Overview
- First-year eligibles include Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, with Brees ranking second all-time in passing yards and touchdowns and Fitzgerald second in receptions and receiving yards.
- Philip Rivers, Jason Witten and Frank Gore also reach the semifinal stage in their first year, with Rivers seventh in passing yards, Witten second among tight ends in receptions and Gore third in rushing yards.
- Four candidates already hold finalist spots from last cycle’s final-seven: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.
- Other returning contenders include Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshall Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.
- Lomas Brown and Kevin Williams are first-time semifinalists, joining Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis, with election expected to produce four to eight inductees after last year’s four-member class.