Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight finish Antonio Gates are among the many finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
The Hall on Saturday introduced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who superior from a gaggle of 25 to the ultimate stage of voting. The group consists of 5 gamers of their first yr of eligibility, 9 who had been finalists final yr and broad receiver Steve Smith Sr., who made it this far for the primary time in his fourth yr of eligibility.
The choice committee will vote subsequent month to choose the category of three to 5 modern-era gamers that can be introduced the week of the Super Bowl.
Five others are also into account for enshrinement, with Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer finalists within the seniors class, Mike Holmgren within the coaches class, and Ralph Hay as a contributor. One to 3 of these nominees additionally will get inducted into the Hall.
Manning, Kuechly and Suggs are finalists of their first yr of eligibility, together with postseason kicking star Adam Vinatieri and former Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda.
Gates was a first-time finalist for the 2024 class and is again at this stage, with defensive finish Jared Allen; broad receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans; defensive backs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; and operating again Fred Taylor additionally advancing.
Manning will look to comply with his brother Peyton into the Hall following a standout profession with the New York Giants. Manning was picked first total within the 2004 draft and spent his total profession in New York. He led the Giants to an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots within the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, throwing a game-winning landing cross to Plaxico Burress within the ultimate minute.
He led one other late landing drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots once more 4 years later. Manning is one among 13 quarterbacks to win a number of Super Bowls, with eight of the 9 who’re eligible for the Hall having gotten inducted.
Only Jim Plunkett has not been inducted, together with more moderen gamers Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes, who aren’t but eligible.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler however by no means made an All-Pro workforce or led the league in a serious statistical class in a season. He completed his profession with 57,023 passing yards and 366 touchdowns.
His greatest moments got here throughout these two postseason runs. Manning joined Brady (5), Mahomes (three), Joe Montana (three), Bart Starr (two) and Terry Bradshaw (two) as the one a number of winners of Super Bowl MVP awards.
Kuechly and Suggs had been among the many prime defensive gamers of their period, with Kuechly chosen as the highest defensive participant in 2013 and Suggs in 2011.
Kuechly’s profession was temporary however impactful. The first-round choose by the Carolina Panthers in 2012 was an All-Pro 5 instances, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Over his eight-year profession, Kuechly led all linebackers within the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defended (66).
Suggs was one of many prime cross rushers within the NFL over his 17-year profession, together with his 139 sacks rating eighth greatest since that turned an official stat in 1982.
He had seven double-digit sack seasons in his 16 years with Baltimore, together with 14 in 2011, when he was chosen as the highest defensive participant within the league and led the NFL with seven pressured fumbles.
Gates performed solely basketball in faculty earlier than turning into one of many NFL’s prime tight ends after being drafted by the Chargers. He turned an All-Pro in his second season in 2004. He was an All-Pro once more the subsequent two seasons and went on to have a 16-year profession with the workforce.
He completed with 955 catches for 11,841 yards and an NFL file for tight ends with 116 landing receptions.
Vinatieri was some of the clutch kickers in NFL historical past, making the game-winning discipline objectives within the first two Super Bowl titles throughout New England’s dynasty.
He helped launch the run with one of many recreation’s biggest kicks — a 45-yarder within the snow to power additional time within the “Tuck Rule” recreation towards the Raiders within the 2001 divisional spherical. He made the game-winning kick in additional time to beat the Raiders after which hit a 48-yarder on the ultimate play of a 20-17 win within the Super Bowl towards the Rams.
Vinatieri is the NFL’s profession chief in factors (2,673) and made discipline objectives (599) over a 24-year profession with New England and Indianapolis. He additionally leads all gamers with 56 discipline objectives and 238 factors within the postseason.
