The 2024 Pro Hall of Fame has named 173 nominees to be inducted, and this group will be whittled down to 25 semi-finalists in November.
The list includes 10 quarterbacks, 33 running backs, 23 wide receivers, 3 tight ends, 25 offensive linemen, 20 defensive linemen, 25 linebackers, 17 defensive backs, 15 punters/kickers and 2 special teams’ players.
The selection committee will further cut the roster down to 15 modern-era players, to go with recently named Senior’s finalists Randy Gradishar, Steven McMichael, Art Powell, and Buddy Parker.
The Selection Committee of 50 full-member Pro Football Hall-of-Famers will meet early next year to decide on the outcome.
There are some controversial names on the list of 173 nominees including quarterback Michael Vick, who despite his brilliance was mired in legal problems.
Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, and Jeff Garcia are some of the big names at QB.
There are nine players in their first year of eligibility, which means they must have played at last five full seasons ago, meaning 2018 players are now eligible to be inducted.
Some names making their inaugural list are wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Jordy nelson, tight end Antonio Gates, RB Jamaal Charles, offensive linemen T.J. Lang, Josh Sitton and Max Unger, and defensive linemen Haloti Ngata and Julius Peppers.
Peppers and Gates are early front-runners and will be joined by a select few legends of the game, joining the 362 existing members enshrined forever in Canton, Ohio.
Peppers was a nine-time Pro-Bowler who made the 2010s All-Decade team, with an impressive 159.5 career sacks.
Tight end Gates is also an early favorite with the eight-time Pro-Bowler first on the all-time list of TE’s with 116 TD receptions and 11,841 receiving yards.
There are more potential senior Hall of Famers including former 49ers RB Roger Craig, former Raiders CB Lester Hayes, former Bengals QB Ken Anderson, formers Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael and former Browns linebacker Clay Matthews Jr.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne is also in with a decent shout as is LB Patrick Willis.
