We now know the 25 Modern-Era semifinalists for the Class of 2025 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This year’s final twenty-five include six first-year eligible candidates and 17 players who were semifinalists for the Class of 2024.
Modern-Era Players making the cut to semifinalist in their first year of eligibility are Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Terrell Suggs, Earl Thomas, Adam Vinatieri and Marshal Yanda. Each last played a professional football game in the 2019 season.
As we always do, we give you a look at where the Road to Canton began. Below are the semifinalists and where they played high school football.
Related: top 50 for Class of 2025
Related: 167 nomiees for Pro Football HOF Class of ’25
California, Florida and Texas lead the way with three former high school football players each on the semifinal list. Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania each have two semifinalists.
Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina and South Dakota each have one former high schooler in the running for the Class of 2025.
Eric Allen, Cornerback – Point Loma HS (California)
Professional Career: 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders – Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2021-25
Jared Allen, Defensive End – Los Gatos HS (California)
2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers – Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2021-25
Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – Vigor HS (Alabama)
1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens – Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2021-25
Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver – Pahokee HS (Florida)
2003-09 Arizona Cardinals, 2010-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013-15 San Francisco 49ers, 2016 Detroit Lions – Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25
Jahri Evans, Guard – Frankford HS (Pennsylvania)
2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers – Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2023-25
Antonio Gates, Tight End – Central HS (Detroit, Michigan)
2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers – Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2024-25
James Harrison, Linebacker – Coventry HS (Ohio)
2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots – Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2023-25
Rodney Harrison, Safety – Marian Catholic (Chicago, Illinois)
1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots – Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021, 2023-25
Tory Holt, Wide Receiver – Eastern Guilford HS (North Carolina)
1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars – Times as a Semifinalist: 11 – 2015-2025
Luke Kuechly, Linebacker – St. Xavier HS (Ohio)
2012-19 Carolina Panthers – Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025
Eli Manning, Quarterback – Isidore Newman HS (Louisiana)
2004-2019 New York Giants – Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025
Robert Mathis, Defensive End/Linebacker – McNair HS (Georgia)
2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts – Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25
Steve Smith, Sr., Wide Receiver – University HS (Los Angeles, California)
2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens – Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25
Terrell Suggs, Linebacker – Hamilton HS (Arizona)
2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025)
Fred Taylor, Running Back – Glades Central HS (Florida)
1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots – Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2020-25
Earl Thomas, Defensive Back – West Orange-Stark HS (Texas)
2010-18 Seattle Seahawks, 2019 Baltimore Ravens – Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025
Adam Vinatieri, Placekicker – Central (Rapid City, South Dakota)
1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts – Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025
Hines Ward, Wide Receiver – Forest Park HS (Georgia)
1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers – Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2017-2025
Ricky Watters, Running Back – Bishop McDevitt HS (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks – Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020, 2022-25
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – John Ehret HS (Louisiana)
2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts – Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2020-25
Richmond Webb, Tackle – Roosevelt HS (Dallas, Texas)
1990-2000 Miami Dolphins, 2001-02 Cincinnati Bengals – Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025
Vince Wilfork, Defensive Tackle – Santaluces HS (Florida)
2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans – Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2022-25
Steve Wisniewki, Guard – Westfield HS (Texas)
1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders – (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2014, 2025
Darren Woodson, Safety – Maryvale HS (Arizona)
1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys – Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2025
Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle – Anamosa HS (Iowa)
2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens – Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2025
This list will be cut to fifteen finalists on December 28. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will be announced at NFL Honors in New Orleans, Louisiana in February before the Super Bowl. Enshrinement is set for August in Canton.
