Joe Jacoby Misses Hall of Fame Finalist Cut - Again, But His Legacy Still Looms Large
Joe Jacoby’s wait for Canton continues.
The former Washington offensive tackle and cornerstone of the legendary “Hogs” offensive line didn’t advance to the final round of Pro Football Hall of Fame voting this year, despite being one of nine semi-finalists considered by the seniors committee. For a player who helped define an era of smashmouth football in the nation’s capital, it’s another tough break in a Hall of Fame journey that’s felt overdue for a while now.
Jacoby’s story is the stuff of football folklore - undrafted out of Louisville, he signed with Washington in 1981 and quickly became a fixture in one of the most dominant offensive lines the league has ever seen. He played 170 games over 13 seasons, all in the burgundy and gold, and was a key part of three Super Bowl-winning teams.
From 1983 to 1986, he made four straight Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors in back-to-back seasons (1983 and 1984). That stretch alone puts him in elite company.
And yet, he’s still waiting for the call.
This year felt like it might finally be his moment. Of the five senior offensive linemen up for consideration, Jacoby was the only one to make it to the semifinal stage.
That alone seemed to clear a path. But when the finalists were announced, it was former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, 49ers running back Roger Craig, and Steelers defensive end L.C.
Greenwood who advanced. Jacoby was left on the outside looking in - again.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about numbers. Offensive linemen don’t rack up stats, and that makes recognition harder.
For linemen, All-Pro selections and peer respect matter - and Jacoby checks both boxes. He’s one of just three offensive players from the 1980s All-Decade Team who still hasn’t been enshrined.
The other two? One of them, Craig, is now a finalist.
Meanwhile, Greenwood’s potential induction would make him the 10th Hall of Famer from those dominant Steelers teams of the 1970s. Washington’s Super Bowl squads from the 1980s and early ’90s?
Just four Hall of Famers so far. Jacoby could’ve been the fifth.
It’s worth remembering what Jacoby brought to the game. He wasn’t just big - he was revolutionary.
At 6-foot-7 and over 300 pounds, he had the size of a modern tackle before that was the norm. But what really set him apart was his mobility.
He was a key cog in Washington’s famed counter trey, pulling from the left tackle spot and clearing paths for Hall of Fame runs. That kind of athleticism at his position changed the way teams thought about offensive line play.
And it wasn’t just fans or coaches who noticed. Some of the greatest defenders of all time - guys like Lawrence Taylor, Randy White, and Chris Doleman - have gone on record saying Jacoby was one of the toughest matchups they ever faced. That kind of respect from opponents speaks volumes.
Still, the knock on Jacoby has always been that his All-Pro resume isn’t quite deep enough. He missed part of the 1985 season, and that may have cost him another selection in 1986 - a year many believe he was deserving.
But if you watched those Washington teams, you know how central he was to their identity. He didn’t just protect quarterbacks; he helped shape a dynasty.
The Hogs were more than a nickname - they were a movement. Offensive lines rarely get the spotlight, but Washington’s front five became a cultural phenomenon.
And yet, Russ Grimm remains the only member of that group in the Hall. That feels incomplete.
Jacoby’s time may not have come this year, but the momentum is building. He was closer than ever, and with Greenwood possibly getting in, perhaps voters will take another hard look at the Hogs next year.
Canton isn’t just about numbers - it’s about impact. And few linemen have had a greater one than Joe Jacoby.
His bust isn’t in the Hall yet. But it should be. And if there’s any justice, it will be soon.