Players who have put their blood, sweat and tears into the game are one step closer to becoming members of the greatest football team ever assembled. During the NFL Week 17 slate of games, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the list of finalists for their 2025 class. Former quarterback Eli Manning, who played his entire 16-year career with the New York Giants and tight end Antonio Gates headline the prestigious list of notable names.
Here is the complete list from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio:
• Eric Allen, cornerback
• Jared Allen, defensive end
• Willie Anderson, tackle
• Jahri Evans, guard
• Antonio Gates, tight End
• Torry Holt, wide receiver
• Luke Kuechly, linebacker
• Eli Manning, quarterback
• Steve Smith Sr., wide receiver
• Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker/defensive end
• Fred Taylor, running back
• Adam Vinatieri, kicker
• Reggie Wayne, wide receiver
• Darren Woodson, safety
• Marshal Yanda, guard/tackle
Both Manning and Gates accomplished a rarity in the league, playing their entire 16-year careers with one franchise. Manning spent each of his seasons with the Giants, while Gates spent 14 years with the San Diego Chargers before they left town and relocated to the ‘City of Angeles’ Los Angeles. He spent his final two years with the rebranded Los Angeles Chargers before hanging it up and retiring in 2019.
Gates is arguably the most accomplished player individually in the group. The former college basketball star is fourth all-time among tight ends with 11,841 career receiving yards. He trails only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten and Travis Kelce in that category.
While Manning does not have the typical numbers of a Hall of Fame quarterback, his career accomplishments give him a Hall of Fame resume. As a four-time Pro Bowler, he is one of just six players to earn multiple Super Bowl MVP awards, 2007 and 2011, when he took down Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Embed from Getty ImagesManning and Kuechly are the most recent players to retire, hanging up their cleats after the 2019 season. While many saw Manning’s retirement coming, Kuechly’s announcement, made at the young age of 28, came as a shock and stunned the entire football community.
Each Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist will have to wait anxiously until the end of the 2024 NFL season to hear their official decision. The Hall of Fame class will officially be announced on February 6, 2025, at the NFL Honors award show, right before the Super Bowl.
The NFL Honors show will also announce the year-end player awards, headlined by the MVP trophy. It will be broadcast from Saenger Theater in New Orleans on Fox, NFL Network and NFL+.
