Everything that happens in sports has additional context when viewed from a sports betting perspective. From season-changing injuries to record-setting moments and so much more, the sports news cycle will constantly and significantly affect the sports betting industry.

Our Super Bowl betting buzz file, with contributions from David Purdum, Doug Greenberg and others, aims to provide fans a look at the sports betting stories that are driving the conversation leading up to the big game.

Key links: Early bets | Updated odds | Sports betting home | DraftKings

Feb. 5: Bettor places $1,000 MVP wagers on Super Bowl kickers

By David Purdum

The Super Bowl can make bettors do strange things, such as wagering big bucks on a kicker to win MVP.

On Feb. 1, a bettor in New Jersey with sportsbook BetRivers placed a pair of $1,000 MVP bets on each of the starting kickers in Sunday’s game:

A spokesperson for BetRivers said the sportsbook had taken only a handful of MVP bets on the kickers, “although several of them are relatively large.” No kicker has ever been named MVP of the Super Bowl.

DraftKings also reported taking a $1,000 MVP bet on Myers at 100-1 and a $500 bet on Borregales at 200-1.

Joey Feazel, head of football trading for Caesars Sportsbook, said there has been interest on Borregales at his shop.

“Longer odds, that’s really what a lot of bettors are trying to find during the Super Bowl, something that’s not the greatest probability, but it has a decent price,” Feazel said.

Quarterbacks have been named MVP in 34 of 59 Super Bowls, including five of the last six. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold is the MVP favorite in Super Bowl LX, listed at +115 on Thursday at DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye at +240.

Wide receivers have won eight MVPs, followed by running backs with seven. Ten defensive players have won the award: four linebackers, two defensive ends, two safeties, one safety and one defensive tackle.

In other long-shot MVP wagers, Hard Rock Bet reports taking a $1,000 bet on Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon to win Super Bowl MVP at 150-1, and $100 bets on three Seahawks defenders: defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (150-1), safety Julian Love (500-1) and defensive tackle Leonard Williams (100-1).

Feb. 4: Super Bowl odds and ends

More bets on coin flip than any Super Bowl player prop

Among the thousands of Super Bowl props on the board, the most popular one with bettors will be determined by a flick of the thumb before the game even kicks off. At BetMGM sportsbooks, more bets have been placed on the result of the pregame coin flip than on any individual player prop on the board.

Overall, “heads or tails” is eighth overall in Super Bowl wagering, behind the staples such as the point spread, outright winner (money line) and MVP. Bettors annually flock to place a bet on the Super Bowl coin flip. Most of the bets are small in stature, but there have been reports of six-figure wagers on the coin flip in the past. The Super Bowl has landed on tails in 31 out of the 59 past Super Bowls. As of Wednesday, 63% of the money wagered on the coin flip was on heads at BetMGM. — David Purdum

A super hedge

Before the season, a retail bettor at BetMGM in Nevada placed three $50,000 futures wagers on the Seahawks, two of which — to make the playoffs (+185) and to win the NFC (+2800) — have already cashed to the tune of approximately $1.5 million combined.

With the last $50,000 riding on Seattle to win the Super Bowl at 60-1, the same bettor has placed a $725,000 bet on the Patriots to win Sunday’s game at +190 money line odds, BetMGM confirmed to ESPN. Should the Seahawks win, the bettor will net $2,275,000, but if the Pats win, the bettor will net “only” $1,327,500 on the wagers with BetMGM.

The same bettor also placed large bets on the Seahawks in the preseason at sportsbook Circa, according to a source. — Doug Greenberg

Holding the line

The consensus Super Bowl point spread is holding steady at Seattle -4.5 at all but a few sportsbooks, with the Seahawks attracting the majority of the action on the spread. As of Wednesday at DraftKings, approximately 64% of the bets — and 70% of all money that had been wagered — was on Seattle.

“Early action was mostly on Seattle,” Tom Gable, sportsbook director at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, told ESPN. “We opened [Seahawks] -4, touched -5, but settled in at -4.5 and haven’t moved since. If New England keeps it within the number, as of now, that would be a good outcome. New England winning outright even better. But a lot of handle still to come.” — Purdum

Feb. 4: Tracking the largest bets on Super Bowl LX so far

By Doug Greenberg

The matchup for Super Bowl LX is set with the Seattle Seahawks favored over the New England Patriots to take home the Lombardi Trophy. The biggest single event in American sports always brings out the big bets.

