Jahri Evans Misses Out on Hall of Fame Nod Again, But His Legacy Remains Unshaken
Just weeks into his new role as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ assistant offensive line coach, Jahri Evans finds himself facing a familiar kind of disappointment-one that’s become an annual rite of winter for some of the NFL’s most deserving yet overlooked legends. For the third straight year, Evans was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And for the third straight year, he’ll have to wait.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was announced Thursday night, and despite Evans’ impressive résumé, his name wasn’t called. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who started all 179 games he played in during a 12-year career, most of them as a foundational piece of the New Orleans Saints’ offensive line.
Evans wasn’t just durable-he was dominant. Lining up at guard, he was the unsung engine of an offense that consistently ranked among the league’s best during the prime Drew Brees years. While Brees got the headlines and the highlight reels, Evans and the rest of the interior line quietly did the dirty work, keeping the pocket clean and the offense humming.
Saints executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis, the man who helped bring Evans to New Orleans, made a strong case for his former player earlier this week.
“The interior of the line I think oftentimes gets overlooked in our league - the importance of center and guards,” Loomis said. “Certainly, with Drew, keeping that spot - three yards behind the line of scrimmage - it was important to protect that.
And Jahri and the guys that he played with over the years did a great job during that time frame. Jahri was a huge element of that.
I think he should definitely be in the Hall of Fame.”
Loomis isn’t wrong. Guards rarely get the love they deserve when it comes to Hall of Fame recognition.
It’s a position built on grit, leverage, and technique-not exactly the stuff that makes for flashy highlight reels. But those who understand the game know how crucial that role is, especially in an offense like New Orleans’, where timing and rhythm were everything.
Evans’ Hall of Fame candidacy came in a loaded field this year. Among those under consideration were quarterback Eli Manning, running back Frank Gore, wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, and Reggie Wayne, tight end Jason Witten, fellow offensive linemen Marshal Yanda and Willie Anderson, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, safety Darren Woodson, and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
In the end, only five were selected: modern-era finalists Fitzgerald, Brees, Kuechly, and Vinatieri, along with senior committee pick Roger Craig.
Also left on the outside looking in were Steelers greats L.C. Greenwood and Ken Anderson, a former quarterbacks coach in Pittsburgh. For a franchise steeped in Hall of Fame history, that’s a tough double miss.
But back to Evans-his case isn’t going away. Guards like him don’t come around often.
He was a six-time Pro Bowler, a four-time first-team All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion. More than that, he was the kind of player who made everyone around him better, a tone-setter in the trenches, and a key to one of the most prolific offenses of the modern era.
Now, as he begins the next chapter of his football life on the Steelers’ sideline, Evans brings that same wealth of knowledge and leadership to a young offensive line unit in Pittsburgh. His Hall of Fame moment may not have come this year, but make no mistake-his impact on the game is already cemented.
The gold jacket can wait. The legacy is already there.