| Advertisement |
Here are capsules on the finalists who will be discussed to determine the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017. The selection committee will choose the enshrinees on Feb. 4 in Houston, the day before the Super Bowl. There can be as many as eight inducted as modern era, seniors and contributors.
Advertisement
Listed alphabetically:
Kicker ... 6-foot-2, 218 pounds ... Michigan State ... 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings ... 25 seasons, 382 games ... Selected by Saints in 4th round (86th player overall) of 1982 draft ... Began career in strike-shortened 1982 season ... Scored more than 90 points in 22 seasons ... Topped 100-point total 14 times in career ... First 100-plus season, 1985, connected on 31 of 35 field goals, 27 extra point conversions, for 120 points, earning first of seven Pro Bowl selections ... Also named All-Pro five times ... After 13 years with Saints and ranking as team's all-time leading scorer, joined the Falcons in 1995 ... Became Falcons career scoring leader ... Spectacular 1995 season, scored a career-high 122 points, including then NFL-record for most 50-yard field goals in season (8) ... Dec. 10, 1995, became first kicker to convert three field goals of 50 yards or longer in single game ... Set NFL records for career points (2,544), most field goals (565), games played (382) ... His 40 field goals of 50-plus yards most in NFL history at retirement ... Named to two NFL All-Decade Teams (1980s and 1990s) ... Converted 565 of 709 field goal attempts, 849 of 859 point-after-attempts ... Led NFL in field goals, 1987 ... Led NFC in scoring, 1992 and topped all conference kickers in most field goals in 1985, 1987, and 1995 ... Born Aug. 19, 1960, in Struer, Denmark.
--TONY BOSELLI
Tackle ... 6-7, 324 ... Southern California ... 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars ... Seven seasons, 91 games ... Selected by expansion Jaguars as second player overall in 1995 draft ... Quickly became face of the franchise ... Sat out rookie training camp with knee injury, saw first action in Week 4 ... First career start came following week in franchise's first victory ... Earned All-Rookie honors ... Regarded as an elite tackle in the NFL during career ... Noted for superb foot speed and agility ... Persevered through numerous injuries ... Leader of team that led expansion Jaguars to AFC championship game by second season ... Anchored offensive line that helped team to four straight playoff appearances with records of 9-7, 11-5, 11-5 and 14-2 from 1996-99 ... Picked as team's Most Valuable Player in 1998 after helping Jaguars to team's first division title ... Voted to five straight Pro Bowls (1997-2001) ... Named first-team All-Pro three consecutive seasons ... Selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s despite only playing in half of decade ... Suffered severe shoulder injury that ultimately ended career and placed on injured reserve after three games, 2001 ... Houston Texans' first pick of 2002 expansion draft but injury prevented him from playing again ... Born April 17, 1972, in Modesto, California.
Wide Receiver ... Santa Monica College (JC), Memphis ... 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers ... 16 seasons, 223 games ... Selected in 2nd round, 33rd overall, by Los Angeles Rams in 1994 draft ... First career catch was 34-yard touchdown play ... Breakout year in second season with career-high 119 catches for 1,781 yards and 13 touchdowns ... First player in NFL history with three straight games with 170 or more receiving yards (181 vs. Colts, 191 vs. Falcons, 173 vs. 49ers), 1995 ... Recorded first of three career 200-yard games in 1995 season finale ... Led NFL in receiving yards (1,338), 1996 ... Key offensive threat for "Greatest Show on Turf" ... Started in two NFL championship games and two Super Bowls ... Recorded six catches for 162 yards including 73-yard, game-winning touchdown reception in Rams' 23-16 Super Bowl XXXIV victory ... Retired as Rams' all-time leader in catches, receiving yards, and most yards from scrimmage ... Named All-Pro, 1999 ... Voted to four Pro Bowls (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002) ... Twelve seasons with 50 or more catches ... Racked up 1,000-yard seasons eight times ... Career numbers include 1,024 receptions for 15,208 yards (second most at time), and 91 touchdowns ... Born November 10, 1972 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
--DON CORYELL
Head Coach ... Washington ... 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers ... 14 seasons ... Regular season record 111-83-1 ... Postseason record 3-6 ... Overall record 114-89-1 ... Took over Cardinals team that hadn't won title of any kind since 1948 ... After 4-9-1 inaugural season took team 10-4 record, playoffs ... "Big Red" won NFC Eastern Divisional title 1974, 1975 ... Named consensus NFL Coach of the Year, 1974 ... Narrowly missed playoffs in 1976 despite finishing 10-4 ... Record of 31-11, 1974-76 marked most successful three-year stretch in franchise's history ... Again inherited a team that hadn't won title in many years when he took over as coach of Chargers four games into 1978 season ... Installed new explosive offense soon labeled "Air Coryell" ... Chargers led NFL in passing six straight seasons, amassed more than 24,000 yards from 1978 to 1983 ... QB Dan Fouts blossomed to become first player in NFL history to record three straight 4,000-yard seasons ... Coryell succeeded in turning Chargers into one of NFL's elite teams ... Captured three AFC Western Division titles (1979-1981) ... Named AFC Coach of the Year in 1979 ... Born Oct. 17, 1924, in Seattle, Washington ... Died July 1, 2010, at age of 85.
