The best thing that can happen to NFL players is getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s every NFL player’s end goal, Super Bowl or not. It’s the pinnacle of the NFL, separating the truly elite players, coaches, and contributors who made a massive impact on the sport from the rest of the pack – the ultimate stamp of approval for a career well done. And now, a former Ohio State Buckeye got nominated into the Hall of Fame despite failing twice.

Each year, very few people are lucky enough to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This usually includes up to 5 modern-era players, like players who have been retired for at least five years. On top of that, the Hall can also include senior players, coaches, and influential contributors like owners or executives—people who helped shape the game behind the scenes.

On September 26, Ohio State legend and Bowling Green Falcons HC Eddie George was listed among 128 nominees for the Hall’s Modern-Era players for the third time. For context, the process is brutal as it gets. 128 names will get trimmed to 25 semifinalists this fall, then 15 finalists, before the committee makes its final call ahead of the Super Bowl. Only three to five Modern-Era players usually get the nod, so the margin is razor-thin. Eddie has already failed twice to get into the Hall of Fame. In both 2022 and 2024, he reached the semifinals but fell short. Hoping this time would be different.

So, what makes Eddie George stand out? It’s his stacked résumé. He rushed over 10,441 career rushing yards, bagged 4 Pro Bowls, and already got that reputation as one of the toughest backs of his era. People are still talking about Eddie’s prime years in Nashville. George ran for more than 10,000 yards in Tennessee alone, making him the franchise’s all-time rushing leader. He posted seven 1,000-yard seasons, carried the ball more than 300 times in 8 straight years—a record nobody else has touched—and helped drag the Titans to a Super Bowl in 1999.

Eddie George was the epitome of a running back. His best season came in 2000, when he rushed for 1,509 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, and had 6 games over 100 yards. By the time he retired, he had 12,668 all-purpose yards, putting him in the same conversation as some of the greats already in Canton. But even with a Heisman Trophy, George is still chasing history. Only 10 Heisman winners have made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with Charles Woodson being the most recent in 2021.

Eddie George’s time at Ohio State was pretty epic. After a slow start in Columbus, George erupted in his junior year before going full beast mode in 1995. That senior campaign saw him rack up a ridiculous 1,927 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. He was averaging over 150 yards a game. He ripped off 100-yard outings in 12 straight contests, including a jaw-dropping 314-yard explosion against Illinois. That performance single-handedly locked up the Heisman, got his No. 27 jersey retired, and secured his place as one of the Buckeyes’ all-time greats.

How’s Eddie George and Bowling Green holding up in 2025?

Eddie George is in his first year as head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons in Ohio, and things are a bit of a mixed bag. He took over a program that wasn’t exactly tearing it up but had made a few bowl games. Coming in from Tennessee State, he brought some hype, especially with his coaching style which he calls GUTS, meaning he wants his team to play with Gumption, Understanding, Tenacity, and Sacrifice. So far, his squad has a 2-2 record, which isn’t terrible, but it’s not exactly setting the world on fire either. They started off with a solid win against Lafayette, winning 26-7 at home in Bowling Green, Ohio. The offense is putting up an average of 27.1 points per game, which is fifth in their conference, and racking up 377.4 total yards per game, good for fourth in the MAC.

But then they ran into some tougher competition, taking losses against Cincinnati and Louisville. They did manage another good win against Liberty, but the offense has been a bit up and down, still trying to find its rhythm with unfamiliar faces. They’re getting 240.6 passing yards per game, ranking third in the MAC, but the rushing game has been a little lackluster at 136.8 yards per game, eighth in the conference.

The defense, on the other hand, has had some strong showings and is looking pretty solid so far. They’re only allowing opponents 21.6 points per game on average, which is fourth best in the MAC and 30th nationally. Their total defense is also pretty stout, giving up only 331.3 yards per game, good for third in the MAC and 32nd nationally.

It’s still early in his tenure, but Eddie George is definitely trying to change the culture at Bowling Green, focusing on discipline and developing his players. He’s even got his son, Eriq, playing on the team too, which is kind of a cool, rare thing in college football.