Troy Polamalu viewed as a “lock” to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Alan Faneca is not

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a long lineage of players who dominated in the black-and-gold and then went on to be enshrined in Canton, OH in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So many players from those legendary 1970s teams have been enshrined, it started the “Steelers bias” which still lingers to this day.

Many voters just see too many Steelers in the Hall of Fame, and would rather see players from other teams get in than another Steelers player. Well, in 2020 it looks as if at least one player will be enshrined, but will two?

According to Adam Rank of NFL.com, Troy Polamalu is a slam dunk candidate to be enshrined in the Hall, but Alan Faneca? Not so much.

Check out what he had to say about his own person Hall of Fame Ballot:

If I’m being honest, the only player I look at and see as an automatic lock is Troy Polamalu. Actually, when I looked at the first-time eligible players for 2020, the only two players who stood out as automatic for me were Polamalu and Patrick Willis. But the latter didn’t even make the list of finalists, which is something I’m going to need to hear more about because that doesn’t make sense at all. But Polamalu is going to make it in, no question. He was the face of the Steelers defense during his time in Pittsburgh when the team won two Super Bowls and appeared in another. He reached the Pro Bowl eight times and was a four-time first-team All-Pro. He’s in.

Everyone knew Polamalu would be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame the moment he was eligible for enshrinement, but Fanaca, who has been a finalist the past 5 years, falls into the “toughest calls” category for Rank.

See what he has to say:

Then there is Alan Faneca. Again, another player who was really good for a long time. And if Polamalu is in for sure, the voters love to do that thing where they double up teammates, so they can put the Steelers in the Hall of Fame game.

If the only reason Rank can find for Faneca to get into the Hall of Fame is the fact the Steelers could get two players in and be placed in the Hall of Fame game is absurd. Faneca had a tremendous career with not only a Super Bowl ring, but with All-Pro designations to boot.

Would I be stunned if Faneca doesn’t get into the Hall of Fame? Sadly, I wouldn’t. But to suggest the only way Faneca gets in is on the coattails of Polamalu is borderline disrespectful.

What about you? Do you see Faneca getting into the Hall of Fame in 2020? Or will he be forced to wait longer? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they embark on another long offseason.