Exactly 50 Modern-Era Players have advanced in the voting process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 presented by Visual Edge IT. Candidates for the Hall in this category last could have appeared in a professional football game in the 2019 season.
Each member of the Modern-Era Players Screening Committee, a new entity created this year to add additional input around the overall selection process, cast a ballot for 50 individuals from a list of 167 nominees consisting of 94 offensive players, 56 defensive players and 17 special teamers. If any player(s) had tied for the 50th position, he would have remained eligible for the Class of 2025, but that did not occur this year.
The 50 Modern-Era Players who remain eligible for election with the Class of 2025 are:
(*-indicates Finalist for the Class of 2024. Underline indicates first year of eligibility.)
Below is the Top 50 and where they played their high school football.
QUARTERBACKS (2):
Eli Manning – Isidore Newman (Louisiana)
Steve McNair – Mount Olive (Missisippi)
RUNNING BACKS (6)
Shaun Alexander – Boone County (Kentucky)
Tiki Barber – Cave Spring (Virginia)
Eddie George – Fork Union Military (Virginia)
Marshawn Lynch – Oakland Tech (California)
Fred Taylor* – Central Glades (Florida)
Ricky Watters – Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
Anquan Boldin – Pahokee (Florida)
Torry Holt* – Eastern Guilford (North Carolina)
Jimmy Smith – Callaway (Mississippi)
Steve Smith Sr. – University (Los Angeles, California)
Hines Ward – Forest Park (Georgia)
Reggie Wayne* – John Ehret (Louisiana)
TIGHT ENDS (2)
Ben Coates – Greenwood (South Carolina)
Antonio Gates* – Central (Detroit, Michigan)
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12)
Willie Anderson* (T) –
Lomas Brown, Tackle – Miami Springs (Florida)
Ruben Brown, Guard – Glass (Virginia)
Jahri Evans*, Guard – Frankford (Pennsylvania)
Olin Kreutz, Center – Saint Louis (Hawaii)
Logan Mankins, Guard – Mariposa (California)
Jeff Saturday, Center – Shamrock (Georgia)
Joe Staley, Tackle – Rockford (Michigan)
Richmond Webb, Tackle – Roosevelt (Dallas, Texas)
Erik Williams, Tackle – John Bartram (Pennsylvania)
Steve Wisniewski, Guard – Westfield (Texas)
Marshal Yanda, Guard – Anamosa (Iowa)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (8)
John Abraham, Defensive End also Linebacker – Lamar (South Carolina)
Jared Allen*, Defensive End – Los Gatos (California)
Robert Mathis, Defensive End – McNair (Georgia)
Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle – Highland (Utah)
Simeon Rice, Defensive End – Mount Carmel (Chicago, Illinois)
Neil Smith, Defensive End – McDonogh 35 (Louisiana)
Vince Wilfork, Defensive End/Nose Tackle – Santaluces (Florida)
Kevin Williams (DT) – Fordyce (Arkansas)
LINEBACKERS
Cornelius Bennett – Ensley (Alabama)
London Fletcher – Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Ohio)
James Harrison – Coventry (Ohio)
Luke Kuechly – St. Xavier (Ohio)
Terrell Suggs – Hamilton (Arizona)
DEFENSIVE BACKS (6)
Eric Allen*, Cornerback – Point Loma (California)
Kam Chancellor, Safety – Maury (Virginia)
Rodney Harrison*, Safety – Marian Catholic (Chicago, Illinois)
Earl Thomas, Safety – West Orange-Stark (Texas)
Troy Vincent, Cornerback – Pennsbury (Pennsylvania)
Darren Woodson*, Safety – Maryvale (Arizona)
SPECIAL TEAMS (3):
Gary Anderson, Kicker – South Africa
Brian Mitchell, Kick Returner/Punt Returner also Running Back – Plaquemine (Louisiana)
Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – Central (Rapid City, South Dakota)
In the next step of the process, each member of the Hall of Fame’s full Selection Committee will review the above list and cast a vote for the 25 nominees each believes should advance to the Semifinalist stage. The names of the 25 Semifinalists (plus ties if any for the 25th position) will be announced in about four weeks.
Reduction votes also are occurring in the Seniors, Coach and Contributor categories. Eventually, 20 Finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl LIX: 15 Modern-Era Players, three Seniors, one Coach and one Contributor.
While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the Hall of Fame’s selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.