Since the summer, bettors have been speculating on the result of this game, and the wagers will finally settle on Feb. 8. Here are some of the largest bets — by odds, stakes and potential winnings — tracked thus far:

• On Wednesday, Florida attorney Dan Newlin placed a $1 million wager on the Seattle Seahawks moneyline at -230 odds to net $434,782.61, all of which will be donated to pediatric cancer research at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. A release from Newlin said he will continue donating to Nemours “regardless of the outcome of this wager.”

• In August, a retail bettor at BetMGM in Nevada placed three separate $50,000 futures on the Seahawks, as first reported by Yahoo Sports and confirmed to ESPN by the sportsbook. Seahawks to make the playoffs at +185 cashed for $92,500 and Seahawks to win the NFC at +2800 cashed for $1.4 million. The bettor still has a Seattle Super Bowl ticket at +6000 odds that will net $3 million if successful.

• On Monday, Circa Sports director of operations Jeffrey Benson announced that the sportsbook took a $1.1 million wager on the Patriots money line at +188 that would net nearly $2.1 million if New England wins outright.

• DraftKings took a $10,000 futures bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl at +8000 that would pay winnings of $800,000.

• In November, BetMGM accepted a $30,000 wager on New England to win the Super Bowl at +2200, a net of $660,000 if successful.

• In late August, Circa took a $100 bet on the exact result of the Super Bowl being Seahawks over Patriots at an astonishing 3100-1. The bettor would win $310,000 if the exacta comes to fruition.

• On Jan. 14, Caesars Sportsbook took a $32,000 wager on the Seahawks at +275 odds for winnings of $88,000; less than two weeks later, it took a $40,000 bet on the Patriots at +260 for a potential net win of $104,000.

• DraftKings accepted a $500 bet on the Seahawks at +65000 to win $32,500.

• At Caesars, a bettor in Nevada placed a $55,000 wager on Patriots +4.5 (-108) for an approximate $51,000 win, while a bettor in New Jersey put in a $36,000 bet on Seahawks -4.5 (-109) for an approximate $33,000 win, according to the sportsbook’s head of football Joey Feazel, who said the wagers came in “within seconds” of the odds going up following the NFC championship.

Feb. 3: Blue, orange the favorites in Gatorade dump markets

By Doug Greenberg

Of the thousands of prop bets offered on the Super Bowl each year, the color of Gatorade poured on the winning head coach is one of the big game’s most enduring novelties.

At DraftKings, blue and orange are the current odds leaders at +250, with yellow/lime or green close behind at +260. Purple (+700), red/pink (+950) and water/clear (+1100) round out the available options.

A representative from BetMGM told ESPN that the Gatorade prop is currently the 23rd-most-bet market for the Super Bowl thus far but that they “expect it will continue to grow,” given it has not been available as long as many of the other prop markets.

In the early betting, yellow/lime or green has been the clear public preference; both BetMGM and DraftKings report their largest shares of bets and handle backing the flavor, maxing out with 28.1% of the money at the former. Blue has also been a popular choice, with a leading 29% of tickets at theScore Bet, as well as the second-most bets and handle at BetMGM. Purple and orange have also seen their fair share of action across the sportsbook marketplace.

The three most recent Super Bowls saw the Philadelphia Eagles use yellow on Nick Sirianni, while the Kansas City Chiefs dumped purple on Andy Reid for both of their Super Bowl wins.

When the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, they used orange Gatorade. The New England Patriots have varied between blue and clear throughout their six Super Bowl wins, with blue being the winning color for their victory in Super Bowl LIII. These were, of course, under different coaching regimes, if that matters.

Since 2001, orange has been the most frequently used color, getting the dump five times. All of the other colors are tied at four except for red/pink, which has never been used, according to data from BetMGM.

Feb. 2: Seahawks’ Shaheed the favorite to be fastest in Super Bowl

By ESPN Staff

Among more than 1,500 betting markets, DraftKings is offering odds on the top speed a ball carrier will reach during Super Bowl LX.

