CANTON, OHIO – Three first-year eligible nominees – Junior Seau, Orlando Pace, and Kurt Warner – are among the 15 Modern-Era Finalists who will be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the Hall's Selection Committee meets in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, January 31, 2015.
Joining the first-year eligible nominees, are nine other modern-era players and three coaches. The 15 Modern-Era Finalists join the senior finalist announced in August 2014 (former Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff) and two Contributor finalists announced in October (team executives Bill Polian and Ron Wolf) to comprise the list 18 finalists who will be considered for Hall of Fame election when the 46-member Selection Committee meets.
The 15 Modern-Era Finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall's Selection Committee from a list of 113 nominees that earlier was reduced to 26 semifinalists, during the multi-step, year-long selection process. Tingelhoff was selected as the Senior Finalist by the Hall of Fame's Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee reviews the qualifications of those players whose careers ended more than 25 years ago. Polian and Wolf were selected as the Contributor Finalists by the Hall of Fame's Contributor Committee. Contributors are persons who made outstanding contributions to professional football other than players and coaches.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee's 18 finalists (15 Modern-Era players and coaches, one Senior Finalist* and two Contributor Finalists**) with their positions, teams, and years active follow:
- Morten Andersen,Kicker –1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings
- Jerome Bettis, Running Back – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tim Brown, Wide Receiver/Kick Returner/Punt Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/ Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Don Coryell,Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
- Terrell Davis,Running Back – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
- Tony Dungy,Coach – 1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-08 Indianapolis Colts
- Kevin Greene, Linebacker/Defensive End – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
- Charles Haley, Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
- Marvin Harrison,Wide Receiver – 1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts
- Jimmy Johnson,Coach – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins
- John Lynch,Free Safety –1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
- Orlando Pace,Tackle – 1997-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Chicago Bears
- Bill Polian**,Contributor – 1978-1982 Kansas City Chiefs, 1984-1992 Buffalo Bills, 1993-94 National Football League, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers, 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts
- Junior Seau,Linebacker – 1990-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-05 Miami Dolphins, 2006-09 New England Patriots
- Will Shields, Guard – 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
- *Mick Tingelhoff,Center – 1962-1978 Minnesota Vikings
- Kurt Warner,Quarterback – 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals
- Ron Wolf**, Contributor – 1963-1974, 1979-1989 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1966 American Football League, 1976-78 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990-91 New York Jets, 1991-2001 Green Bay Packers
Although they have been nominees in previous years, this is the first time that Terrell Davis, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Polian, Mick Tingelhoff and Ron Wolf have been finalists.
YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for election, modern-era players and coaches must have last played or coached more than five seasons ago. Since contributors need not be retired to be eligible, there is no specific year of eligibility for Polian or Wolf.
SELECTION MEETING AND ANNOUNCEMENT
The Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015, in Phoenix, Arizona when the 46-person Selection Committee meets to elect the Class of 2015. For the second year, the Hall of Fame's newest class of enshrinees will be announced and introduced during the "4th Annual NFL Honors" show, a primetime awards show airing nationally that night on NBC.
At the 2015 Selection Meeting, the selectors will thoroughly discuss the careers of each finalist. Although there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's current ground rules stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected each year. No more than five modern-era finalists can be elected in a given year and thus a class of six, seven, or eight can only be achieved if the Senior finalist and/or one or both Contributor finalists are elected. Representatives of the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche will tabulate all votes during the meeting.
**
TIM BROWN**
Wide Receiver/Kick Returner/Punt Returner … 6-0, 195 … Notre Dame … 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers … 17 seasons, 255 games … Heisman Trophy Winner … Selected by Raiders in 1st round (6th player overall) of 1988 draft … As rookie led NFL in kickoff returns, return yards, and yards per return average … Led NFL in receptions, 1997 … Set Raiders franchise records for receptions, receiving yards, and punt return yards … At time of retirement his 14,934 receiving yards were second-highest total in NFL history; 1,094 receptions were 3rd; and 100 touchdown catches were tied for 3rd … Also gained 190 rushing yards; 3,320 punt return yards, 3 fumble return yards; 1,235 kickoff return yards … Total of 19,682 combined net yards, 5th all-time at time of retirement … Scored 105 total touchdowns (100 receiving, 1 rushing, 3 punt returns, 1 kickoff return) … Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, 1989 and 1992 as kick returner, 1994-98, 2000 and 2002 as a receiver … All-Pro choice as a kick returner, 1988 … All-Pro wide receiver, 1997 … Was named All-AFC as a kick returner, 1988, punt returner, 1991, and wide receiver, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 … Born July 22, 1966 in Dallas, Texas.
RON WOLF
Contributor … Oklahoma … 1963-1974, 1979-1989 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1966 American Football League, 1976-78 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990-91 New York Jets, 1991-2001 Green Bay Packers … Began career as a scout for Raiders in 1963 … Recognized as one of finest personnel men in pro football … Made lasting mark as longtime player personnel director for Raiders and later as the Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Green Bay Packers ... Wolf spent 23 seasons helping build a Raiders franchise that posted winning seasons in all but six years during that span … Raiders claimed nine division titles, played in eight AFL/AFC championship games and three Super Bowls ... In 1966 when Raiders owner Al Davis was named Commissioner of American Football League, Wolf joined AFL as Coordinator of Talent … Returned with Davis to Raiders prior to start of 1966 season, remaining through 1974 coordinating club's personnel operations … At age 37 named general manager of expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and built foundation that earned team trip to NFC championship by fourth season … Rejoined Raiders in 1979 heading up personnel operations until 1990 when he briefly joined the New York Jets … During 11 seasons as Executive VP/General Manager, turned Packers into dominant NFL Franchise, claiming three straight NFC Central Division titles and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances ... 1996 Packers posted first 16-win season in franchise history that included thrilling 35-21 win over New England in Super Bowl XXXI … Born December 30, 1938 in New Freedom, Pennsylvania.
