Modern-Era Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2005

Enshrinement Published on : 11/19/2004

Art Monk

Former All-Pro quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young are among the several first-year eligible players who head the list of 25 semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2005. The semi-finalists were chosen by the Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors from the recently announced list of 90 preliminary nominees.

Derrick Thomas

The list of 25 semi-finalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 13 modern-era candidates. That list will then increase to 15 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame's Senior Committee. This year's Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are two of pro football's early pioneers - Benny Friedman and Fritz Pollard. The Seniors Committee reviews the qualifications of those players, coaches, and contributors whose careers took place more than 25 years ago. The list of 15 finalists for the Class of 2005 will be announced in mid-January.

The list of 25 modern-era semi-finalists includes:

Harry Carson	LB	1976-1988 New York Giants
Don Coryell	Coach	1973-1977 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Fred Dean	DE	1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-1985 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Dent	DE	1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Doleman	DE/LB	1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-1998 San Francisco 49ers
Randy Gradishar	LB	1974-1983 Denver Broncos
L. C. Greenwood	DE	1969-1981 Pittsburgh Steelers
Russ Grimm	G	1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Ray Guy	P	1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Charles Haley	DE/LB	1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-1996 Dallas Cowboys
Lester Hayes	CB	1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Claude Humphrey	DE	1968-1974, 1976-1978 Atlanta Falcons, 1979-1981 Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Irvin	WR	1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys
Joe Jacoby	T	1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Bob Kuechenberg	G	1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
Dan Marino	QB	1983-1999 Miami Dolphins
Art Modell	Owner	1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
Art Monk	WR	1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Ken Stabler	QB	1970-1979 Oakland Raiders, 1980-1981 Houston Oilers, 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints
Derrick Thomas	LB	1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
Roger Wehrli	CB	1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals
Ralph Wilson, Jr.	Owner	1959-current Buffalo Bills
George Young	GM/Administrator	1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League
Steve Young	QB	1985-1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1987-1999 San Francisco 49ers
Gary Zimmerman	T	1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-1997 Denver Broncos

To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player must have been retired at least five years. For a non-player, there is not a mandatory retirement period, but a coach must be retired before he may be considered. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.

The Class of 2005 will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Saturday February 5, 2005, in Jacksonville, Florida, the day before Super Bowl XXXIX. The election results are announced immediately following the meeting at a press conference at the media headquarters. Hall of Fame bylaws stipulate that between three and six new members will be selected each year.

Selection Process

Preliminary Nominees for Class of 2005 Named

2005 Senior Candidates Selected

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