Seattle Seahawks receiver/kick returner Rashid Shaheed, at +200, is the betting favorite to reach the highest speed of any ball carrier in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, a wager that will be determined by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is next at +270, followed by Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III at +400. New England quarterback Drake Maye has the shortest odds of any Patriot, at +450

DraftKings has the over/under on Shaheed’s top speed set at 19.5 mph. He reached a top speed of 21.72 mph this season, while he was with the New Orleans Saints, before his trade to the Seahawks. He has gone over 19.5 on carries in both of Seattle’s playoff games this season but has had only seven possible plays in both playoff games.

The over/under on Maye’s top speed is 18.5 mph. He has exceeded that speed in all three playoff games.

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson was one of six ball carriers to reach 22 mph during a game this season. Henderson topped out at 22.01 mph during a Week 10 game. He is 10-1 to have the fastest carry in the Super Bowl, but the rookie running back’s touches have been limited in the playoffs.

Jan 31. Sportsbooks resist moving Super Bowl line despite heavy Seahawks action

By David Purdum

After a week of betting, the point spread on Super Bowl LX was holding steady Saturday, with the Seattle Seahawks remaining consensus 4.5-point favorites over the New England Patriots.

Sportsbooks have been reporting early lopsided action on the Seahawks to cover the spread. As of Saturday, 75% of the money that had been bet on the Super Bowl spread with DraftKings was on Seattle. In addition, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who is battling a sore shoulder, missed Friday’s practice with an illness.

Despite the early action on the Seahawks and Maye’s ailments, most sportsbooks were holding the line at 4.5.

“At this point, it would require significant additional action on Seattle -4.5, or a meaningful update to Drake Maye’s injury status, for us to consider a move,” Neil Walsh, senior vice president for Hard Rock Bet, told ESPN. “We do not anticipate either occurring for the next few days.”

Jamey Pileggi, head NFL oddsmaker for Circa Sports, said it would take a “six- or seven-figure” bet on the Seahawks at -4.5 to push the line up to -5.

Two Las Vegas sportsbooks — the South Point and the Westgate SuperBook — had bumped the line up to -5 in recent days.

Chris Andrews, the South Point’s veteran sportsbook director, made the adjustment to Seahawks -5 on Thursday, saying that he’d rather be the first sportsbook to make the move than the last. Since making the move to -5, Andrews said the action has been extremely balanced.

“Only $3 separates the teams at five,” Andrews said.

Bookmakers weren’t putting much stock in any impact Maye’s shoulder might have. Andrews said he was going to let the money wagered guide him. He estimated only around 5% of the total money that he expects will be wagered on the Super Bowl had been placed in the first week.

Jan. 29: Smith-Njigba most popular player in early Super Bowl betting

By Doug Greenberg

In early player prop and MVP wagering for Super Bowl LX, one name is rising above the rest: Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver is currently DraftKings Sportsbook’s most-bet first touchdown scorer (+550) with 15% of the handle, as well as its most-bet anytime touchdown scorer. BetMGM similarly reports Smith-Njigba attracting the most anytime touchdown and first touchdown wagers, making him a liability for the book.

“Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Seattle’s Defense/Special Teams finding paydirt have become bad results for the book right now,” BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said in an email release.

Both books list the 23-year-old’s anytime touchdown prop at -110, which has already shortened from +100 likely due in part to the heavy action he has received. That said, Smith-Njigba’s implied odds to score a touchdown, defined as “the probability of an outcome projected by Mike Clay [converted] into a money line,” are +181.

Smith-Njigba has by far the highest receiving yards over/under of any player at 95.5, according to DraftKings lines. The sportsbook reports him receiving the most wagers in the most receiving yards market (-185), as well as the most receptions market (-158).

All the early betting fervor around Smith-Njigba extends to the Super Bowl MVP market, where he is also becoming a creeping liability. At +550, he has the shortest odds for a wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP since Larry Fitzgerald in 2009 (+400), and seeks to be the longest winner overall since his current teammate, Cooper Kupp, won it at +600 with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, according to SportsOddsHistory.

DraftKings says Smith-Njigba is its second-most-bet MVP candidate by handle (19%), while BetMGM reports him receiving by far its most handle (24.9%), making him its largest liability in the market.

Jan. 28: Mattress Mack makes $2 million bet on Super Bowl LX winner

By David Purdum

The largest reported Super Bowl bet so far — $2 million on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl — belongs to a Houston furniture salesman.