Running Back ... 5-11, 206 ... Long Beach State, Georgia ... 1995-2001 Denver Broncos ... Seven seasons, 78 games ... Selected by Broncos in the sixth round, (196th player overall) of 1995 draft ... Made big splash when he earned starting tailback position as rookie ... Despite missing final two games of rookie campaign with hamstring tear, eclipsed 1,000-yard mark and added career-high 49 receptions for 367 yards ... In second year, gained 1,538 yards rushing, named Offensive Player of the Year ... Rushed for 1,750 yards and league-high 15 touchdowns in 1997 ... In 1998 became fourth runner in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in season (2,008) and led NFL with 21 rushing TDs en route to Denver's second straight Super Bowl title ... Set NFL playoff record seven straight 100-yard performances spanning 1997-98 postseasons ... Earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXII after rushing 157 yards, 3 TDs in victory over Packers ... Scored 8 rushing touchdowns in '97 playoff run ... In 1998 playoffs, rushed for franchise postseason-record 199 yards against Dolphins in divisional playoff, 167 yards vs. Jets in the championship and 102 yards in Super Bowl XXXIII victory over Falcons ... Devastating knee injury limited him to just 17 games over his final three seasons ... Three-time All-Pro selection ... Rushed for 7,607 yards, 60 TDs in just 78 career games ... Added additional 1,280 yards on 169 career catches and five TD receptions ... Selected to three Pro Bowls and named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s ... Born Oct. 28, 1972, in San Diego California.
Safety ... 5-11, 200 ... Clemson ... 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos ... 16 seasons, 224 games ... Drafted in second round (61st overall) by Philadelphia in 1996 draft ... Named Eagles' Defensive MVP five times ... Helped Eagles to eight playoff appearances ... Started in four NFC championship games, one Super Bowl ... First-team All-Pro five seasons (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009) ... Earned first of nine Pro Bowl nods after 1999 season ... First player in NFL history to record a sack, interception, fumble recovery and touchdown catch in same game (vs. Houston Texans, Sept. 29, 2002) ... Set Eagles record for most games played ... Voted to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s ... Intercepted pass in 15 straight seasons ... Led Eagles in interceptions back-to-back seasons, 1997-98 ... Recorded 37 career interceptions returned for 513 yards and 2 touchdowns ... Recorded multiple interceptions in a season 11 times ... Pick sixes included 64-yard return vs. Giants, 1997 and 67-yard score vs. Dolphins, 1999 ... Averaged nearly 100 tackles per season throughout career ... Registered 26 career sacks ... Also had 49-yard fumble return for TD, 2001 ... Recorded 3 sacks in final season with Broncos to help Denver to division title, 2011 ... Born Oct. 13, 1973, in Jacksonville, Florida.
