Two-time Super Bowl MVP eli manningFormer Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists. 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
The Hall on Saturday announced the names of 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final round of voting. The group includes five players in their first year of eligibility, nine who were finalists last year and receiver Steve Smith Sr., who reached this far for the first time in his fourth year of eligibility.
The selection committee will vote next month to select a class of three to five modern-era players, who will be announced the week of the Super Bowl.
Five others are also under consideration for enshrinement, including Maxi Baughan, Sterling Sharp and Jim Tyrer as finalists in the senior category, Mike Holmgren in the coaches category and Ralph Hay as a contributor. One to three of those nominees will also be inducted into the Hall.
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Manning, Kuechly and Suggs are finalists in their first year of eligibility, along with postseason kicking star Adam Vinatieri and former Baltimore guard Marshall Yanda.
Gates was a first-time finalist for the 2024 class and is back at this stage with defensive end Jared Allen; receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans; defensive backs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; And running back Fred Taylor is also stepping up.
Manning looks to follow his brother Peyton into the Hall after a stellar career with the New York Giants. Manning was selected first overall in the 2004 draft and spent his entire career in New York. He led the Giants to a victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, throwing a game-winning TD pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute.
He led another late TD drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots four years later. Manning is one of 13 QBs to win multiple Super Bowls, including eight of the nine who are eligible for the Hall.
Only Jim Plunkett is not included, with recent players like Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes not yet eligible.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler but never made All-Pro or led the league in a major statistical category in a season. He finished his career with 57,023 yards passing and 366 TDs.
His best moments came during those two postseason runs. Manning joins Brady (five), Mahomes (three), Joe Montana (three), Bart Starr (two) and Terry Bradshaw (two) as the only multiple winners of Super Bowl MVP awards.
Kuechly and Suggs were among the top defensive players of their era, with Kuechly being selected as the top defensive player in 2013 and Suggs in 2011.
Kuchaly's career was brief but influential. The first-round pick by Carolina in 2012 was a five-time All-Pro, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and pass defense (66).
Suggs was one of the top pass rushers in the league throughout his 17-year career, with his 139 sacks ranking eighth best since the official statistic became known in 1982.
Suggs had seven double-digit sack seasons in his 16 seasons with Baltimore, including a season of 14 in 2011 when he was voted the top defensive player in the league and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles.
Gates only played basketball in college before becoming one of the NFL's top players after being drafted by the Chargers. He became an All-Pro in just his second season in 2004. He was All-Pro again the next two seasons and went on to have a 16-year career with the team.
Gates set NFL records for a tight end with 955 catches for 11,841 yards and 116 touchdown receptions.
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Vinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl titles during New England's dynasty.
He helped launch the run with one of the game's greatest kicks – a 45-yarder down the ice in overtime in the “Tuck Rule” game against the Raiders in the 2001 Divisional Round. He kicked the game-winner in OT to win that game and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20–17 victory in the Super Bowl against the Rams.
Vinatieri is the NFL's career leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He leads all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.