New Orleans Saints Jahri Evans Just Short In Hall of Fame Voting

Former New Orleans Saints offensive guard Jahri Evans narrowly missed out on being elected to the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Evans, 40, was one of the 15 finalists announced on Thursday morning. However, he just missed out in the final selection process. 

Several postseason awards were handed out at The 13th Annual NFL Honors Ceremony on Thursday night, including the latest Hall of Fame elections. The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees are DE Dwight Freeney, KR Devin Hester, WR Andre Johnson, DE Julius Peppers, LB Patrick Willis, LB Randy Gradishar, and DE Steve McMichael. 

Wideouts Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Evans, and former Saints CB Eric Allen were among a handful of notable players who just missed the cut. Evans was in his second year of eligibility. He was a semifinalist last year, taking it one step further this year.

Jahri Evans grew up in Philadelphia, PA and attended Frankfort High School. He attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, a Division II school, where he earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors in each of his last three seasons. He was a two-time Divisional II All-American. 

The New Orleans Saints selected Evans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft with the 108th overall pick. He was among a Saints draft class, Sean Payton's first with the team, that included franchise greats Reggie Bush, Roman Harper, Zach Strief, and Marques Colston. 

Evans was an immediate starter at right guard for New Orleans. In fact, he'd start 122 consecutive games for the team between 2006 and 2013, including playoffs. Over an 11-year career with the Saints, Evans started 193 of a possible 200 contests.