--KENNY EASLEY
Seniors Nominee. Safety ... 6-3, 206 ... UCLA ... 1981-87 Seattle Seahawks ... Seven seasons, 89 games ... Drafted as fourth player overall by Seahawks in 1981 draft ... Three-time consensus All-America at UCLA ... Made immediate impact in Seattle with his intimidating style on defense ... Developed reputation as punishing tackler ... Picked as Defensive Rookie of the Year after sensational first season in which he recorded 3 interceptions for 155 yards and 1 TD (82-yarder vs. Browns), 1981 ... Defensive leader of Seahawks team that advanced to franchise's first-ever AFC championship game, 1983 ... Registered 7 interceptions for 106 yards to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors, 1983 ... Named Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 after recording league-high and career-best 10 interceptions including pair of pick-sixes (25 yards vs. Patriots; 58 yards vs. Chiefs) ... All-Pro four straight seasons, 1982-85 ... Named to five Pro Bowls (1983-86, 1988) ... Member of NFL's All-Decade Team of 1980s ... Intercepted multiple passes in each of seven NFL seasons ... Led team in interceptions four times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1987) ... Career stats: 32 interceptions, 538 yards and 3 touchdowns ... Also had eight career sacks and returned 26 punts for 302 yards ... Born Jan. 15, 1959, in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Guard ... 6-4, 322 ... Louisiana State ... 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals ... 13 seasons, 206 games ... Drafted by Steelers in first round (26th player overall) in 1998 draft ... Missed just one game in career ... Earned starting role in sixth game of rookie season ... Helped pave way for 1,000-yard rushing season by Jerome Bettis to earn All-Rookie acclaim ... Key leader of Steelers team that captured four division titles including three in four-year span ... Helped Steelers post 10-plus wins five times including regular season records of 13-3 (2001) and 15-1 (2004) ... Veteran leadership integral to Jets playoff run to reach AFC championship, 2009 ... Named first-team All-Pro six times (2001-02, 2004-07); Second-Team All-Pro, 2003 and 2008 ... All-AFC seven straight seasons, 2001-07 ... Selected to nine straight Pro Bowls ... Started 14 career playoff games including at left guard in four AFC championship games and Super Bowl XL ... Dominating run blocker, led way for teams that finished among the NFL's top 10 in rushing 11 times in 13 seasons ... Blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers and five 3,000-yard passers ... Named to NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s ... Born Dec. 7, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
--JOE JACOBY
Tackle ... 6-7, 305 ... Louisville ... 1981-1993 Washington Redskins ... 13 seasons, 170 games ... Signed by Washington as free agent, 1981 ... Played numerous positions on offensive line in career but made mark at left tackle, a spot he earned midway through rookie season ... Solid, durable, strong, and reliable as pass and run blocker ... Persevered through numerous injuries during career ... Key member of famed "Hogs" offensive line that led Redskins to three Super Bowl victories (Super Bowl XVII vs. Dolphins, Super Bowl XXII vs. Broncos, Super Bowl XXVI vs. Bills) ... Lone career touchdown came on fumble recovery ... Named First-Team All-Pro three times (1983-84, 1987); All-NFC twice (1983-84); Second-Team All-NFC (1985-86) ... Voted to four straight Pro Bowls following 1983-86 seasons ... Helped Redskins advance to postseason eight times in 11-season span ... Leader of team that recorded double-digit win totals eight times in nine-season span and won four NFC East division titles plus NFC regular season title during strike-shortened 1982 season ... Started in five NFC championship games (four at left tackle, one at right tackle) including four conference championship wins ... Washington's starting left tackle in three Super Bowls and starting right tackle in one Super Bowl ... Member of the NFL's All-Decade Teams of 1980s ... Born July 6, 1959, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Contributor. Owner, President & General Manager ... Arkansas ... 1989-Present Dallas Cowboys ... Purchased Cowboys in 1989 and quickly restored winning tradition to franchise ... Has led Cowboys to unprecedented success on and off the field ... Leadership in sports marketing and promotion has influenced landscape of NFL and America's sports culture ... Became first owner in league history to win three Super Bowls in first seven years of ownership ... Cowboys made seven playoff appearances, six division titles and wins in Super Bowls XXVII, XVIII and XXX in Jones' first decade of owning team ... Dallas has advanced to postseason 13 times under Jones ... Cowboys have posted 10 wins in a season 12 times during Jones era ... Led franchise to NFC Eastern Division titles five straight seasons, 1992-96 ... Also won NFC East crowns in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2016 ... Vision was driving influence in the creation and development of AT&T stadium, "crown jewel" of all sports venues ... Continues to provide leadership for NFL in areas of marketing, sponsorship, television, stadium management, labor negotiations and television ... Leadership has shaped and enhanced NFL's standing as world's premiere sports league ... Co-captain of national champion Arkansas Razorbacks, 1964 ... Born Oct. 13, 1942, in Los Angeles, California.
