How much does winning a championship impact one's chances for getting into the Hall of Fame? Case in point: Dan Fouts only won two more games than he lost and never reached the Super Bowl, yet he was voted up in his first year of eligibility. To contrast, many of the great Vikings players of the 1960s and 1970s had to wait at least a year (Alan Page) or three (Fran Tarkenton), or 25 if you're Carl Eller.
1. Stats
2. Accolades
3. Titles
You can make it without having solid resumes for all three, but if you don't have one, the other two need to overwhelming.
Which is why players like Marino (obvious) and Fouts (6 x pro bowl 2 x all-pro, lead the league in many categeories by year and overall when he was done) made it easily.
There is the additional tendency to not vote for too many players at the same position.
I say that the guy who makes it after 2 years, 5 years or 10 years is just as qualified as a first year electee.
Championships do count for something, especially with QBs but it shouldn’t be the E-ticket.
That said, I still believe a guy like Simms should be viewed more favorably, especially when considering the era. He has 2 SB rings. I know he only played in 1. But, the 1990 Giants started 10-0 with Simms at the helm and were 11-2 when he got hurt. He was a big reason they were in the position they were. His playoff run in 1986 was just as impressive as either of Eli's, in my opinion. I admit, 100% though, to being biased on Simms.
Being on a team with a Lombardi trophy certainly does seem to amplify personal accomplishments. There are a lot of deserving players who never won a title on the outside while marginal ones who did win are in.