How close was Ken Anderson to joining Ken Riley as 2023 Pro Football Hall senior nominee?

Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals fans celebrated Wednesday as Ken Riley moved one step closer to joining the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson is inducted into the teamÕs Ring of Honor with the help of Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn during halftime in of a Week 4 NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Riley, Chuck Howley and Joe Klecko were selected as finalists for next year's class of enshrinees after Tuesday's meeting of the Hall of Fame's Seniors Committee.

Many wondered how close Ken Anderson - Riley's Bengals teammate from 1971 to 1983 - was to advancing along with the legendary defensive back known as "the Rattler." Anderson also was named in July as one of 24 seniors (12 players and 12 coaches/contributors) to be considered by the committee.

Wednesday's Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement about the senior finalists revealed that Randy Gradishar, Bob Kuechenberg and Sterling Sharpe advanced through an initial cutdown vote from 12 candidates to six shortly before the final vote was taken.

Anderson shared a congratulatory tweet about Riley:

Last week, Anthony Muñoz - the only Pro Football Hall of Famer to have played his entire career for the Bengals - told Dan Patrick he was frustrated by the omissions of Anderson and Riley from Canton.

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