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale placed the $2 million bet last week on the AFC to win the Super Bowl with Caesars Sportsbook. At 2-1, McIngvale would win a net $4 million if the Patriots upset the favored Seattle Seahawks. It’s the largest Super Bowl bet that Caesars has taken this year as of Wednesday.

Mattress Mack is hedging his bet with one of his go-to promotions at his Gallery Furniture store: Spend $4,000 on a mattress and gear with McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture, and if the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, you get your money back on your purchase.

McIngvale, a beloved figure in Houston for decades, turns 75 in February. He has tied such giveaways to big sports wagers regularly for years. In 2022, he won approximately $75 million on bets he made on the Houston Astros to win the World Series, believed to be one of the largest sports betting payouts in U.S. history.

McIngvale has had mixed results on the Super Bowl, otherwise, winning big on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, but suffering a multimillion-dollar loss on the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. He also twice lost seven figures on bets on the Houston Cougars men’s basketball team to win the NCAA tournament.

McIngvale hedges his total exposure with any boost in mattress sales generated by the giveaways. He sat out last Super Bowl recovering from heart surgery, but he’s back this season and siding with the underdogs for multiple reasons. Getting plus odds on the underdog helps with the promotion, but he also respects the Patriots’ personnel.

“I really like their quarterback [Drake Maye], coach [Mike Vrabel] and offensive coordinator [Josh McDaniels], plus Robert Kraft is always there,” McIngvale told ESPN on Wednesday.

Last year, there were no disclosed $1 million Super Bowl bets reported by U.S. sportsbooks. This year, there have been at least two, both of which are on the underdog Patriots. On Monday, sportsbook Circa reported taking a $1.1 million wager on the Patriots to win the game outright at +188 odds.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford edged New England Patriots counterpart Drake Maye to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award Thursday night, then made news in his acceptance speech by announcing he’ll return next season.

Stafford received 24-of-50 first-place votes and finished with 366 points. Maye got 23 first-place votes and finished with 361 points. It was the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.

In his 17th NFL season, the 37-year-old Stafford became the oldest player in NFL history at the time of his first MVP. He also became the third-oldest player to win MVP, behind Tom Brady (2017) and Aaron Rodgers (2021).

Stafford brought his four daughters — all dressed in identical black-and-white dresses — to the stage to accept the award at the NFL Honors show.

He thanked his team and saved his wife and daughters for last: “You’re unbelievable cheerleaders for me. I appreciate it. I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me, and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass.”

It was Stafford’s way of announcing he will be back next season after contemplating retirement.

Over the last two months of the regular season, Stafford and Maye flip-flopped in the odds to win MVP multiple times, with Stafford emerging as the favorite after Week 18. He also was named an AP First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the 2024 MVP, received two first-place votes, while Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert got the other. Allen finished third in voting, followed by San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Stafford, who won Super Bowl LVI with Los Angeles in the 2021 season, became the fourth Rams player to be named MVP (Roman Gabriel in 1969, Kurt Warner in 1999 and 2001, and Marshall Faulk in 2000). He led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards, as well as a career-high 46 passing touchdowns to just eight interceptions.

Stafford became the first player to win MVP for a team outside the top two seeds since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, only eight players have won MVP for non-division winners, including just two quarterbacks (McNair in ’03, Peyton Manning in 2008). The Rams secured the fifth seed in the NFC after finishing second in the NFC West with a 12-5 record.

Los Angeles fell short of the Super Bowl after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. After that defeat, the focus turned to Stafford’s future in the NFL, but the veteran QB assured fans Thursday night that he’ll be back for an 18th season.

“I’ll see you guys next year,” he said. “Hopefully I’m not at this event and we’re getting ready for another game at SoFi.”

The Rams’ home stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2027.

Maye led the Patriots to a 14-3 record, the AFC East title and the second seed in the AFC in his second season. They’ll play the Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Maye’s breakout sophomore season saw him lead the NFL in passer rating (113.5), completion percentage (72.0%) and yards per attempt (8.9), and throw for 4,394 yards, along with 31 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

The 23-year-old became the youngest player since the merger to lead the NFL in completion percentage, surpassing the previous mark set by 24-year-old Joe Montana in 1980.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began.

