Julius Peppers
Antonio Gates
18 of the semifinalists were semifinalists last year. Tiki Barber is a semifinalist for the first time after about a decade of waiting.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Semifinalists
- Eric Allen, CB – 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021-24)
- Jared Allen, DE – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021-24)
- Willie Anderson, T – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2021-24)
- Tiki Barber, RB – 1997-2006 New York Giants | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2024)
- Anquan Boldin, WR – 2003-09 Arizona Cardinals, 2010-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013-15 San Francisco 49ers, 2016 Detroit Lions | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
- Jahri Evans, G – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
- London Fletcher, LB – 1998-2001 St. Louis Rams, 2002-06 Buffalo Bills, 2007-2013 Washington Redskins | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
- Dwight Freeney, DE – 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
- Antonio Gates, TE – 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2024)
- Eddie George, RB – 1996-2003 Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans, 2004 Dallas Cowboys (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022, 2024)
- James Harrison, LB – 2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2023-24)
- Rodney Harrison, S – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2021, 2023-24)
- Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
- Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 — 2015-24)
- Andre Johnson, WR – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
- Robert Mathis, DE/LB – 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
- Julius Peppers, DE – 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers, 2010-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Green Bay Packers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2024)
- Steve Smith Sr., WR – 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
- Fred Taylor, RB – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020-24)
- Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2017-2024)
- Ricky Watters, RB – 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2020, 2022-24)
- Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020-24)
- Vince Wilfork, DT – 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2022-24)
- Patrick Willis, LB – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2020-24)
- Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2024)
The 25 semifinalists will be trimmed to 15 finalists. The finalists will join Coach/Contributor nominee Buddy Parker and Senior nominees Art Powell, Randy Gradishar, and Steve McMichael for final discussions by the 50-person Selection Committee in advance Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The Pro Football Hall Fame Class of 2024 will be announced live on the “NFL Honors” telecast on February 8.
When the Semifinalists are announced, I can’t help but reduce the list to “my” Hall of Fame Class. Julius Peppers should make it to Canton in his first year. While I wouldn’t be surprised if Antonio Gates also makes it in his first year, I’m not so sure that he should. Making it in the first year must mean something. If there’s even a moment of pause when considering a player, he waits. Making it in the first year should be for those players that leave no doubt.
The voters must do something about the receiver logjam that’s been forming. This might be a good year to get a couple of them into Canton. Personally, I would like to Steve Smith Sr. to be one of them. He was one of my favorite players throughout his career. He was so damn much fun. Unfortunately for Smith, I think that it’s time for receivers that have been waiting much longer.
Torry Holt
Hines Ward
Torry Holt’s been waiting a decade. Hines Ward has been waiting eight years. Deciding between Ward and Reggie Wayne was tough. Ward might not have the stats of some of the other receiver contenders but he did so much more for than catch passes for those Pittsburgh Steelers offenses. He also contributed to Super Bowl wins, winning MVP of Super Bowl XL.
After the receivers, I’m getting a couple great defensive players to Canton.
Jared Allen
Patrick Willis
Allen was one of the league’s best pass rusher for about a decade. He should’ve been Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Probably 2008 as well. He was such a fun football player. Allen has been a finalist each of his previous three years of eligibility. It feels like this should be the year he finally makes it to Canton. The Hall of Fame journey of Patrick Willis has been a mystery. He was one of the best linebackers I’ve ever seen play. I thought that his career deserved first ballot consideration. Willis didn’t even make it to the semi-finalist stage in 2019. He was a semifinalist in 2020 and 2021. He was finally a finalist in 2022. As with Torry Holt, Hines Ward, and Jared Allen, it feels like the time is right for Willis.
So, here’s my Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Julius Peppers
Torry Holt
Hines Ward
Jared Allen
Patrick Willis
In my opinion, Lavvie Dilweg/Verne Lewellen and Al Wistert should’ve joined Randy Gradishar as Senior Nominees. The Hall of Fame selectors are more interested in jamming Super Bowl-era players into Canton rather than properly handling the league’s distant past. As for Buddy Parker, it’s about damn time. My Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes the Coach/Contributor and Senior Nominees.
Buddy Parker
Art Powell
Randy Gradishar
Steve McMichael
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