The NFL Selection Committee has released the 15 finalists for the Modern Era player nominees for the NFL Hall of Fame.
Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, and Jason Witten all made the list in their first year of eligibility.
They will be joining returning players:
Willie Anderson
Torry Holt
Luke Kuechly
Adam Venatieri
Eli Manning
Reggie Wayne
Jahri Evans
Marshall Yanda
Terrell Suggs
and Darren Woodson
In his sixth year of eligibility, defensive tackle Kevin Williams has made it to the finalist list.
The 50 member Selection Committee will determine the three to five new inductees to the Hall of Fame. The newest class will be revealed as a part of Super Bowl week festivities on February 5.
Senior class nominees Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood; along with coaching candidate Bill Belichek and contributor Robert Kraft will also be considered for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame with one to three of them earning the honour.
In all four to eight new Hall of Famers will earn their gold jackets in August.
Last year’s class of four new Hall of Famers is the smallest class in the past 20 years.