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Modern-Era nominees for the Class of 2010

09/19/2009

The National Football League’s all-time leading receiver Jerry Rice and all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith are among the list of 131 players, coaches and contributors who make up the preliminary list of modern-era nominees for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010. Rice and Smith are two of the seven first-year eligible candidates on this year’s list of nominees.

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From this preliminary list of modern-era nominees, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 modern-era semifinalists will be announced on November 27.

The 25 modern-era semifinalists list will be reduced by a mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists that will be announced on January 7.


Jerry Rice
 1 of 7 
 
 
The final list of nominees that will be considered for election will consist of the 15 modern-era finalists and the two previously announced senior nominees, former Detroit Lions cornerback Dick LeBeau and former Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little. LeBeau and Little were selected this past August by the Hall of Fame’s Senior Selection Committee.

The Class of 2010 will be selected from the list of 17 finalists (15 modern-era and two senior nominees). The actual voting will be conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee’s annual meeting, which will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in South Florida the day before Super Bowl XLIV. The election results will be announced immediately afterwards. While there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the selection process by-laws provide that between four and seven new members will be selected.

The preliminary list includes 103 players, 10 coaches and 18 contributors, including former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and longtime team owners Bud Adams, and Art Modell. The other first-year eligible nominees are kicker Gary Anderson, wide receiver Tim Brown, quarterback Rich Gannon, running back Eddie George, and cornerback/safety Aeneas Williams.

To be considered for Hall of Fame election, a nominated player or coach must have been retired at least five years. A contributor, who is an individual who has made outstanding career contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing or coaching, may still be active in his pro football career. 


2010 Preliminary Nominees

Alphabetical | By Position
 

More from Profootballhof.com
Selection Process
LeBeau, Little named 2010 senior nominees
Win at trip to the Super Bowl that includes a seat at the Class of 2010 election press conference
 
Recent Comments
  • Brian Dell - February 06 2010 11:59 AM

    I don't know if Terrel Davis is up for the Hall this year,but he has the numbers for the short time he played in the league. NFL League Mvp, 2000 Yard rusher, 2 Time Super Bowl Champ, Super Bowl MVP, Lead the league in rushing in 98. Without the legs of Terrel, Elway would have never won the Super Bowl.

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  • irighti - February 06 2010 10:12 AM

    5 Superbowls and only 2 inductees. The Denver Broncos have been slighted becasue they are not east/west coast or Texas. Louis Wright, Clarl Mecklenberg, Shannon Sharpe, Dennis Smith and Steve Foley are more deserving than players who have lesser stats that are in the hall. Not sure if this is a popularity contest or productivity contest?

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  • irighti - February 06 2010 10:12 AM

    5 Superbowls and only 2 inductees. The Denver Broncos have been slighted becasue they are not east/west coast or Texas. Louis Wright, Clarl Mecklenberg, Shannon Sharpe, Dennis Smith and Steve Foley are more deserving than players who have lesser stats that are in the hall. Not sure if this is a popularity contest or productivity contest?

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  • Dan Quinn - February 02 2010 04:11 PM

    I think it is shameful that Jerry Kramer and Jim Marshall have continually been bypassed by the induction committee. Jerry Kramer was a big reason for the Packers' success in the 60's, anchoring an offensive line that made it possible for Hornung, Taylor and Starr to have the success they did. Jim Marshall was the original Ironman of football, and he deserves and should receive the same recognition that Carl Eller and Alan Page have. I realize the skilled position players get all the press, but where would they be without the guys in the trenches?

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  • Pete - January 31 2010 09:51 PM

    I wonder if the board really looks at the impact players had on the league. Statistics don't always tell the whole story. Would Troy Aikman and Emmit Smith been so great without the great offensive line they played behind? What did they do after the line went down hill? Not much. And not to take anything away from what they did but to show that we get ballyhooed by numbers and "STAR" positions and vote them in first time eligible pushing aside more deserving people. Jim Marshall for one... why is he not in the Hall? If you listen to people Tom Brady will be an instant Hall of Famer yet his numbers arn't all that great. Simply playing on a great team. As shown when he was out, put any decent QB on that team and they'll do the same thing. Brady gets the credit but if you really noticed, it was the defense that won those Super Bowls. And I'm going to put my pitch in for one of the most fear CBS ever, Lester Hayes. As one coached said, "throw in his direction and one of two things will happen and neither one is good." He was talking either an incompletion or interception. Rule for opponent QBs was... 'see what side of the field he's (Lester Hayes) on and throw to the other side. One coached even benched a QB for throwing in Lester's direction. Even the best receivers of the hated playing being matched up against Lester. First they had to fight off the bump which he was one of the best at and then try to get open... not many could. And he'd be put on the opponent's best receiver man to man all day long. He may not have the number of interceptions other CBS have but like said... coaches would game plan to throw away from him. Lester Hayes should have been a first time eligible inductee based on the impact he had on the league.

