Pro Football Hall of Fame names 15 finalists for the Class of 2025

[chongli]

 

 

First-year eligible finalists ate in bold.

First-time finalists are in italics.

 

Eric Allen, Cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

 

Jared Allen, Defensive End — 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

 

Willie Anderson, Tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

 

Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

Antonio Gates, Tight End — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

 

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars 

 

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker — 2012-19 Carolina Panthers

 

Eli Manning, Quarterback — 2004-2019 New York Giants

 

Steve Smith Sr., Wide Receiver — 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens

 

Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End — 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs

 

Fred Taylor, Running Back — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

 

Adam Vinatieri, Kicker — 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts

 

Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

 

Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

 

Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle — 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

 

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2024/12/15-modern-era-players-announced-as-finalists-for-pro-football-hall-of-fame’s-class-of-2025/

 

"The Selection Committee may elect up to five Modern-Era Players for the Class of 2025; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80% for election. Five others — Seniors category Finalists Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer; along with Coach Finalist Mike Holmgren and Contributor Finalist Ralph Hay — also are candidates for the Class of 2025. Voting on these five is done separately as its own group distinct from the Modern-Era Players; a minimum of one person and a maximum of three from these combined categories may be elected under the Hall’s bylaws.

While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the Hall of Fame’s current selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.

 

[...]

 

The slate of candidates in the Modern-Era Player category will be considered when the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LIX. The Class of 2025 will be unveiled publicly Feb. 6 during the “NFL Honors presented by Invisalign” broadcast from Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, La., on FOX and NFL Network and streamed on NFL+. The show airs at 9 p.m. ET."

Edited December 29, 2024 by chongli

[machine gun kelly]

7 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

 

First-year eligible finalists ate in bold.

First-time finalists are in italics.

 

Eric Allen, Cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

 

Jared Allen, Defensive End — 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

 

Willie Anderson, Tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

 

Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

Antonio Gates, Tight End — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

 

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars 

 

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker — 2012-19 Carolina Panthers

 

Eli Manning, Quarterback — 2004-2019 New York Giants

 

Steve Smith Sr., Wide Receiver — 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens

 

Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End — 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs

 

Fred Taylor, Running Back — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

 

Adam Vinatieri, Kicker — 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts

 

Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

 

Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

 

Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle — 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

 

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2024/12/15-modern-era-players-announced-as-finalists-for-pro-football-hall-of-fame’s-class-of-2025/

 

"The Selection Committee may elect up to five Modern-Era Players for the Class of 2025; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80% for election. Five others — Seniors category Finalists Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer; along with Coach Finalist Mike Holmgren and Contributor Finalist Ralph Hay — also are candidates for the Class of 2025. Voting on these five is done separately as its own group distinct from the Modern-Era Players; a minimum of one person and a maximum of three from these combined categories may be elected under the Hall’s bylaws.

While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the Hall of Fame’s current selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.

 

[...]

 

The slate of candidates in the Modern-Era Player category will be considered when the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LIX. The Class of 2025 will be unveiled publicly Feb. 6 during the “NFL Honors presented by Invisalign” broadcast from Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, La., on FOX and NFL Network and streamed on NFL+. The show airs at 9 p.m. ET."

You ate your wheatties this morning Chongli.  BTW- my wife didn’t know Bruce Lee so I showed her Enter the Dragon and mentioned a friend on the board assumed the name Chongli.  She thought it was cool.  The interesting point if my wife was born and raised in China.  She only emigrated here 9 years ago.

[HOUSE]

 

Adam Vinateri is a special teams player, he certainly should not be on the list...😆 

 

 

.

Edited December 29, 2024 by HOUSE

[BuffaloBillyG]

Out of that list Gates and Holt are who I let in. 

[chongli]

55 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

You ate your wheatties this morning Chongli.  BTW- my wife didn’t know Bruce Lee so I showed her Enter the Dragon and mentioned a friend on the board assumed the name Chongli.  She thought it was cool.  The interesting point if my wife was born and raised in China.  She only emigrated here 9 years ago.

 

Ha... I guess so, lol.

 

I never knew your other half is Asian. My mom was born in Taiwan, and it she wouldn't have known about Bruce Lee either, I suspect. And she definitely would not know the meaning of your user name, as she did not watch sports (and didn't listen to Machine Gun Kelly, the rapper, either).

 

I don't know your situation, I know your my age (80's child) and are or were a powerlifter, but if you plan on (still?) having kids, I hope they learn to be bilingual. It's an invaluable financial skill in today's world. My mom emigrated at a time when people were ashamed to be immigrants from Asia, and hence, I never learned Mandarin (Taiwanese dialect).

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by chongli

[GunnerBill]

First Balloters: 

Terrell Suggs - he was basically elite for his first 12 or so years in the league and then continued to play at a decent level for 4 or 5 beyond that.

 

Eli Manning - it's for the two Superbowl clutch moments more than the overall body of work but NFL history is so radically different without them. Brady would have 9 rings. The Pats would have an undefeated season. 

