Former Super Bowl MVPs Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, and postseason kicking star Adam Vinatieri are among the initial candidates for the 2025 Hall of Fame class, along with 12 other first-time nominees.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the initial list of candidates for the 2025 class, featuring 167 modern era nominees, including 16 first-time candidates.
Among the most notable first-time nominees are two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and postseason kicking hero Adam Vinatieri.
Eli Manning, who followed his brother Peyton into the NFL, spent his entire 16-year career with the New York Giants, leading them to two improbable Super Bowl victories over the New England Patriots. In the 2008 Super Bowl, Manning threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute. Four years later, he engineered another late touchdown drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots once again. Manning is one of only 13 quarterbacks to win multiple Super Bowls, with eight of the nine eligible quarterbacks already inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Luke Kuechly, a first-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2012, quickly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the NFL. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, earning five Pro Bowl selections and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award during his eight-year career.
Terrell Suggs, a fierce pass rusher over his 17-year career, was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. He recorded 139 sacks, ranking eighth-best since the stat became official in 1982. Suggs played a key role in the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl victory in 2012 and later helped the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl in 2019.
Adam Vinatieri, known for his clutch field goals, is the NFL's all-time leader in points (2,673) and field goals made (599). He played 24 seasons with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, winning four Super Bowls. Vinatieri hit the game-winning field goals in the Patriots' first two Super Bowl victories and also contributed to the Patriots' 2004 and Colts' 2006 Super Bowl wins.
In addition to Manning, Kuechly, Suggs, and Vinatieri, other notable first-time nominees include:
* Offensive linemen Travis Frederick, Ryan Kalil, Joe Staley, and Marshal Yanda
* Running backs Darren Sproles and Marshawn Lynch
* Receiver Demaryius Thomas
* Tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker
* Defensive backs Antoine Bethea, Aqib Talib, and Earl Thomas
A screening committee will narrow down the list of nominees to 50 players next month. The full 50-person selection committee will then reduce the list to 25 semifinalists, then 15 finalists, before voting on the final class of inductees at the annual meeting before the Super Bowl. Players must receive 80% of the vote to be inducted, with three to five players typically selected as modern era candidates. Additionally, three senior candidates, one coach, and one contributor will be considered for induction based on separate voting.
The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be announced during Super Bowl week in February 2025.
