Pro Football Hall Of Fame Semifinalists

The Modern-era Semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 were announced yesterday. Among the 25 are three in their first year of eligibility-cornerback Champ Bailey, tight end Tony Gonzalez, and safety Ed Reed. Two others-coach Tom Flores and linebacker Zach Thomas-have been eligible for a while but are semifinalists for the first time. The remaining 20 have been semifinalists in previous years.

The 25 Modern-era Semifinalists

• Steve Atwater, S – 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2012-19)
• Champ Bailey, CB – 1999-2003 Washington Redskins, 2004-2013 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
• Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-19)
• Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2016-19)
• Isaac Bruce, WR – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
• LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-19)
• Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 11 – 2005, 2010-19)
• Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2016-19)
• Tom Flores, Coach – 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
• Tony Gonzalez, TE – 1997-2008 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009-2013 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
• Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
• Steve Hutchinson, G – 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-19)
• Edgerrin James, RB – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
• Jimmy Johnson, Coach – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2014-19)
• Ty Law, CB – 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
• John Lynch, FS – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2013-19)
• Clay Matthews, LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2012, 2017, 2019)
• Kevin Mawae, C/G – 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015-19)
• Karl Mecklenburg, LB – 1983-1994 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2012-19)
• Sam Mills, LB – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2016, 2019)
• Ed Reed, FS – 2002-2012 Baltimore Ravens, 2013 New York Jets, 2013 Houston Texans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
• Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018-2019)
• Zach Thomas, LB – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2019)
• Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2017-19)
• Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2015, 2017, 2019)

Positional Breakdown of the Semifinalists:

• Defense - 13
  • 1 defensive lineman
  • 4 linebackers
  • 8 defensive backs
• Offense - 9
  • 1 running back
  • 3 wide receivers
  • 1 tight end
  • 4 offensive linemen
• Coaches - 3

The next step of the selection process takes place on January 3 when the 25 semifinalists are whittled down to 15 finalists. Contributor finalists Pat Bowlen (Broncos Owner) and Gil Brandt (Cowboys scout) and Senior finalist Johnny Robinson (Chiefs safety) boost the finalist number to 18. The Selection Committee will then meet on February 2 in Atlanta to vote on the finalists. Each finalist must receive an 80% positive vote to make the Hall. The 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced that evening during the NFL Honors, the league's 2-hour prime time awards show on Super Bowl Eve. The 2019 Class will be formally enshrined into the Hall of Fame August 3 in Canton.

My 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class would look something like this.

Ed Reed
Tony Gonzalez
Kevin Mawae
Steve Hutchinson
Don Coryell
Johnny Robinson
Pat Bowlen
Gil Brandt

This is a tough one. Ed Reed and Tony Gonzalez are the only automatics among the Modern-era Semifinalists. I'm fairly set on Kevin Mawae. After that I can see just about any combination of Steve Hutchinson, Don Coryell, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Ty Law, and LeRoy Butler filling the final two spots. My picks change by the day. Maybe by the hour.

These are tough choices. Sometimes I want to be a part of the voting process. Sometimes I don't.