Willie Anderson, a member of the Bengals Ring of Honour, is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the fourth consecutive year.
On a list led by Anderson, five-time finalist Jared Allen, and six-time finalists Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, the Hall announced the 15 names from the contemporary period on Saturday morning.Coach nominee Mike Holmgren, contributor nominee Ralph Hay, and senior nominees Maxie Baughan, Jim Tyrer, and Sterling Sharpe are also on the final ballot.
The 50-person selection committee, of which Bengals.com is a part, will vote to determine the 2025 class, which will be revealed on February 6 during Super Bowl celebrations in New Orleans at NFL Honours.
The 48-year-old Anderson, who was regarded as one of the NFL’s most dominant players at the turn of the century, became the only right tackle in the previous 50 years to be selected to three consecutive All-Pro teams between 2004 and 2006. He was selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Bengals, where he blocked for the team’s all-time leading rusher, Corey Dillon, and led Cincinnati to its first AFC North title in 2005. He played for the Ravens in 2008 before retiring after twelve years as a Bengal.
Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and guard Marshal Yanda, two of his teammates from that Baltimore squad, are also included as first-time eligibles among the 15 modern-era finalists. Adam Vinatieri, Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, and other finalists are all first-time eligibles.
Up to five players from the contemporary era may be chosen by the selection committee; each candidate must obtain at least 80% of the vote to be elected. There may be four to eight inductees in the class.
The 15-person list:
Cornerback Eric Allen, 1988–1994 1995–1997 Philadelphia Eagles Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, 1998–2001
Defence End Jared Allen played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004 to 2007, the Minnesota Vikings from 2008 to 2013, the Chicago Bears from 2014 to 2015, and the Carolina Panthers in 2015.
Tackle Willie Anderson, 1996-2007 2008 Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Guard Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints, 2006–2016, 2017 The Green Bay Packers
Tight End, Antonio Gates, 2003–2018 Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers
Wide receiver Torry Holt played for the St. Louis Rams from 1999 to 2008 and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009.
Linebacker Luke Kuechly, 2012–19 The Carolina Panthers
Eli Manning, New York Giants quarterback, 2004–2019
Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., 2001–2013
Terrell Suggs, a defensive end and outside linebacker, played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens from 2003 to 2018.
Running back Fred Taylor played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1998 to 2008 and the New England Patriots from 2009 to 2010.Kicker Adam Vinatieri played for the New England Patriots from 1996 to 2005 and the Indianapolis Colts from 2006 to 2019.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2001 to 2014.
Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson, 1992–2003
Baltimore Ravens guard/tackle Marshal Yanda, 2007–2019
Leave a Reply