Tag: semifinalist

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

The semifinalists for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class have just been announced, which include six players in their first year of eligibility. Fans of the Seattle Seahawks will certainly recognize one name in particular, which is none other than a founding member of the Legion of Boom: safety Earl Thomas.

Thomas was announced as a nominee in late September, alongside running back Marshawn Lynch. While it is unfortunate Lynch did not progress this far, it is impressive Thomas has. Joining Thomas as semifinalists in their first year of elibility are quarterback Eli Manning, kicker Adam Vinatieri, guard Marshall Yanda, and linebackers Terrell Suggs and  Luke Kuechly.

When Thomas was announced, I wrote about how from a football perspective it was a no-brainer he was a Hall of Fame caliber player. Overqualified, in fact. He was the best safety in the league during his prime, a Super Bowl champion, a member of the All-Decade team, and a key player on the best single season defense in NFL history.

I also mentioned his off the field/personal issues possibly could have hampered his first ballot status. So far, that does not seem to be the case. At least, as far as him making it to the semifinalists stage.

Like I said, the legacy of Thomas is complicated, especially since he has not reconciled with the franchise whatsoever after his departure prior to the 2019 season. Should Thomas make it to Canton, hopefully he and the Seahawks can mend fences, as it would be awkward to have a HOF’er who wants nothing to do with the team he built his career with.

The next step will be a finalists round, which will feature 15 total players and it will be announced later this year. Eventually, the Hall of Fame selection committee will make their decision on the 2025 class before Super Bowl LIX in February.

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Saints Super Bowl champ named Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist yet again

Jahri Evans made the cut as a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame again this year. Is the third time the charm for the Super Bowl 44 champ?

They say third time is the charm. That’s the hope for New Orleans Saints legendary offensive lineman Jahri Evans. The Pro Football Hall of Fame released their annual list of semifinalists, and Evans was one of the 25 players who made the cut.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for him. Evans has been a part of the semifinalists for each of the last three years, but hasn’t made the final cut. He has gotten closer on each attempt.

If the trend continues, this is the year Evans will be immortalized in Canton, Ohio. Evans was a semifinalist on his first attempt. Last year, he made his way into the group of finalists. Maybe adding the Saints Ring of Honor to his resume can swing things in his favor.

Three years feels like a long time until you look at the length of time other semifinalists have waited. Torry Holt is on his 11th attempt to go from semifinalist to enshrined in Canton.

Some of the first-time semifinalists who will make it tougher on Evans are Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning and Adam Vinatieri.

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Cowboys legends DeMarcus Ware, Darren Woodson named Hall of Fame semifinalists

The two longtime Cowboys are among 28 semifinalists for Canton’s Class of 2023, along with Zach Thomas, who spent a year with the Cowboys. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Two longtime Cowboys icons are among the 28 modern-day semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023, it was announced this week.

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and safety Darren Woodson advance to the next round, as does linebacker Zach Thomas, who spent his final NFL season in Dallas.

Ware makes the list of semifinalists for his second straight year. The Cowboys’ all-time sackmaster became eligible for enshrinement last year and made it all the way to the final vote. Despite being considered a shoo-in, he was denied the honor of being named a first-ballot Hall of Famer in a snub that shocked many fans.

After nine seasons in Dallas, seven straight pro Bowl appearances, and four first-team All-Pro nods, Ware signed with Denver. He played four more years as a Bronco and won a Super Bowl ring for the 2015 season.

Woodson knows this part of the journey to Canton quite well. He’s been a semifinalist six times but has never advanced to the next stage. This, despite being the franchise’s all-time leading tackler, a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time Super Bowl champion, and just the 21st member of the Cowboys’ prestigious Ring of Honor.

Thomas didn’t wear the star for long, but was well-known to Dallas fans after a stellar college career at Texas Tech. He was a mainstay for 13 seasons in Miami before joining the Cowboys for the 2008 campaign. It proved to be his finale, as he suffered a concussion in training camp with the Chiefs the following year and was released shortly thereafter.

Fifteen Hall of Fame finalists will be revealed in January.

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Mike Holmgren named as Semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren is one step closer to enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren is one step closer to enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

On Thursday, the 12-person Coach/Contributor Committee announced the list of 29 Semifinalists in the category for the Class of 2023, of which Holmgren was among. The 29 will now advance to the next round of consideration.

Holmgren’s career is impressive, having coached the Packers from 1992-98 and then the Seahawks from 1999-2008. During his time in Seattle, Holmgren led the Seahawks to five division titles and six playoff appearances, including their first in a Super Bowl. He spent 2010-2012 as the Browns’ team president before retiring from football.

Holmgren joins the following other Semifinalists in the Coach/Contributor category: K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr., Roone Arledge, C.O. Brocato, Don Coryell, Otho Davis, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Eddie Kotal, Robert Kraft, Rich McKay, John McVay, Art Modell, Clint Murchison Jr., Buddy Parker, Carl Peterson, Dan Reeves, Lee Remmel, Art Rooney Jr., Marty Schottenheimer, Jerry Seeman, Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff, Amy Trask, Jim Tunney, Jack Vainisi, Lloyd Wells and John Wooten.

More information on the Semifinalists for the Class of 2023 can be found here.

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Saints Ring of Honor to induct Hall of Fame semifinalist Sam Mills vs. Cowboys

Saints Ring of Honor to induct Hall of Fame semifinalist Sam Mills vs. Cowboys

The New Orleans Saints are playing on another big stage this week after honoring Drew Brees at halftime of their Thanksgiving Day nightcap, and they’re taking the opportunity to recognize another iconic former member of the black and gold: “Dome Patrol” linebacker Sam Mills, who will be posthumously inducted to the team’s Ring of Honor during their game with the Dallas Cowboys.

