Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2021 Semifinalists
On November 24, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Class of 2021. The list is highlighted by former Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, ex-Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, former Raiders and Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, and ex-Chiefs and Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen, all of who are in their first year of eligibility.
The list will be whittled down to 15 finalists in early January, and the Selection Committee will name between four and eight new members to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 6, the day before Super Bowl LV.
Here is a breakdown of the 25 semifinalists:
OFFENSE
QB Peyton Manning – Won five MVP Awards, two-time champion, Super Bowl XLI MVP, 14 Pro Bowls, seven All-Pros, 2005 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, member of NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, career 71,940 passing yards and 539 touchdowns in 18 seasons with the Colts and Broncos
RB Fred Taylor – Pro Bowl in 2007, career 11,695 rushing yards and 66 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Jaguars and Patriots
WR Torry Holt – Seven Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 2003, champion in Super Bowl XXXIV, career 920 receptions, 13,382 yards, and 74 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Rams and Jaguars
WR Calvin Johnson – Six Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, NFL record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,964 in 2012, career 731 receptions, 11,619 yards, and 83 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Lions
WR Hines Ward – Two-time champion, Super Bowl XL MVP, four Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 1,000 receptions, 12,083 yards, and 85 touchdowns in 14 seasons with the Steelers
WR Reggie Wayne – Super Bowl XLI champion, six Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 2010, career 1,070 receptions, 14,345 yards, and 82 touchdowns in 14 seasons with the Colts
T Willie Anderson – Four Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 195 games in 13 seasons with the Bengals and Ravens
T Tony Boselli – Five Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1998, career 91 games in seven seasons with the Jaguars
G Alan Faneca – Super Bowl XL champion, nine Pro Bowls, six All-Pros, career 206 games in 13 seasons with the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals
DEFENSE
DE Jared Allen – Five Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, led the NFL with 22 sacks in 2011, career 136 sacks in 187 games over 12 seasons with the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears, and Panthers
DE/DT Richard Seymour – Three-time champion, seven Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 57½ sacks in 12 seasons with the Patriots and Raiders
DT Bryant Young – Super Bowl XXIX champion, four Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 1995, Comeback Player of the Year in 1999, career 89½ sacks in 208 games over 14 seasons with the 49ers
LB Cornelius Bennett – Played in four straight Super Bowls with Buffalo in the early 1990s, five Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 71½ sacks in 206 games over 14 seasons with the Bills, Falcons, and Colts
LB Clay Matthews Jr. – Father of former Packers and Rams linebacker, Clay Matthews III, four Pro Bowls, career 69½ sacks in 278 games over 19 seasons with the Browns and Falcons
LB Sam Mills – Passed away from intestinal cancer in 2005, five Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 1995, two-time USFL champion, three-time All-USFL, career 20½ sacks, and 1,265 tackles in 181 games over 12 seasons with the Saints and Panthers
LB Zach Thomas – Seven Pro Bowls, five All-Pros, career 20½ sacks and 1,734 tackles in 184 games over 13 seasons with the Dolphins and Cowboys
LB Patrick Willis – Seven Pro Bowls, five All-Pros, Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, career 20½ sacks and 950 tackles in 112 games over eight seasons with the 49ers
CB Eric Allen – Six Pro Bowls, All-Pro in 1989, career 54 interceptions and 787 tackles in 217 games over 14 seasons with the Eagles, Saints, and Raiders
CB Ronde Barber – Super Bowl XXXVII champion, five Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 47 interceptions, 28 sacks, and 1,251 tackles in 241 games over 16 seasons with the Buccaneers
CB/S Charles Woodson – Super Bowl XLV champion, nine Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998, Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, career 65 interceptions, 20 sacks, and 1,220 tackles in 254 games over 18 seasons with the Raiders and Packers
S LeRoy Butler – Super Bowl XXXI champion, four Pro Bowls and All-Pros, career 38 interceptions, 20½ sacks, and 889 tackles in 181 games over 12 seasons with the Packers
S Rodney Harrison – Two-time champion, two Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, career 34 interceptions, 30½ sacks, and 1,206 tackles in 186 games over 14 seasons with the Chargers and Patriots
S John Lynch – Current general manager of the 49ers, Super Bowl XXXVII champion, nine Pro Bowls, two All-Pros, career 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, and 1,059 tackles in 224 games over 15 seasons with the Buccaneers and Broncos
S Darren Woodson – Three-time champion, five Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, career 23 interceptions, 11 sacks, and 967 tackles in 178 games over 12 seasons with the Cowboys
SPECIAL TEAMS
ST/WR Steve Tasker - Played in four straight Super Bowls with Buffalo in the early 1990s, seven Pro Bowls and All-Pros, career 790 yards, and nine touchdowns as a receiver in 13 seasons with the Oilers and Bills
OTHER NOMINEES
In addition to the modern-era finalists, three others will be up for consideration by the Selection Committee on Feb. 6:
WR Drew Pearson (senior finalist) – Super Bowl XII champion, three Pro Bowls and All-Pros, career 489 receptions, 7,822 yards, and 48 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Cowboys
Bill Nunn (contributor) – Passed away after suffering in stroke in 2014, was a part of six Steelers championships as a scout and Assistant Personnel Director from 1970-2014, also was a sportswriter and a newspaper editor, and he was an inaugural member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2010
Tom Flores (coach) – Won a championship as a player with the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, was an assistant coach for the Raiders’ win in Super Bowl XI and won two titles as Oakland’s head coach, career 97-87 record in 12 seasons with the Raiders and Seahawks, was a color commentator for Raiders games from 1997-2008
Writer
-By: Kevin Rakas