SAN FRANCISCO — John Lynch is eager to help the NFL solve one of its safety issues.
Since its inception in 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been reluctant to open its doors to the safety position. Only seven pure safeties have been inducted, and Lynch has an opportunity to expand that list today when the Class of 2016 is announced during a nationally televised NFL awards show.
A key component of an iconic defense in Tampa Bay, Lynch is on the list of 15 finalists for the third consecutive year. Each of the past two years, Lynch was eliminated from consideration on the first cut, when the list was whittled to 10.