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5 eligible freshman candidates from a shortlist drawn from 129 nominees
CANTON, OHIO – Five eligible first-year nominees are among the 28 Modern Era Players semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.
The list of candidates for election to the Hall of Fame, which will take place early next year, also includes 19 players who were semi-finalists for the Class of 2022.
Modern-era players who qualify for semi-finalists in their first year of eligibility are offensive linemen Jahri Evans and Joe Thomas, defensive lineman Dwight Freeney, linebacker James Harrison and defensive back Darelle Revis. Every last played in the 2017 season.
To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominee must not have participated as an active player for five consecutive seasons.
Henry Ellard, who retired after the 1998 season, reached the semi-final stage for the first time. London Fletcher is also a first-time semi-finalist; he retired after the 2013 season. Albert Lewis, a semi-finalist in 2013 who also retired in 1998, reached this stage for the second time. Both Ellard and Lewis are in their final year of eligibility as modern-era players.
The 28 semi-finalists will be narrowed down again – to 15 finalists – before the final voting process for the Class of 2023.
2023 Modern Era Players Semifinalist Class
Here is the list of 2023 Modern Era Player Semifinalists including their positions, years and teams. The number of times and years the nominee has been named a semi-finalist since this reduction vote was added to the Hall of Fame bylaws in 2004 is also listed. (To note: The bylaws state that the number of semi-finalists must be 25 – or a higher number if the players are tied for 25th position.)
- Eric Allen, CB – Philadelphia Eagles 1988-94, New Orleans Saints 1995-97, Oakland Raiders 1998-2001 | (Times as semi-finalist: 3 – 2021-23)
- Jared Allen, DE – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers | (Times as semi-finalist: 3 – 2021-23)
- Willie Anderson, T – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as semi-finalist: 3 – 2021-23)
- round barber, CB/S – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997-2012 | (Times as semi-finalist: 6 – 2018-2023)
- Anquan Boldin, WR – Arizona Cardinals 2003-09, Baltimore Ravens 2010-12, San Francisco 49ers 2013-15, Detroit Lions 2016 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Henry Ellard, WR – Los Angeles Rams 1983-93, Washington Redskins 1994-98, New England Patriots 1998 | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- Jahri Evans, G – New Orleans Saints 2006-2016, Green Bay Packers 2017 | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- London Fletcher, LB – 1998-2001 St. Louis Rams, 2002-06 Buffalo Bills, 2007-2013 Washington Redskins | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- Dwight Freeney, DE – Indianapolis Colts 2002-2012, San Diego Chargers 2013-14, Arizona Cardinals 2015, Atlanta Falcons 2016, Seattle Seahawks 2017, Detroit Lions 2017 | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- James Harrisson, LB – 2002-2012, Pittsburgh Steelers 2014-17, Cincinnati Bengals 2013, New England Patriots 2017 | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- Rodney Harrison, S – San Diego Chargers 1994-2002, New England Patriots 2003-08 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2021, 2023)
- Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR – Chicago Bears 2006-2013, Atlanta Falcons 2014-15, Baltimore Ravens 2016 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Number of times as a semi-finalist: 9 – 2015-2023)
- Andre Johnson, WR – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Albert Lewis, CB – Kansas City Chiefs 1983-93, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1994-98 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2013, 2023)
- Robert Mathis, DE/LB – Indianapolis Colts 2003-2016 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Darelle Revis, CB – 2007-2012, New York Jets 2015-16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013, New England Patriots 2014, Kansas City Chiefs 2017 | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- Steve Smith Sr. WR – Carolina Panthers 2001-2013, Baltimore Ravens 2014-16 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Fred Taylor, RB – Jacksonville Jaguars 1998-2008, New England Patriots 2009-2010 | (Times as semi-finalist: 4 – 2020-23)
- Joe Thomas, T–Cleveland Browns 2007-2017 | (Times as semi-finalist: 1 – 2023)
- Zack Thomas, LB – Miami Dolphins 1996-2007, Dallas Cowboys 2008 | (Times as semi-finalist: 5 – 2019-2023)
- Hines district, WR – Pittsburgh Steelers 1998-2011 | (Times as semi-finalist: 7 – 2017-2023)
- By Marcus Ware, LB/DE – Dallas Cowboys 2005-2013, Denver Broncos 2014-16 | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Ricky Watters, RB – San Francisco 49ers 1992-94, Philadelphia Eagles 1995-97, Seattle Seahawks 1998-2001 | (Times as semi-finalist: 3 – 2020, 2022-23)
- Reggie Wayne, WR–Indianapolis Colts 2001-2014 | (Times as semi-finalist: 4 – 2020-23)
- Vince Wilford, DT – 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans | (Times as semi-finalist: 2 – 2022-23)
- Patrick Willis, LB–San Francisco 49ers 2007-2014 | (Times as semi-finalist: 4 – 2020-23)
- Darren Woodson, S – Dallas Cowboys 1992-2003 | (Times as semi-finalist: 7 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2023)
The list of semi-finalists, announced live on Tuesday NFL Network, was reduced from an initial group of 129 nominees announced in September. This is the highest number of semi-finalists since the Hall adopted the process of reducing the list of nominees to 25 (plus ties) in 2004.
What is the next step in the selection process?
The next step in the selection process comes when the semi-finalists are narrowed down to 15 modern-era player finalists. This list grows to 19 finalists with the inclusion of nominees recommended by the Hall of Fame Coaches/Contributors Committee, Don Coryell; and Elders Committee, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and And Riley.
The Hall of Fame’s 49-person selection committee will select the Class of 2023 ahead of Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona. The class will be announced live on the “NFL Honors” telecast scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on February 9. Although there is no fixed number for any category of members, the statutes of the selection committee provide that between four and nine new members will be selected.
Coach/Contributor and Senior finalists are voted “yes” or “no” at the annual selection meeting and must receive at least 80% committee support to be elected. Modern Era finalist players will be reduced in the meeting from 15 to 10, then from 10 to five. The remaining five finalists will be elected individually, “yes” or “no”, and must receive the same 80% positive vote as the Coach/Contributor and Senior Finalists to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Learn more here:
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be dedicated next August (expected date: August 5) in Guangzhou as part of the 2023 Dedication Week powered by Johnson Controls. Other events during the week of festivities include the Hall of Fame Game (teams TBD) and the Gold Jacket Dinner. For more information, visit https://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/.
The selection process aligns with the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s important mission to “honor the game’s greatest, preserve its history, promote its values and celebrate excellence together.”
Breakdown of Modern Era Player Semifinalists
OFFENSE – 12
BR (2): Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters
RE (7): Anquan Boldin, Henry Ellard, Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne
OL (3): Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Joe Thomas
DEFENSE – 15
DB (6): Eric Allen, Ronde Barber, Rodney Harrison, Albert Lewis, Darrelle Revis, Darren Woodson
LB (5): London Fletcher, James Harrison, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware (also DE), Patrick Willis
DL (4): Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis (also LB), Vince Wilfork
SPECIAL TEAMS – 1
Devin Hester (also WR)
Hall of Fame Fan Vote presented by Ford
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame fan voting presented by Ford has continued since its launch in September. Fans can vote as many times as they want on www.profootballhof.com/fanvote to predict the five modern-era players who will be elected to the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2023.
Fans who vote automatically become eligible for multiple raffle prizes, including a grand prize trip for two (2) to Dedication Week 2023 powered by Johnson Controls in Canton.
This is the 12th consecutive year that Ford, the official automobile of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has invited fans to predict the outcome of the Hall of Fame’s annual class. (To note: The result of the fan vote does not affect a player’s chances of being elected.)