Mills made it to the semifinalist stage in Pro Football Hall of Fame voting again this year, his fifth appearance since first making the cut in 2016. Hopefully the Hall of Fame voters will come together and insure Mills’ legacy lives on, joining his legendary teammate Rickey Jackson. Former Saints cornerback Eric Allen is also among the Hall of Fame semifinalists on the 26-man ballot.

In any case, Mills and Jackson will be together in the Saints Ring of Honor — an exclusive tradition separate from the team’s hall of fame, featuring Pro Football Hall of Famers like Jackson, Morten Andersen, and Willie Roaf, as well as Archie Manning, Will Smith, and Tom Benson. Maybe this added recognition for Mills’ achievements can help get him over the hump and into Canton.

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Former Chiefs DE Jared Allen semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2022

Former #Chiefs DE Jared Allen is among the 26 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2022.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced modern-era semifinalists for the Class of 2022.

Only one former Kansas City Chiefs player has made it to the group of 26 semifinalists. Jared Allen is in his second year of eligibility and his second year of making the semifinals for the Hall of Fame.

A fourth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2004 out of Idaho State, Allen spent four seasons in Kansas City. He burst onto the scene, starting 10 games as a rookie, recording 31 total tackles, nine sacks, and 10 tackles for loss. In 2007, Allen had the best season with the Chiefs, leading the NFL in sacks with 15.5. He earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors that year.

The performance also garnered trade interest, and in 2008, Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Allen played for eight seasons after leaving Kansas City stops in Minnesota, Chicago and Carolina before retiring officially in February of 2016 with an epic retirement video.

Allen would finish his career a four-time First-Team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowler, and twice an NFL sack leader. He tallied 136 sacks during his career, which is currently good for No. 12 on the all-time list and the most by a former Chiefs player.

The next step in the selection process is for the 49-person selection committee to trim this group down to 15 Modern-Era finalists. Eventually, they’ll trim it down to just five Modern-Era players. The group originally was comprised of 130 players. The 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be decided and announced during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVI.

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Oklahoma Sooners Kicker Gabe Brkic named a finalist for Lou Groza award

Oklahoma Kicker Gabe Brkic was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award for the third consecutive year.

The most interesting man in the Oklahoma football program is getting some national accolade. No, we’re not talking about Caleb Williams. We’re talking about the Sooners’ mustache man, kicker Gabe Brkic.

Today, Brkic was announced as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award honoring the nation’s best kickers.

This marks Brkic’s third year in a row as a semifinalist. Only two others kickers hold the distinction of having been nominated as semifinalists three times; Wake Forest’s Nick Sciba and Nevada’s Brandon Talton.

Brkic has been excellent on the season making 17 of 20 field goals and has been perfect on his extra points this season. He is kicking at an 80 percent clip on field goals 40 yards or longer while also 5 of 6 from field goals on longer than 50 yards. His 56-yarders against Tulane and Western Carolina remain as the longest kicks of the season by any kicker in the NCAA.

He’s been clutch this season and in season’s past making game-winners like his winner against the West Virginia Mountaineers after Spencer Rattler and a struggling offense orchestrated a game-winning drive to get in Brkic’s range.

The finalists for the award will be announced on November 23rd effectively giving Brkic the rest of the Sooners regular season to make his case as one of the three finalists.  With the way the Sooner offense has been moving the ball of late, it stands to reason there will be many more opportunities for Brkic to showcase his talents.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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Wisconsin DE Matt Henningsen named as Campbell Trophy semifinalist

Wisconsin DE Matt Henningsen named as a semifinalist to the prestigious Campbell Trophy:

On Wednesday morning, Wisconsin football announced on Twitter that senior defensive end Matt Henningsen was named as a semifinalist to the William V. Campbell Trophy.

Related: Wisconsin football releases its Week 5 depth chart

The Campbell Trophy is awarded to the best scholar-athlete in the country every season that exemplifies academic success, on-field football performance and leadership. This is a great honor for Henningsen, who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

In addition to graduating with his bachelor’s degree in three years, the former walk-on has been named Academic All-Big Ten in all three of his seasons with the Badgers.

Matt Henningsen has been truly phenomenal on and off the field in his time at Wisconsin and it is exciting to see him receiving acknowledgment for what he has accomplished so far.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Darren Woodson lone Cowboys star named 2020 Hall of Fame Semifinalist

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their list of 25 semifinalists for the 2020 induction ceremony Tuesday. The list, comprised of players who have been removed from the game for at least the previous five seasons is the second step in …

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their list of 25 semifinalists for the 2020 induction ceremony Tuesday. The list, comprised of players who have been removed from the game for at least the previous five seasons is the second step in determining the class for the NFL centennial celebration.

Among those included are just two players who have direct ties to the Dallas Cowboys. The first, linebacker Zach Thomas, only suited up in the star for one season at the tail end of his career. The other, safety Darren Woodson, is a Cowboys legend through and through.

A vital part of the 90’s dynasty that captured three titles in four years, Woodson is the franchise’s all-time leader in terms of tackles. He was a first team All-Pro on four separate occasions and joined the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2015, more than a decade after he last suited up for the team.

This is Woodson’s fourth time as a finalist since he became eligible as he looks to join a 25 person list of those associated with the Cowboys organization to be enshrined in Canton, OH. Most recently, personnel guru Gil Brandt joined the hallowed club when he was presented by owner and gold-jacket-owner Jerry Jones.

If history is any indication, the finalists will be revealed in early 2020.

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