Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and postseason kicking hero Adam Vinatieri are among the first-time nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.
Hall announced 167 modern-day prospects for Wednesday’s class that includes 16 eligible players this year, including two-time All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda.
A screening committee will reduce the list of nominees to the next 50 players. Then the full 50-person selection committee will whittle that list down to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists for the annual meeting before the Super Bowl that will produce the new class. Players must get 80% of the vote to enter. Under Hall of Fame rules, between three and five players can enter as modern-day inductees.
There are also three senior candidates, grouped with one coach and contributor. At least one and no more than three of these finalists will enter based on voting.
Other first-time candidates are offensive linemen Travis Frederick, Ryan Kalil and Joe Staley; running backs Marshawn Lynch and Darren Sproles; receiver Demaryius Thomas; tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker; and defensive backs Antoine Bethea, Aqib Talib and Earl Thomas.
There are also 10 players who were considered finalists a year ago. Tight end Antonio Gates, receiver Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans; defensive backs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; defensive lineman Jared Allen; and running back Fred Taylor is back on the list.
Manning will follow his older brother Peyton into the Hall after an outstanding career with the New York Giants. Manning was selected first overall in the 2004 draft by the Chargers and traded to the Giants, spending his entire career in New York. He led the Giants to an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl after the 2007 season, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute.
He led another late TD drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots four years later. Manning is one of 13 QBs to win multiple Super Bowls, with eight of the nine eligible for the Hall getting inducted.
Only Jim Plunkett has not been inducted; the newest players in the category such as Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes are not eligible.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowl selection but never made All-Pro or led the league in a major statistical category in a season but finished his career with 57,023 yards and 366 TDs.
His best moments were in those two postseasons. Manning joins Brady (five), Mahomes (three), Joe Montana (three), Bart Starr (two) and Terry Bradshaw (two) as the only Super Bowl MVP award winners.
Kuechly and Suggs were among the top defensive players of their era with Kuechly being voted the top defensive player in 2013 and Suggs in 2011.
Kuechly’s career was brief but impactful. The first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2012 was a five-time All-Pro in an eight-year career with seven Pro Bowls and Rookie of the Year honors.
During his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defended (66).
Suggs was one of the league’s top pass rushers during his 17-year career, with 139 sacks ranking eighth best since he became an official stat in 1982.
Suggs had seven double-digit sack seasons in 16 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, including 14 in 2011 when he was voted the league’s top defensive player and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles.
He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in the 2012 season. He finished his career in Kansas City, where he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl in the 2019 season.
Vinatieri is one of the most prolific kickers in NFL history, making game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl titles during New England’s dynasty.
He helped launch the run with one of the game’s greatest kicks – a 45-yarder in the snow to force overtime in the Tuck Rule game against the Raiders in the 2001 divisional round. He made the game-winning kick in OT and then hit a 48-yarder in the final play of the 20-17 win in the Super Bowl against the Rams.
He then made a 41-yarder two years later to give the Patriots a 32-29 win in the Super Bowl against Carolina. Vinatieri also won the Super Bowl in 2004 with New England and in the 2006 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Vinatieri is the NFL leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) during his 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He also led all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.
Yanda was a member of the 2010 all-decade team as a key to Baltimore’s success. He was also a two-time All-Pro selection and made the Pro Bowl in the last eight seasons, missing 2017 when he played just two games due to injury.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