Voters selected a top 5 for the eight AP NFL awards. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

One of the most proficient passers in NFL history and one of the league’s most prolific pass catchers highlight the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

The class, announced Thursday night as part of the NFL Honors show in San Francisco, is led by quarterback Drew Brees, one of two quarterbacks in league history to throw for more than 80,000 yards, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who finished his career second only to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in career receptions and receiving yards.

Joining them will be linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri. Running back Roger Craig, one of the three Seniors finalists, will also be in the 2026 Hall class.

Brees and Fitzgerald are in their first year of eligibility, and Kuechly and Vinatieri are in their second year. Not in the class is former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who was the finalist from the coaches’ sub-committee, and New England owner Robert Kraft, the finalist from the contributors’ sub-committee.

This year’s class was chosen by the Hall’s board of selectors in a virtual meeting. The new Hall of Famers will be enshrined on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.

Here is a closer look at the Class of 2026.

Drew Brees, quarterback

San Diego Chargers, 2001-2005; New Orleans Saints, 2006-2020

Brees was relatively small in stature (6-foot, 209 pounds), but he compensated with uncanny accuracy and instincts in the pocket, not to mention a computer-like ability to read defenses. It wasn’t an easy road for Brees, a second-round pick by the Chargers in 2001. He was replaced by Philip Rivers and suffered a major throwing-shoulder injury in 2005, prompting many to wonder if he’d ever be the same. As it turned out, he got better. He signed with the Saints in 2006 and led them to their only Super Bowl championship three years later.

Why he was selected: Brees is second all-time in passing yards (80,358), touchdown passes (571) and completions (7,142), and he’s third in completion percentage (67.7%). He made 13 Pro Bowls and was twice named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for more than 5,000 yards in a season an NFL-record five times. With Sean Payton designing the offense and calling the plays, Brees once went 54 consecutive regular-season games with a touchdown pass. Quite frankly, he owns too many passing marks to list.

Signature moment: A no-brainer — Super Bowl XLIV in Miami after the 2009 season. With precision passing (32-for-39, 288 yards, two touchdowns), Brees was named MVP for his performance in the Saints’ 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. It capped a dual-redemption story for Brees and the city of New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. — Cimini

Quotable: “One of his greatest strengths was in the pocket. He was a real good foot athlete. He could subtly move and deliver. Decision-making, make the proper throws in the biggest moments and as tough and courageous player as I’ve ever been around — all of it.” — former Saints and current Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton

Roger Craig, running back

San Francisco 49ers, 1983-1990; Los Angeles Raiders, 1991; Minnesota Vikings, 1993

Craig was a four-time Pro Bowl selection who played on three Super Bowl-winning teams in San Francisco. Hall of Fame 49ers coach Bill Walsh considered him a transformational player at the position and one of the key pieces of the 49ers’ offense. Craig was the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards and have at least 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. He did it in 1985, hauling in a league-leading 92 passes for 1,016 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 1,050 yards and another nine scores.

Only two others have accomplished that feat — Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (1999) and Christian McCaffrey (2019).

Why he was elected: The way Walsh used Craig forced defenses to adjust how they played and how they aligned against all eligible players in the formation. He was a template for how running backs could be used as rushing and receiving threats in the following decades.

Craig was named to the 1980s All-Decade team and made the postseason in every season of his career. Until his enshrinement, he was the only running back who was on either the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s All-Decade teams who was not in the Hall of Fame.

Signature moment: Craig’s high-knee stride was his trademark, but his 16-yard catch-and-run touchdown in Super Bowl XIX was an enduring image — knees churning with the ball held high as he crossed the goal line for the 49ers’ final score in their 38-16 win over the Miami Dolphins. Craig had 135 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns in the game (one rushing, two receiving) and was the first player to score three touchdowns in a Super Bowl. — Legwold

Quotable: “I was never really caught up in the glamour, as far as trying to be the featured man on the team.” — Craig

Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver

Arizona Cardinals, 2004-2020

For 17 seasons, Fitzgerald defined excellence. Drafted No. 3 overall by the Cardinals in 2004, he was consistent, durable, explosive and historically prolific. The wide receiver’s job, in its simplest form, is to catch the ball. Very few did it better than Fitzgerald, who was incredibly surehanded. He had only 35 drops.