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  • Geoff Stone - January 20 2010 11:36 AM

    Ken Stabler of the Raiders was one of the best quarterbacks in the AFC... he had one of the best winning records, and led the Raiders to a super bowl. The Raiders had one of the best team records for wins while he was their quarterback, and deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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  • Kip McGeorge - January 19 2010 05:06 AM

    I think Roger Craig should be a no brainer. He lead the league in receiving,was a 4 time pro bowler at fullback and halfback,and was the first to ruch for 1000 and receive for 1000. Not been duplicated except with Marshall Faulk. 3 super bowls, was the foundation for the walsh coast offense,and innovated the halfback position. GOOD LUCK ROGER

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  • JOHN GRAYSON - January 12 2010 04:04 PM

    I WANT TO KNOW IF CHARLES HAILEY OF THE 49ERS AND DALLAS COWBOYS BEEN INDUTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME HE IS THE ONLY PLAYER WITH 5 SUPERBOWL RING AND HE WAS A QUARTERBACH NIGHTMARE I CALLED HIM CHARLES THE NIGHTMARE HAILEY

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  • Long time vikes fan. - January 12 2010 02:46 PM

    No kidding about Marshall. How about another Vike great? Mick Tingelhoff!!! Check out his stats. How neither of these two are in there is beyond me.

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  • David Gwinn - January 09 2010 12:47 PM

    I'm still trying to understand why Jim Marshall hasn't been inducted into the hall yet. As a member of the Purple People Eaters he contributed quite a lot to each snap he was on the field during (which ,by the way, is an astounding number). Plus, until this season, he held the record for most consecutive regular season starts by any player. Why does he seem to be overlooked each year?

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  • rockinmichigan - January 04 2010 09:55 PM

    All those guys belong that have been mentioned: Jim Marshall for sure does, Emmitt does too. As a Raider fan, Ray Guy belongs in there with Cliff Branch, Jerry Rice, and Tim Brown. One name that belongs in there for sure is one that hasn't been mentioned yet: Ken Stabler. You have his head coach (John Madden) in the HOF, 3/5 of his offensive line (Jim Otto, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw) in the HOF, you have a couple of his receivers in the HOF (Biletnikoff and Casper) but not the quarterback? He has the stats, he has a ring, what else does he have to do to get in?

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  • rockinmichigan - January 04 2010 09:54 PM

    All those guys belong that have been mentioned: Jim Marshall for sure does, Emmitt does too. As a Raider fan, Ray Guy belongs in there with Cliff Branch, Jerry Rice, and Tim Brown. One name that belongs in there for sure is one that hasn't been mentioned yet: Ken Stabler. You have his head coach (John Madden) in the HOF, 3/5 of his offensive line (Jim Otto, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw) in the HOF, you have a couple of his receivers in the HOF (Biletnikoff and Casper) but not the quarterback? He has the stats, he has a ring, what else does he have to do to get in?

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  • Joseph Budd - January 03 2010 02:28 PM

    Looking at the existing players, who are named, two names that should have been put in years ago, are still out there. Ray Guy, contrary to some voters, does actually play football. Surprisingly, if you consider how long of a career he played, it's a shock that he hasn't been inducted yet. He should have been in over 10 years ago! Cliff Branch, another player, a skilled player from Oakland and LA, with better numbers than some already inducted, isn't in. We all know Rice will get in, there isn't much gray area on electing him. Emmitt Smith, as well, record holder. But how long does the HOF Selectors want to keep pushing worthy candidates aside? With the modern rules, statistics will continue to rise, and those worthy will vanish, due to the improvements made with Football in the 80's. Fix this problem.

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  • Brian Reilly - December 31 2009 06:37 PM

    Phil Simms belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, period ! His stats, success, leadership and stature during his playing days are indisputable facts.

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  • steve - December 30 2009 05:23 PM

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  • Jeff Livingston - December 20 2009 11:24 PM

    I can not understand how Jim Marshall of the Purple People eaters is not getting into the Hall. He was the Ironman for years and he probably was the all time sack leader if they would have counted them in his day. I am personally a Colts fan but when someone this obvious keeps getting left off the ballot I ask why? Please consider the body of work this man did and lets hope we see him in the 2011 group. Thank you for listening. God Bless Jeff Livingston

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