Four players in their first year of eligibility are among the 15 finalists in the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive back Charles Woodson, wide receiver Calvin Johnson and defensive end Jared Allen top the list of finalists. Up to five of the finalists will be chosen later this month for their consecration.
The finalists were announced on Tuesday. It is the second time in the last four years that four players from their first year of eligibility have been finalists in the same year.
The 2021 class consecration ceremony is currently scheduled for the week of August 5-9. The 2020 class is scheduled to be consecrated in a separate ceremony that week as well, as this past August’s event was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Congratulations to QB Peyton Manning for being selected as a finalist for the # PFHOF21 Class!@Colts | @Broncos pic.twitter.com/hJXjIYSuEU
– Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) January 5, 2021
These four players, with a total of 33 Pro Bowl appearances in their career, join cornerback Ronde Barber, face Tony Boselli, safety LeRoy Butler, goalie Alan Faneca, wide receiver Torry Holt, to safety John Lynch, to defender Clay Matthews Jr., to defender Sam Mills, defender Richard Seymour, defender Zach Thomas and wide receiver Reggie Wayne.
It could be the eighth consecutive year that a player from his first year of eligibility was selected and, if three of the players from the first year of eligibility were selected from the five consecrated, it would be the third time in the last four years three players. in their first year of eligibility they were selected for incorporation into the same class.
Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez and Ed Reed were consecrated in 2019, while Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher were in the 2018 class.
This year is the eighth time Lynch has been a finalist, the sixth time for Faneca and the fifth time for Boselli.
The list of 15 will now be reduced to up to five consecrated later this month by the Hall of Fame selectors board.
Congratulations to DB @CharlesWoodson being selected as a finalist of the # PFHOF21 Class! @Raiders | @packers pic.twitter.com/m5aebW5OmM
– Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) January 5, 2021
Tom Flores is already a finalist on the Hall Coach committee, Bill Nunn is a finalist as a collaborator, and Drew Pearson is a finalist on the seniors committee. If all three are chosen for its consecration, the 2021 hall would have eight new halls of fame.
Manning, with five league MVP awards, 14 Pro Bowl selections, seven First Team All-Pro selections, a return player of the year award and a Walter Payton Man of the Year award, he is one of the most decorated players in the league. history. He was behind the Denver Broncos center when they won the Super Bowl 50 to finish their last season (2015) in the league.
After 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning signed with the Broncos in 2012, making him one of the most experienced players to change teams in the era of free agency. The Colts had 11 seasons of ten wins with Manning as quarterback and won Super Bowl XLI, with Manning chosen as the game’s MVP.
He retired with numerous season and career records, including his 5,477-yard passes and 55 touchdowns in 2013.
Woodson was a nine-time Pro Bowl coach and finished his 18-year career tied for fifth in the interceptions (with Ken Riley) at 65. He led the league in interceptions with nine for the Green Bay Packers in 2009. , and won a Super Bowl ring with the Packers the following season.
The safety-returned cornerback also forced 33 trash in his career, had 20 sacks and three seasons of 90 attacks, including 113 attacks with the Oakland Raiders at 38 years old.
Johnson played nine seasons for the Detroit Lions before retiring abruptly after the 2015 season, when he had 88 catches for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns. He had five 1,200-yard receiving seasons and ranks 31st in career receiving yards.
Due to the Lions ’struggles, which he later said contributed to his retirement, he played in just two postseason, finishing with 211 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first postseason appearance, a 45-game loss. -28 against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC. round of wildcards that followed the 2011 season.
And Allen, who ranks 12th on the league’s all-time sack list with 136, played on four teams in his 13-year career and led the league in sacks in 2007 (with 15.5) and in 2011 (with 22).