Pro Football Hall of Fame Voting Explained by Sportswriter Jason Cole

Send us Fan MailWhat really happens inside the room when Pro Football Hall of Fame decisions are made?This week on Here's What We Know, we sit down with longtime NFL writer and Hall of Fame voter Jason Cole to pull back the curtain on a process most fans think they understand but usually don’t.Jason explains how Hall of Fame voting actually works, why the math matters more than people realize, and why some obvious names don’t get in right away. We talk about grit, greatness, coaching versus players, and the thin line between legacy and perception. Along the way, Jason shares old-school football stories that remind us why this game still matters so much to so many people.If you’ve ever argued about the Hall of Fame at a bar, on the couch, or online, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective.In This Episode:How Pro Football Hall of Fame voting really worksWhy first-ballot decisions are more complicated than fans thinkCoaching impact versus player greatnessWhat separates legends from very good playersStories that remind us football is still a human gameThis episode is sponsored by:Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)License #: 679261Bison Junk Removal (Effortless solution to your junk removal needs!)Bio:Jason Cole has covered or written about pro football since 1992 and has been a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2013. He has worked for publications such as Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, The Miami Herald, and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Cole has authored Elway: a Relentless Life and co-authored six books, including Giant with Plaxico Burress, Heart for the Game with Simon Keith, and Ocho Cinco with Chad Johnson. Prior to covering the NFL, Cole covered the NBA, Major League Baseball, and high school sports in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cole teaches sports writing at the University of Florida and is the father of two Eagle Scouts. He is a graduate of Stanford University, which he attended at the same time as Elway.X: https://x.com/jasoncole62LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-cole-1330266/Connect with Gary:Gary's WebsiteFollow Gary on InstagramGary's TiktokGary's FacebookWatch the episodes on YouTubeAdvertise on the PodcastThank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!