Overview
- First-year eligible candidates Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten and Frank Gore made the finalist list.
- Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri advanced automatically after reaching last year’s final seven.
- Defensive tackle Kevin Williams is a first-time finalist in his sixth year of eligibility, joining returning finalists Eli Manning, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs, Reggie Wayne and Darren Woodson.
- Separate ballots will consider seniors Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood, coach candidate Bill Belichick and contributor Robert Kraft, with one to three selections from that group and four to eight total enshrinees expected under bylaws.
- Philip Rivers was removed from semifinalist consideration after rejoining the Colts, resetting his eligibility, as the modern-era pool narrowed from 128 nominees to 15.