The finalists for the upcoming 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class were revealed on Wednesday, and the class is certainly looking like one of the most star-studded classes in recent memory.
Offensive players named as finalists include Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, Joe Thomas, and Reggie Wayne, according to NFL.com.
The defensive players listed are just as impressive, including Jared Allen, Ronde Barber, Dwight Freeney, Albert Lewis, Darrelle Revis, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Patrick Willis, and Darren Woodson.
Perhaps the greatest special teams player in NFL history got some love as well, with former Chicago Bears wide receiver and return man Devin Hester also being named as a finalist.
This list was named after players were narrowed down to semi-finalists prior, and a number of great players narrowly missed out on this year’s potential induction class.
Those players include Steve Smith Sr., Anquan Boldin, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, James Harrison, London Fletcher, Vince Wilfork, Robert Mathis, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Rickey Watters, Henry Ellard, and Eric Allen.
Semifinalists who came up short: Steve Smith Sr., Anquan Boldin, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, James Harrison, London Fletcher, Vince Wilfork, Robert Mathis, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Ricky Watters, Henry Ellard & Eric Allen.
Only 5 out of the 15 finalists below will get in. https://t.co/P6IWsojWyX
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 5, 2023
Many around the NFL world took to social media to offer their opinions on this stacked finalist list.
“This is a loaded class of just finalists. Gonna be some tough cuts for the actual Class of 2023,” tweeted SB Nation’s Seahawks Twitter account Field Gulls.
This is a loaded class of just finalists. Gonna be some tough cuts for the actual Class of 2023. https://t.co/8nDfx1hwum
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) January 5, 2023
“Gonna go watch a bunch of old Patrick Willis highlights so I can feel alive,” tweeted Mike Golic Jr. of the GoJo podcast with DraftKings.
gonna go watch a bunch of old Patrick Willis highlights so I can feel alive https://t.co/1bRQw8XITS
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 5, 2023
Only five of the 15 finalists will ultimately be inducted this year, certainly making for an incredibly tough decision amongst the elite finalists chosen.
Those five finalists will be formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the annual NFL Honors Award show on February 9th.
[NFL.com]
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.