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By the Numbers: Best #25 in NFL History
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Photo credit: Wikipedia user Tim Monaghan
When we wrote our first By the Numbers post a year ago, it was intended to become a regular feature until we hit all 100 numbers (0-99…sorry, we’re not differentiating between 0 and 00). One thing I wanted to hold true to, though, was a random selection of the numbers. I don’t even totally know why—I just did.
Unfortunately, unlike our first selection, which had several players all viable choices as the best #81 of all time, research into our second number consistently came back with one player—the best #25 in NFL history appears to clearly have been Fred Biletnikhoff.
With 589 career receptions, 8,974 receiving yards, 76 touchdowns, a Super Bowl MVP (XI), six Pro Bowls (two of them AFL only), two first-team All-Pro selections, and Hall of Fame induction in 1988, he seems a cut clear choice.
Given the anti-climactic nature of the selection, we sat on it…for a year.
Other names that came up on the list:
Not opposed but not really sure it improves outcomes
Paul what do you think about this have more transparency
Here’s the article https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/columns/gene-frenette/2025/02/19/pro-football-hall-of-fame-changes-harder-entry-fred-taylor-tom-coughlin-gene-frenette/78972356007/
correction: Eugene Frenette is NOT a voter, but insights and quotes from his story were from several voters he contacted
in the coming weeks and months we will no doubt here more about discussions between voters and the Hall, including…