Five individuals have reached the Finalist stage across three categories for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 presented by Visual Edge IT.
Moving within one step of inclusion in the next class of enshrinees are Ralph Hay (Contributor), Mike Holmgren (Coach), and Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer (Seniors). The remaining bar to clear: approval from at least 80% of the members of the full Selection Committee at their annual meeting next year in advance of the class unveiling during Super Bowl LIX week in New Orleans, La.
For the first time, the Finalists from these categories within the selection process are competing directly against each other under bylaws the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors approved earlier this year. The revision to the process will help ensure the exclusivity of inclusion in the game’s most elite fraternity.
Each member of the Selection Committee may vote for only three of the five Finalists. With the bylaws revision, a maximum of three (3) of this year’s Finalists can be elected. If none of the five individuals receives 80% approval, then the one who receives the most support would be elected to the Class of 2025.
Contributor Finalist: Ralph Hay
Hay, an automobile dealer and the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918-1922, is credited with organizing owners of professional football teams in his showroom in Canton in 1920 and forming an association that two years later was renamed the National Football League. His supporters have said that among all major professional sports only football has yet to enshrine into its Hall of Fame the person (or persons) credited with founding its dominant league(s).
The other eight Semifinalists in the Contributor category this year were K.S. “Bud” Adams, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Art Rooney Jr., Seymour Siwoff, Doug Williams and John Wooten.
Coach Finalist: Mike Holmgren
Holmgren served as head coach in Green Bay from 1992-98, leading the Packers to the playoffs six times in those seven seasons, and with the Seattle Seahawks (1999-2008). His overall record of 174-122 includes winning Super Bowl XXXI with the Packers, ending the franchise’s 29-year title drought. He also reached Super Bowl XL after winning the NFC championship with the Seahawks.
As an assistant, Holmgren also won two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers.
The eight other Semifinalists in the Coach category this year were Bill Arnsparger, Tom Coughlin, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Mike Shanahan and Clark Shaughnessy.
Seniors Finalists (three): Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe, Jim Tyrer
Baughan, an outside linebacker, played from 1960 to 1970, then came out of retirement in 1974 to provide a veteran presence under longtime mentor George Allen in Washington. A nine-time Pro-Bowler, Baughan won an NFL Championship with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played from 1960-65 before joining the Los Angeles Rams (1966-1970).
Sharpe made five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro squads during his seven-year career (1988-94) with the Green Bay Packers that was cut short by a neck injury. His 18 touchdown receptions in his final season are still good for third best in league history. His career totals include 595 receptions for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns.
Tyrer was considered one of the dominant offensive tackles of his era. He was selected as a member of the AFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s and played in nine AFL All-Star Games in a career that spanned 13 years with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (1961-1973) and – like Baughan – one season in Washington (1974). He won a ring as a member of the Super Bowl IV champion Chiefs and was part of three AFL championship teams with the Texans/Chiefs.
Also reaching the Semifinalist stage were Ken Anderson, Lester Hayes, Bob Kuechenberg, Albert Lewis, Stanley Morgan and Al Wistert. Players in this category last could have appeared in a professional game in the 1999 season.
Modern-Era Players
Reduction voting also has been occurring for Modern-Era Players – those whose career ended after the 2000 season – with this category currently in the Semifinalist stage.
The 25 players still under consideration for the Class of 2025 are: quarterback Eli Manning; running backs Fred Taylor and Ricky Watters; wide receivers Anquan Boldin, Torry Holt, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward and Reggie Wayne; tight end Antonio Gates; offensive linemen Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski and Marshal Yanda; defensive backs Eric Allen, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas and Darren Woodson; linebackers James Harrison, Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs; defensive linemen Jared Allen, Robert Mathis and Vince Wilfork; and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Selectors will reduce the number to 15 Finalists, with those names announced Dec. 28 through the Hall of Fame and on NFL Network.
When the Selection Committee meets to choose the Class of 2025, a minimum of three and a maximum of five Modern-Era Players will comprise the new class along with the Finalists (one, two or three) from the pool of Coach/Contributor/Seniors candidates.
This year's reduction voting is being completed via online platforms with oversight from the firm Ernst & Young LLP. EY’s Agreed-Upon Procedures included validating the completeness of the ballots and tabulating the ballots in accordance with the bylaws established by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.
EY has overseen the Hall’s selection process since the Centennial Class of 2020.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will be announced during the “NFL Honors” show Feb. 6, at Saenger Theater in New Orleans, and they will be enshrined in August in Canton.