The National Football Foundation sponsors the College Football Hall of Fame and membership is exclusive—and that’s an understatement!
Former Golden Gophers highly decorated center Greg Eslinger is now on the ballot for a second consecutive year and his many supporters are hoping he will be chosen for induction in December of 2025 and be immortalized forever in the Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The NFF announced the ballot of nominees recently and the class of 2025 will be announced early next year. Eslinger, who played for Minnesota from 2002-2005, is one of 77 former FBS players on the ballot.
His credentials are eye-popping: The North Dakota native blocked with precision for some of the best rushing teams in Gopher history and he was a two-time All-American in 2004 and 2005. He won the Outland Trophy given to college football’s best interior lineman and the Dave Rimington Trophy recognizing the game’s best center. He was the 2005 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (only Gopher ever honored) and was awarded with the 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor (the conference’s oldest and most prestigious award).
The ballot for 2025 has been mailed to NFF members and current members of the Hall of Fame. Voting must be submitted by July 1 and results will be given to the NFF’s Honors Court, the committee that makes the final decision on who is inducted.
There are 21 Hall of Famers with Gopher ties, with the last inductee Bob Stein in 2021. The 1967 and 1968 All-American defensive told Sports Headliners he “absolutely” believes Eslinger will get in the Hall of Fame, but the selection process makes it all but impossible to predict when.
Stein offered this perspective about the committee that he said annually has so many “worthwhile candidates” to consider: “…They end up balancing, trying to balance, by (playing) positions, by geography, by school—and sometimes it just takes a while. I really believe he’ll (Eslinger) get in because he deserves to get in. …
“You kind of have to wait in line—and they only take 12 to 15 a year and statistically it’s the hardest Hall of Fame to get in. There have been over five million college football players. There are 1,200 of them in the Hall of Fame. It boils down to two-tenths of one percent of the people who have played college football are in the Hall of Fame.”
The NFF Minnesota Chapter was a strong advocate for Stein and now Eslinger. Candidates for Hall of Fame induction can only be nominated by their school or the NFF.
Stein said Eslinger’s candidacy could be advanced if the University of Minnesota “got behind it and advocated.” He learned through his own process that the nation’s powerhouse football programs are aggressive in pushing their great players for the Hall of Fame.
“For some reason, the University hasn’t gotten active in promoting their own best players which does nothing but help them,” Stein said.
Stein had been on the Hall of Fame ballot for years before he finally was inducted and enshrined. After being a finalist and not getting in, he forgot about his candidacy, but the Minnesota chapter and close friend Mark Sheffert pushed hard for him. “I am still kind of stunned by it, frankly,” Stein said.
The St. Louis Park High School alum was an Academic All-American. He played for the 1970 Super Bowl champion Chiefs and after his pro career became a player agent and later was the first president of the NBA Timberwolves. He is still a practicing attorney.
Asked about his career achievements, including the Hall of Fame, Stein said: “I’d say that’s the one I am still pinching myself over. It just takes so much good fortune to be inducted. I would say of all the recognition I’ve ever got, that’s the one I am most humbled by and appreciated… .”
Greg Eslinger, no doubt, will learn the wait for the Hall of Fame is more than worth the wait.
Worth Noting
For the first time since 1989 when the NBA went to a two-round draft, the selections will be made over two days. The first round on Wednesday from the Barclay’s Center in New York starts at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time and will be televised by ABC and ESPN. The second round Thursday from ESPN’s studios in New York begins at 3 p.m. Minneapolis time.
Baylor Scheierman, the gifted All-American shooter from small-town Nebraska who played at both Creighton and South Dakota State, could fill a long-range shooting need and become a fan favorite if the Timberwolves take him with their No. 27 selection Wednesday night. Since 1992-1993 the versatile wing is the only college player to have 300-plus rebounds and 110-plus three-pointers in a season.
Athlon Sports College Football magazine ranks Gopher safety Koi Perich from Esko the No. 5 incoming high school recruit in the Big Ten this season. Ohio State has four players on the top 10 list.
The Twins, 42-35, finish their three-game series against the Athletics in Oakland today and have a 19-19 road record in 2024. Minnesota is 2-6 in its last eight games away from Target Field. The Twins are 11-10 in their last 21 games.
University of Minnesota alum Brian Dutcher who was under consideration for the U men’s basketball before Ben Johnson was hired in 2021 has a new contract at San Diego State with provisions that include a $10.2 million buyout intended to deter Power 4 Conference programs from poaching him.
The Vikings open training camp for rookies July 21 at TCO Performance Center, with veterans starting July 23. Here are the dates for their NFC North Division rivals: Bears July 16 and 19; Lions, July 20 and 23; Packers, July 17 and 24. The AFC North Division Ravens have the earliest report date for rookies in the NFL, July 13.
Are the Vikings interested in signing Hakeem Butler, the UFL Offensive Player of the Year who led the league in receiving yards (652), receptions (45) and average yards, 14.5?
Vikings chief operating officer Andrew Miller is the latest guest on “Behind the Game” with co-hosts Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden. Now in his sixth season with the franchise, Miller discusses how the rise of gambling is impacting the NFL and why the Vikings are so respected throughout sports. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ZULiVCqt8&t=20s