NY Jets legend Nick Mangold snubbed from Hall of Fame semifinalists list

The NFL has released its list of 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2022. And NY Jets legend Nick Mangold was not one of the players who survived the cut-down.

This is the first year that Mangold is eligible for the Hall of Fame, and while it might have been a longshot for him to get voted in his first year on the ballot, it's safe to say most expected him to at least make it to the list of semifinalists.

Instead, Mangold will have to wait another year before he's eligible again. Given the disrespect he was shown this time around, there's a very decent chance that he never actually makes it to Canton. And that would be an absolute travesty.

Former NY Jets center Nick Mangold deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Mangold was one of the premier players at his position during his time playing in the NFL. The 29th overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, Mangold went on to make 164 starts over 11 years spent all with the Jets.

During that time Mangold was named to seven Pro Bowls, elected first-team All-Pro in two seasons, and second-team All-Pro in one season. He was arguably the best center in the NFL for close to a decade.

If not the best, it's hard to argue he wasn't a top-three center for most of his time in the NFL. Yet, despite his accolades, Mangold isn't even considered a serious candidate to make the Hall of Fame this year.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has a history of underplaying the efforts of some of the greatest offensive linemen to play the game. In total, 48 offensive linemen are in the Hall of Fame as of November 2021. Just eight of those players played primarily center for the majority of their careers, one of which is former Jets great Kevin Mawae who was inducted in 2019.

Compare that to other positions like quarterback that feature 34 members or running back that has roughly 45 inductees. Yet, there are just eight centers in the Hall of Fame.

Nick Mangold belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It may not happen this season, but it deserves to happen in the future.

At the very least, the Jets can take solace in the fact that they have already had one player enshrined in Canton this year.