His 1,431 receptions and 17,492 receiving yards are not only better than everyone not named Jerry Rice, but Fitzgerald is more than 100 receptions and 1,500 yards clear of the next-best player.

Why he was selected: Fitzgerald was one of the most decorated receivers of his generation. He was named one of the NFL’s 100 all-time greatest players, highlighting a resume that also includes 11 Pro Bowls and a selection to the 2010s All-Decade team. The most remarkable thing about Fitzgerald was his longevity. He led the league in catches at age 22 (103), and he did it again at 33 (107). The 11-year gap is the widest in history.

And unlike Rice, Fitzgerald wasn’t blessed with a Hall of Fame quarterback throughout his career. He had Kurt Warner for five seasons, but there were also several years of musical quarterbacks in his offense. Fitzgerald rose above it all, bringing credibility to a franchise that had been to the playoffs once (1998) in the 21 seasons before his arrival.

Signature moment: Some might say his 75-yard catch-and-run in overtime to spark the Cardinals’ 2015 divisional-round win over the Green Bay Packers, but it’s impossible to ignore his 2008 postseason run. In four games, including Super Bowl XLIII, Fitzgerald was utterly dominant — 30 receptions, 546 yards and seven touchdowns. It’s one of the greatest postseasons in history, regardless of position. — Cimini

Quotable: “Greatness! I have coached a bunch of great wide receivers in my time, but never have I seen one with hands as good as Larry. You rarely ever heard the ball hit his hands. What he did throughout both seasons I was with him was phenomenal, but what he did in the 2008 playoff run up to the Super Bowl — and then in the Super Bowl game itself — was extraordinary. He put the whole team on his back and carried us until about two minutes, 30 seconds away from a Super Bowl title.” — former Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley to ESPN

Luke Kuechly, linebacker

Carolina Panthers, 2012-2019

It was all about quality over an eight-year career. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, a five-time All-Pro and an All-Decade selection for the 2010s.

He was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, his second year in the league. Kuechly suffered at least three reported concussions in his career, and after the 2019 season he said retiring was “the right thing to do.”

Why he was elected: Kuechly and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor are the only linebackers to have won Defensive Rookie of the Year as well as the Defensive Player of the Year. A three-down, sideline-to-sideline force, he had at least 100 tackles in all eight of his seasons and led the league in tackles twice — 2012 and 2014. Beyond the tackles, Kuechly deflected a staggering 67 passes and had 18 interceptions.

Signature moment: He was so good he even doubled up signature moments. In the Panthers’ run to Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season, Kuechly returned interceptions for touchdowns in both the divisional round win over Seattle and the NFC Championship Game win over Arizona. — Legwold

Quotable: “There is only one way to play this game since I was a little kid, play fast, play physical and play strong.” — Kuechly, on his retirement

Adam Vinatieri, kicker

New England Patriots, 1996-2005; Indianapolis Colts, 2006-2019

Vinatieri set every meaningful kicking record in his 24-year career. He holds all-time records in field goal attempts (715), made field goals (599), games played (365), consecutive field goals made (44) and scoring (2,673 points).

He made 29 game-winning field goals in his career, including a record 10 in overtime. Oh, and he also holds NFL postseason records for most points (238), most field goal attempts (69) and most made field goals (56).

Vinatieri was named to the NFL’s 100th anniversary team and became the third pure place-kicker to be enshrined in the Hall with Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen.

Why he was elected: Beyond the piles of records, his postseason reliability is the stuff of legend. In his 10 seasons with the Patriots, the team went to four Super Bowls and won three of them, as Vinatieri delivered game-winning kicks in two of the title-game wins.

In his 14 seasons with the Colts, the team went to two Super Bowls and won one. Vinatieri scored 11 of the Colts’ points in Indianapolis’ rain-soaked 29-17 Super Bowl XLI win over the Bears.

Signature moment: His 45-yard field goal in a raging blizzard sent the 2001 divisional game against the Raiders — the “Tuck Rule” game — into overtime. He then kicked the game-winner in OT. The Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl and Vinatieri also kicked the game-winner as New England, a 14.5-point underdog, beat the Rams 20-17 to begin its dynastic run. — Legwold

Quotable: “Adam Vinatieri is the greatest kicker of all time who made the greatest kick of all time.” — Belichick when Vinatieri retired from the NFL