--TY LAW
Cornerback ... 5-11, 200 ... Michigan ... 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos ... 15 seasons, 203 games ... Selected by Patriots in 1st round (23rd player overall) of 1995 NFL Draft ... Named All-Pro in 1998 and 2003 ... Voted to five Pro Bowls (1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006) ... Starting left cornerback in four AFC championship games ... Started at left cornerback in three Super Bowls including Patriots victories in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII ... Recorded seven tackles, one assisted tackle, two passes defensed and scored on 47-yard interception return for touchdown in New England's 20-17 win over Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI ... Intercepted three or more passes in a season nine times ... Led NFL in interceptions twice (9 in 1998 with Patriots and career-high 10 in 2005 with Jets) ... Team's leading interceptor six times (Patriots -- 4, Chiefs -- 1, Jets -- 1) ... Registered 53 career interceptions for 828 yards and 7 pick-sixes ... Career-long 74-yard interception return for touchdown against New England (Dec. 26, 2005)... Recorded 37-yard interception return in final game of career ... Five career sacks ... Selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s ... Born Feb. 10, 1974, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
--JOHN LYNCH
Safety ... 6-2, 214 ... Stanford ... 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos ... 15 seasons, 224 games ... Selected by Bucs in the 3rd round (82nd player overall) of 1993 draft ... Was vital addition to Bucs defense that soon dominated NFL ... Earned permanent starting role in fourth pro season, racked up more than 100 tackles and tied career-high with three interceptions ... From that point forward, was anchor of secondary on a defense that perennially ranked among NFL's best ... Voted to first of nine Pro Bowl following 1997 season ... Earned first-team All-Pro recognition three straight years (1999-2001) ... In 2002, was integral part of Buccaneers' championship season capped with franchise's first Super Bowl title ... Contributed 96 tackles (50 solo), three interceptions, and 12 passes defensed as Bucs finished 12-4 ... In postseason added five tackles in divisional playoff, six tackles in championship game and one tackle and pass defensed in Super Bowl XXXVII victory ... Signed as free agent with Denver in 2004 ... Played final four seasons of 15-year career in Denver ... Helped lead Broncos to conference championship game in second season ... That year recorded career-high four sacks, intercepted two passes, forced four fumbles, and racked up 69 tackles ... Added three solo tackles, one assist, one pass defensed in 1995 AFC Championship Game ... In all, recorded 26 interceptions, returned for 204 yards, 13 sacks, and more than 1,000 tackles ... Credited with 90 or more tackles in a season nine times ... Born Sept. 25, 1971, in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Center ... 6-4, 289 ... Louisiana State ... 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans ... 16 seasons, 241 games ... Selected by Seahawks in 2nd round (36th player overall) in 1994 NFL Draft ... Spent majority of college career as tackle before moving to center during senior year ... Played in 14 games, and started 11 games during rookie season with Seahawks ... Named to NFL's All-Rookie Team ... Played at right guard first two pro seasons, moved permanently to center, 1996 ... Noted for leadership and steady play ... Helped Jets to division title and championship game appearance in first season in New York, 1998 ... Anchored steady Jets offensive line that led way for 44 100-yard games and seven 1,000-yard seasons by Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin ... Blocked for 1,000-yard rusher in 13 of his 16 seasons and five different running backs (Chris Warren, 2; Martin, 7; Travis Henry, 1; LenDale White, 1; and Chris Johnson, 2) ... Capped career with Pro Bowl season by paving way for 2,000-yard performance by Johnson ... Named All-Pro six times (1999-2002, 2004, and 2008) ... Voted to eight Pro Bowls including his final two seasons ... Selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s ... Born Jan. 23, 1971, in Savannah, Georgia.
Wide Receiver ... 6-3, 224 ... Tennessee-Chattanooga ... 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals ... 16 seasons, 219 games ... Drafted in 3rd round of 1996 draft by San Francisco ... Prolific receiver with great hands and ability for big plays ... Career totals: 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 TDs ... Yardage total ranks second all-time, touchdown reception total is third most in NFL history ... Set then-record for catches in a single game with 20 against Bears, Dec. 17, 2000 ... Had 60 or more catches in all but three seasons ... Registered nine 1,000-yards seasons over 11-year span ... Eight seasons with double-digit TD receptions ... Led NFL in TD catches three times (16 in 2001, 13 in 2002 and 2006) ... Remarkable three-year span (2000-02) during which he caught 290 passes for 4,163 yards and 42 TDs ... Set career-high with 1,451 yards, 2000 and 100 catches, 2002 ... Recorded 9 receptions for 122 yards in Eagles' narrow Super Bowl XXXIX loss ... Named All-Pro five times (2000-02, 2004, 2007) ... All-NFC four times ... Selected to six Pro Bowls ... Named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of 2000s ... Born Dec. 7, 1973, in Alexander City, Alabama.