 

Guys that have waited:

Torry Holt - 8 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. Isaac Bruce is in and Holt was the more explosive of the pair. It's time. 

 

Antonio Gates - longevity, excellence and helped with Tony Gonzales, redefine the Tight End position. 

 

Jared Allen - one of the most underrated players of the 00s, 4 times 1st team all pro and one of only 12 men to lead the NFL in sacks twice, and one of only two to do it with two different teams. 7 consecutive years of double digit sacks, 8 in total. 

 

 

If I was a voter they are the five I'd bang the table for.

[No_Matter_What]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

Brady would have 9 rings.

 

C'mon Gunner, you don't mean this seriously, do you?

 

You know that it doesn't work like this.

[frostbitmic]

Antonio Gates is #1 here

Torry Holt should be the next WR selected

Eli Manning - beat Brady in 2 Super Bowls

 

Reggie Wayne

Kuechly, Suggs

 

The rest of field minus Vinatieri ... No Special Team selection until Tasker is enshrined

Edited December 29, 2024 by frostbitmic

[thenorthremembers]

Kuechley was a great player but he shouldn't be in the hall of fame.   He is 66th on the all time tackle list and didn't play long enough to be considered an all time great.   

[chongli]

Five senior/coach/contributor finalists will also be considered for enshrinement. But a new rule this year is at least one, but no more than three, can be chosen.

 

Seniors category Finalists:

 

Maxie Baughan

Sterling Sharpe

Jim Tyrer

 

Coach Finalist:

Mike Holmgren

 

Contributor Finalist:

Ralph Hay

[Bills!Win!]

Too many non-household name o-linemen on there 

[GunnerBill]

17 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

C'mon Gunner, you don't mean this seriously, do you?

 

You know that it doesn't work like this.

 

I mean maybe he wouldn't  - maybe he wouldn't have played on after New England. But I don't see what winning those two Superbowls would have changed about the Patriots dynasty thereafter. So I'll accept it possibly could have been 8.

[SoCal Deek]

Is this saying that Antonio Gates didn’t get in as a first ballot HOFer? Is that possible? 

[st pete gogolak]

Just now, SoCal Deek said:

Is this saying that Antonio Gates didn’t get in as a first ballot HOFer? Is that possible? 

Agree 100%. How is he not already in?

[SMAKCruiser]

Did Ruben Brown ever make it as a finalist?

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Is this saying that Antonio Gates didn’t get in as a first ballot HOFer? Is that possible? 

 

Yep. Last year was his first year of eligibility and he was passed over.

1 minute ago, SMAKCruiser said:

Did Ruben Brown ever make it as a finalist?

 

Don't think so. Might have made the cut to 25 a few times but never the final cut.

[Brandon]

Jared Allen and Torry Holt, for sure.  Probably Gates as well. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Very weak class

 

Gates - should have been in last year

Eli - not a HOF talent but he will get in as a two time SB winning QB

Vinatieri - made one of the most clutch kicks of all time in Tuck rule game. 

Suggs - dominant pass rusher for many years

Holt - he's a fringe HOF player but in a weak class he probably makes it this year

 

 

[BRH]

27 minutes ago, chongli said:

Five senior/coach/contributor finalists will also be considered for enshrinement. But a new rule this year is at least one, but no more than three, can be chosen.

 

Seniors category Finalists:

 

Maxie Baughan

Sterling Sharpe

Jim Tyrer

 

Coach Finalist:

Mike Holmgren

 

Contributor Finalist:

Ralph Hay

 

Maxie Baughan, there's a name I haven't heard in forever.  Too young to see him play, but I remember him as the head coach at Cornell when I was in college. 

 

But this I had forgotten, if I ever knew it:

 

Quote

Baughan was named head coach of the Cornell Big Red college football team in 1983.[16] He led them to the Ivy League championship in 1988, their first since 1971. However, he was forced to resign before the next season after information surfaced about an affair he had with an assistant coach's wife.

 

Oops.  

 

He passed away last year, too.  Really hate when the HOFs wait until someone has kicked before they decide to let them in.  Kenny Stabler comes to mind.  Dick Allen just now in baseball.  I know that can't be controlled, but sometimes it just feels spiteful.

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by BRH

[chongli]

15 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Is this saying that Antonio Gates didn’t get in as a first ballot HOFer? Is that possible? 

 

These were the five enshrines (regular route) in 2024, which was Gates' first year of eligibility:

 

DWIGHT FREENEY

DEVIN HESTER

ANDRE JOHNSON

JULIUS PEPPERS

PATRICK WILLIS

 

Is Gates better than any of these five?

 

8 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

 

Gates - should have been in last year

 

So who among the five enshrines would you have replaced Gates with in 2024?

 

DWIGHT FREENEY

DEVIN HESTER

ANDRE JOHNSON

JULIUS PEPPERS

PATRICK WILLIS

Edited December 29, 2024 by chongli