and Don Coryell, wide receiver Isaac Bruce, safety John Lynch and defensive tackle Richard Seymour were eliminated.
In the reduction from 10 to five, guards Alan Faneca and Steve Hutchinson, offensive tackle Tony Boselli, safety Steve Atwater and running back Edgerrin James were eliminated.
Of the 15 modern-era finalists, Flores was the only one who made the list for the first time. He won two Super Bowls as the Raiders’ head coach.
Reed and Gonzalez were considered locks going into the meeting that began at 7 a.m. Saturday.
Reed was a lock because he helped Baltimore win two Super Bowls and earned nine Pro Bowls while intercepting 64 passes, including seven returned for touchdowns. In 2013, the Ravens didn’t re-sign Reed. He left Baltimore for the Texans, signing a three-year contract worth $15 million, including $5 million guaranteed. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his hip. By the time Reed was healthy, he clashed with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and was unceremoniously dumped in November when the Texans were in the process of losing their last 14 games and getting coach Gary Kubiak fired.
If Boselli had been elected, technically, he would have been a second player from the Texans’ organization to make it. Boselli was claimed in the 2002 expansion draft but never played because of a shoulder injury.
Gonzalez was the most prolific receiver in history at his position. Playing 12 seasons with Kansas City and five with Atlanta, Gonzalez was voted to 14 Pro Bowls and was All-Pro first team seven times. Like Reed, he was a member of the AllDecade Team of the 2000s.