--PAUL TAGLIABUE
Contributor nominee. Commissioner ... Georgetown, New York University ... 1989-2006 National Football League ... During tenure, NFL grew to unparalleled heights during his 17-year reign after succeeding Pete Rozelle as league Commissioner ... By a wide margin, NFL with its competitive equity is considered nation's most popular sport ... Committed to a "league think" philosophy, his leadership enabled NFL to address several key priorities ... The league expanded to 32 teams ... Nearly two decades of labor peace with the NFL Players Association ... League supported some 20 new stadium construction projects ... Established NFL as a global brand with operations in overseas markets. ... Was first league to operate on a weekly basis on two separate continents ... Created a league-wide internet network and subscriber-based NFL TV Network ... Secured largest TV contracts in entertainment history totaling $25 billion ... Before becoming league's CEO, represented NFL as attorney ... Served in office of U.S. Secretary of Defense as policy analyst ... Born Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Defensive End ... 6-6, 260 ... Akron ... 1997-2007, 2009, 2011 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Washington Redskins, 2010 New York Jets ... 15 seasons, 233 games ... Drafted in 3rd round (73rd overall) by Dolphins in 1997 draft ... Registered double-digit sack total in a season six times over an eight-year span (2000-07) ... Earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Honors in 2006 after recording 13.5 sacks, two interceptions returned for TDs (20 yards vs. Bears and 51 yards vs. Vikings), 11 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 62 tackles ... Returned fumble career-long and team-record 85 yards for TD vs. Broncos, Sept. 11, 2005 ... Led NFL with career-high 18.5 sacks, 2002 ... Recorded more sacks than any player in NFL from 2000-2011 ... Career statistics: 139.5 sacks; 8 interceptions for 110 yards and 3 TDs; league record-tying 29 opponents' fumbles recovered; NFL record 6 TDs on fumble recoveries; and 3 safeties (two with Dolphins, one as a member of Jets) ... Voted to six Pro Bowls ... Named first-team All-Pro in 2000, 2002 and 2006 ... All-AFC four times (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006)... Picked as Dolphins Most Valuable Player four times ... Named to NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s ... Born Sept. 1, 1974, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Running Back ... 5-10, 221 ... Texas Christian ... 2001-09 San Diego Chargers, 2010-11 New York Jets ... 11 seasons, 170 games ... Selected by Chargers in 1st round (5th player overall) of 2001 draft ... Sensational rookie season with 1,236 yards and 10 TD rushing plus 59 receptions for 367 yards ... Eclipsed 1,600-yard mark in back-to-back seasons, 2002-03 ... Rushed for 1,000 yards in each of first eight NFL seasons ... Scored 10 or more rushing TDs each of nine seasons with Chargers ... Captured back-to-back rushing titles, 2006-07 ... Named NFL's 2006 Most Valuable Player with leading-leading and career-high 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns rushing in addition to 56 catches for 508 yards and 3 TDs to set NFL record with 31 touchdowns and 186 points in a season ... Hauled in 100 receptions in 2003 ... Set NFL record with rushing touchdown in 18 straight games (2004-05) ... All-Pro four straight seasons (2004-07) ... Named Chargers Most Valuable Player five times ... Voted to five Pro Bowls over six-season span ... Rushed for 13,684 career yards on 3,174 carries and scored 145 rushing touchdowns ... Added 4,772 yards on 624 catches and 17 TD receptions ... Also threw 7 TD passes ... Named to NFL's All-Decade Team of 2000s ... Born June 23, 1979, in Rosebud, Texas.
Quarterback ... 6-2, 220 ... Northern Iowa ... 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals ... 12 seasons, 124 games ... Not drafted in the NFL ... Originally signed by and then released by Green Bay Packers in 1994 ... Went on to play in Arena Football League with Iowa Barnstormers (1995-97) ... Returned to NFL with Rams as free agent and allocated to NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals ... Returned to Rams in 1998 ... Went on to become a two-time NFL MVP (1999 and 2001) and named Super Bowl XXXIV MVP after leading Rams to victory 23-16 victory over Tennessee Titans ... Set Super Bowl record with 414 passing yards ... He recorded another MVP season two years later when he guided Rams back to the Super Bowl ... His season totals included a league-leading and career-high 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns to post a 101.4 passer rating ... Warner made a third trek to the Super Bowl in 2008 season when he led Arizona Cardinals to franchise's first division title since 1975 and first-ever Super Bowl appearance ... Only quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards in three Super Bowls ... A four-time Pro Bowl choice, led NFL in average gain per attempt, three times ... Had highest passer rating and led NFL in TD passes twice ... Born June 22, 1971, in Burlington, Iowa.
