NFL
Who are the finalists for the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the names of 15 finalists for the Class of 2022, including three players who are in their first year of eligibility.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the names of 15 modern-era finalists for the Class of 2022, including three players who have just become eligible for consideration.
Anyone can nominate a player, coach, or contributor connected with professional football to the Hall of Fame as long as the player or coach has been retired at least five years.
Quickly nominated
Wide receivers Devin Hester and Andre Johnson as well as defensive end DeMarcus Ware made the cut as finalists in only the first year that they were deemed eligible for the award.
Hester is considered the best punt returner in NFL history, with a record of 14 punt-return touchdowns. He leads the league in special teams touchdowns with 20 to his name.
Johnson is a seven-time Pro Bowler who is second on the NFL’s ranking of all-time receiving yards per game. He retired with a record of 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns.
Ware is a nine-time Pro Bowler and is considered one of the league’s best pass-rushers, ranking ninth in career sacks.
Try and try again
For several players, it’s not their first time to make it on the list of finalists. For three-time All-Pro offensive tackle Tony Boselli, for example, it is the sixth time to get this far in the selection process.
The selection committee has a process to honor older players whose active careers have been completed for at least 25 years, as well as those who have given to the game in ways aside from playing and coaching. They have already chosen late wide receiver Cliff Branch as the seniors finalist and former referee Art McNally as the contributors finalist.
The selection committee will come up with as many as five names for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. The awardees are expected to be honored in an enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio in August, but the exact date has not yet been announced.
Other NFL stories
Here is the complete list of finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
- Jared Allen, DE
- Willie Anderson, RT
- Ronde Barber, DB
- Tony Boselli, LT
- LeRoy Butler, DB
- Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR
- Torry Holt, WR
- Andre Johnson, WR
- Sam Mills, LB
- Richard Seymour, DE
- Zach Thomas, LB
- DeMarcus Ware, LB
- Reggie Wayne, WR
- Patrick Willis, LB
- Bryant Young, DT/DE
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