The College Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 is a star-studded group that includes two of the greatest coaches of all time and several legendary players who went on to NFL superstardom. Leading the way are Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, who combined to win 10 national championships as head coaches. They are joined by electrifying quarterback Michael Vick and dominant defensive end Michael Strahan among the 18 players and four coaches in this year’s illustrious class.
Legendary Coaches Enter the Hall
Nick Saban retired after the 2024 season as college football’s winningest coach, posting a 292-71-1 record over 28 seasons at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama. His seven national titles are the most by any coach in the poll era.
Urban Meyer went 187-32 with three national championships over 17 seasons at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State. After brief but wildly successful stints with Utah and Florida, he capped his career by going 83-9 in seven seasons at Ohio State.
Star Players Join Their Coaches
Coaches weren’t the only ones immortalized in this Hall of Fame class. Several players who became household names in the NFL also received their college football dues.
Michael Vick redefined the quarterback position with his dual-threat abilities at Virginia Tech before becoming a superstar with the Atlanta Falcons.
Vick led Virginia Tech to a 22-2 record and the national title game in two electric seasons as the Hokies’ quarterback. Fellow inductee Michael Strahan was a one-man wrecking crew at Texas Southern before his Hall of Fame NFL career with the New York Giants.
- Terry Hanratty, who led Notre Dame to a national title in 1966, gives the Irish four Hall of Famers from that iconic team.
- Montee Ball tied Barry Sanders’ NCAA record with 39 touchdowns in 2011 at Wisconsin before winning the Doak Walker Award in 2012.
Other notable names in the class include Wisconsin’s Montee Ball, Tennessee’s John Henderson, Texas’ Michael Huff, and Miami’s Darrin Smith. Two successful small-school coaches, Troy’s Larry Blakeney and Northwestern (IA)’s Lary Korver, round out the group.
A Fitting Capstone for Legendary Careers
For the coaches and players entering the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025, it serves as the ultimate validation of their immense impact on the sport. Saban and Meyer set the standard for coaching greatness in the modern era, while talents like Vick and Strahan began forging their legacies on campus before NFL stardom.
This diverse class, representing all levels of the sport from small colleges to major powers, will officially take their place among college football’s immortals at the Hall of Fame induction festivities in December. Their achievements will forever be enshrined and celebrated as essential parts of the sport’s rich history.
