The selection of a senior nominee, known as the old-timer candidate until 1990, was added to the process in 1972. With the exception of 1975 when no senior nominee was picked, here is a look at the year-by-year senior nominees.
Those elected are indicated in CAPS.
In 1990, Bob St. Clair semi-seriously stated he didn't like being called an "old-timer."
Considering the fact that St. Clair was 6'9" and ate raw meat, it didn't take long for the Hall of Fame to start using the "politically correct" term "Senior."
2024 - RANDY GRADISHAR, STEVE McMICHAEL, Art Powell)
2023 - CHUCK HOWLEY, JOE KLECKO, KEN RILEY
2022 - CLIFF BRANCH
2021 - DREW PEARSON
2020 - Cliff Branch, HAROLD CARMICHAEL, JIMBO COVERT, Roger Craig, BOBBY DILLON, LaVern Dilweg, Ox Emerson, Randy Gradishar, CLIFF HARRIS, WINSTON HILL, Cecil Isbell, ALEX KARRAS, Verne Lewellen, Tommy Nobis, Drew Pearson, DONNIE SHELL, DUKE SLATER, MAC SPEEDIE, ED SPRINKLE, Al Wistert
2019 - JOHNNY ROBINSON
2018 - ROBERT BRAZILE, JERRY KRAMER
2017 - KENNY EASLEY
2016 - KEN STABLER, DICK STANFEL
2015 - MICK TINGELHOFF
2014 - RAY GUY, CLAUDE HUMPHREY
2013 - CURLEY CULP, DAVE ROBINSON
2012 - JACK BUTLER, Dick Stanfel
2011 - CHRIS HANBURGER, LES RICHTER
2010 - DICK LeBEAU, FLOYD LITTLE
2009 - BOB HAYES, Claude Humphrey
2008 - Marshall Goldberg, EMMITT THOMAS
2007 - GENE HICKERSON, CHARLIE SANDERS
2006 - JOHN MADDEN, RAYFIELD WRIGHT
2005 - BENNY FRIEDMAN, FRITZ POLLARD
2004 - BOB BROWN, Bob Hayes
2003 - HANK STRAM
2002 - GEORGE ALLEN
2001 - NICK BUONICONTI
2000 - DAVE WILCOX
1999 - BILLY SHAW
1998 - TOMMY McDONALD
1997 - Jerry Kramer
1996 - LOU CREEKMUR
1995 - HENRY JORDAN
1994 - LEROY KELLY
1993 - Dick Stanfel
1992 - Willie Galimore
1991 - STAN JONES
1990 - BOB ST. CLAIR
1989 - Henry Jordan
1988 - Lou Rymkus
1987 - JOHN HENRY JOHNSON
1986 - DOAK WALKER
1985 - FRANK GATSKI
1984 - ARNIE WEINMEISTER
1983 - Mac Speedie
1982 - GEORGE MUSSO
1981 - RED BADGRO
1980 - Lou Creekmur
1979 - Marshall Goldberg
1978 - TUFFY LEEMANS
1977 - BILL WILLIS
1976 - RAY FLAHERTY
1975 - No senior candidate selected
1974 - TONY CANADEO
1973 - Ole Haugsrud
1972 - ACE PARKER