Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 01/03/2017 #PFHOF17 Contacts: Joe Horrigan, Executive Director, [email protected]; 330-588-3627; Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications, [email protected]; 330-588-3622 CLASS OF 2017 FINALISTS 15 MODERN-ERA FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME’S CLASS OF 2017 CANTON, OHIO – The list of 15 Modern-Era Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 include seven players who are finalists for the first time. The group includes three first-year eligible nominees – Brian Dawkins, Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson. The 15 Modern-Era Finalists will be considered for election to the Hall of Fame when the Hall’s Selection Committee meets in Houston on the day before Super Bowl LI to elect the new class. The Modern-Era Finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall’s Selection Committee from a list of 94 nominees that earlier was reduced to 26 semifinalists, during the year-long selection process. The 2017 Modern-Era Finalists with their positions, years and teams: • Morten Andersen, Kicker – 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings • Tony Boselli, Tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars • Isaac Bruce, Wide Receiver – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers • Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers • Terrell Davis, Running Back – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos • Brian Dawkins, Safety – 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE • Alan Faneca, Guard – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals • Joe Jacoby, Tackle – 1981-1993 Washington Redskins • Ty Law, Cornerback – 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos • John Lynch, Free Safety – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos • Kevin Mawae, Center/Guard – 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans • Terrell Owens, Wide Receiver – 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals • Jason Taylor, Defensive End – 1997-2007, 2009, 2011 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Washington Redskins, 2010 New York Jets • LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back – 2001-09 San Diego Chargers, 2010-11 New York Jets • Kurt Warner, Quarterback – 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals The 15 Modern-Era Finalists join three other finalists to comprise 18 finalists under consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017. One Senior Finalist was announced in August 2016 by the Seniors Committee that reviews the qualifications of those players whose careers ended more than 25 years ago. • Kenny Easley, Safety – 1981-87 Seattle Seahawks Two Contributor Finalists, also announced in August, were selected by the Hall of Fame’s Contributor Committee that considers persons who made outstanding contributions to professional football other than players and coaches. • Jerry Jones, Owner, President & General Manager – 1989-present Dallas Cowboys • Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent during the annual selection meeting. COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE TIMES AS FINALIST Dawkins, Taylor and Tomlinson are first-year eligible nominees. Four other Modern-Era nominees – Boselli, Bruce, Law, and Mawae – although nominees in previous years, are finalists for the first time. Easley and Jones are finalists for the first time also. Finalist (Times) – Years as Finalist Morten Andersen (4) – 2014-17 Tony Boselli (1) – 2017 Isaac Bruce (1) – 2017 Don Coryell (4) – 2010, 2015-17 Terrell Davis (3) – 2015-17 Brian Dawkins (1) – 2017 Kenny Easley (1) – 2017 Alan Faneca (2) – 2016-17 Joe Jacoby (2) – 2016-17 Jerry Jones (1) – 2017 Ty Law (1) – 2017 John Lynch (4) – 2014-17 Kevin Mawae (1) – 2017 Terrell Owens (2) – 2016-17 Paul Tagliabue (4) – 2007-09, 2017 Jason Taylor (1) – 2017 LaDainian Tomlinson (1) – 2017 Kurt Warner (3) – 2015-17 YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for election, modern-era players and coaches must have last played or coached more than five seasons ago. Since contributors need not be retired to be eligible, there is no specific year of eligibility for Jones or Tagliabue. Year of Eligibility Finalist 1st Brian Dawkins, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson 2nd Alan Faneca, Terrell Owens 3rd Isaac Bruce, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae, Kurt Warner 5th Morten Andersen, John Lynch 11th Tony Boselli, Terrell Davis 19th Joe Jacoby 25th Kenny Easley 30th Don Coryell^ ^Although in 2007 the Hall of Fame By-Laws for selection were modified to provide that a coach must be retired five seasons to be eligible, Coryell first became eligible under the old rules that did not require the five-year waiting period. Thus, Coryell has been eligible since his retirement from coaching in 1986 making him eligible for 30 years. COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE SELECTION MEETING AND ANNOUNCEMENT The Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017, in Houston when the 48-person Selection Committee meets to elect the Class of 2017. The selectors will thoroughly discuss the careers of each finalist. Although there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s current ground rules stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected each year. No more than five Modern-Era Finalists can be elected in a given year and thus a class of six, seven, or eight can only be achieved if the Contributor Finalist and/or one or both of the Senior Finalists are elected. Representatives of the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche will tabulate all votes during the meeting. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 will be announced during “NFL Honors,” a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on the eve of the Super Bowl from 8-10 p.m. (ET and PT) on FOX. “NFL Honors” will be taped earlier that evening at the Wortham Theater in Houston from 7-9 p.m. (ET) when the 2017 Hall of Fame class will be introduced for the first time. In addition, the NFL and The Associated Press will announce their annual accolades in this awards show with the winners on hand to accept their awards. The Class of 2017 will be officially enshrined in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio next August as the main event of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. CLASS OF 2017 FINALISTS MORTEN ANDERSEN Kicker … 6-2, 218 … Michigan State … 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006- 07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings … 25 seasons, 382 games … Selected by Saints in 4th round (86th player overall) of 1982 draft … Began career in strike-shortened 1982 season … Scored more than 90 points in 22 seasons … Topped 100-point total 14 times in career … First 100-plus season, 1985, connected on 31 of 35 field goals, 27 extra point conversions, for 120 points, earning first of seven Pro Bowl selections … Also named All-Pro five times … After 13 years with Saints and ranking as team’s all-time leading scorer, joined the Falcons in 1995 … Became Falcons career scoring leader … Spectacular 1995 season, scored a career- high 122 points, including then NFL-record for most 50-yard field goals in season (8) … Dec. 10, 1995, became first kicker to convert three field goals of 50 yards or longer in single game … Set NFL records for career points (2,544), most field goals (565), games played (382) … His 40 field goals of 50-plus yards most in NFL history at retirement … Named to two NFL All-Decade Teams (1980s and 1990s) ... Converted 565 of 709 field goal attempts, 849 of 859 point-after-attempts … Led NFL in field goals, 1987 … Led NFC in scoring, 1992 and topped all conference kickers in most field goals in 1985, 1987, and 1995 … Born August 19, 1960 in Struer, Denmark. COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE TONY BOSELLI Tackle … 6-7, 324 … Southern California … 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars … Seven seasons, 91 games … Selected by expansion Jaguars as second player overall in 1995 NFL Draft … Quickly became face of the franchise … Sat out rookie training camp with knee injury, saw first action in Week 4 … First career start came following week in franchise’s first victory … Earned All-Rookie honors … Regarded as an elite tackle in the NFL during career … Noted for superb foot speed and agility … Persevered through numerous injuries … Leader of team that led expansion Jaguars to AFC championship game by second season … Anchored offensive line that helped team to four straight playoff appearances with records of 9-7, 11-5, 11-5 and 14-2 from 1996-99 … Picked as team’s Most Valuable Player in 1998 after helping Jaguars to team’s first division title … Voted to five straight Pro Bowls (1997-2001) … Named first-team All-Pro three consecutive seasons … Selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s despite only playing in half of decade … Suffered severe shoulder injury that ultimately ended career and placed on injured reserve after three games, 2001 … Houston Texans’ first pick of 2002 expansion draft but injury prevented him from playing again … Born April 17, 1972 in Modesto, California. ISAAC BRUCE Wide Receiver … Santa Monica College (JC), Memphis … 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St.