Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 09/12/17 #PFHOF18 Contact: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622 108 MODERN-ERA NOMINEES FOR THE HALL OF FAME’S CLASS OF 2018 LIST OF NOMINEES TO BE CUT DOWN TO 25 SEMIFINALISTS IN NOVEMBER; 15 FINALISTS IN JANUARY CANTON, OHIO – The Modern-Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 is comprised of 108 players and coaches. Among the group announced are 11 first-year eligible players including wide receiver Randy Moss, linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher and defensive back Ronde Barber. The roster of nominees consists of 53 offensive players, 38 defensive players, five special teams players and 12 coaches. The Modern-Era nominees will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November and, from there, to 15 finalists in January. MODERN-ERA NOMINEES FOR THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2018 *Finalist in 2017; Underline indicates first year of eligibility (Players and coaches must have last played or coached at least five full seasons to be eligible for nomination. Therefore, any individual who last played or coached in 2012 are eligible for the first time in 2018). QUARTERBACKS (5) – Randall Cunningham, Rich Gannon, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Phil Simms RUNNING BACKS (10) – Tiki Barber, Earnest Byner, Roger Craig, Corey Dillon, Eddie George, Edgerrin James, Lorenzo Neal, Fred Taylor, Herschel Walker (also KR), Ricky Watters WIDE RECEIVERS (13) – *Isaac Bruce, Donald Driver, Henry Ellard (also PR), Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Randy Moss, *Terrell Owens, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Steve Smith, John Taylor, Hines Ward TIGHT END (4) – Mark Bavaro, Ben Coates, Ferrell Edmunds, Jay Novacek OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (21) – Willie Anderson (T), Matt Birk (C), *Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Ray Donaldson (C), *Alan Faneca (G), Bill Fralic (G/T), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Steve Hutchinson (G), *Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), *Kevin Mawae (C/G), Tom Nalen (C), Nate Newton (G), Bart Oates (C), Jeff Saturday (C), Richmond Webb (T), Steve Wisniewski (G) DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (11) – La’Roi Glover (DT/NT), Leonard Marshall (DE/DT), Keith Millard (DT/NT/DE), Leslie O’Neal (DE), Michael Dean Perry (DT/DE), Simeon Rice (DE), Richard Seymour (DT), Neil Smith (DE), Greg Townsend (DE/NT/LB), Kyle Vanden Bosch (DE), Bryant Young (DT) LINEBACKERS (15) – Carl Banks, Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, Seth Joyner, Ray Lewis, Greg Lloyd, Wilber Marshall, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest (also DE), Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Joey Porter, Darryl Talley, Zach Thomas, Brian Urlacher DEFENSIVE BACKS (12) – Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Ronde Barber (CB/S), LeRoy Butler (S), *Brian Dawkins (SS), Rodney Harrison (S), *Ty Law (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), *John Lynch (S), Dennis Smith (S), Everson Walls (CB), Darren Woodson (S) KICKERS/PUNTER (3) – Gary Anderson (K), Sean Landeta (P), Nick Lowery (K) SPECIAL TEAMS (2) – Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Steve Tasker (ST also WR) COACHES (12) – *Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil Eighteen finalists will be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual selection meeting on “Selection Saturday,” the day before Super Bowl LII. The finalists will consist of 15 Modern-Era finalists, the recently named Senior Finalists, Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer, and the Contributor Finalist, Bobby Beathard. The Selection Committee will meet on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minn. to elect the Class of 2018. While there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the selection process by-laws provide that between four and eight new members will be selected. The Senior Finalists and Contributor Finalist are voted “yes” or “no” for election at the annual selection meeting and must receive at least 80 percent support from the Committee to be elected. The Modern-Era Finalists will be trimmed during the meeting from 15 to 10 and then from 10 to 5. The remaining five finalists will be voted on individually, “yes” or “no” and must receive the same 80 percent positive vote as the Seniors and Contributor Finalists to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Class of 2018 will be announced during the “NFL Honors” nationally broadcast award show that evening. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 will be formally enshrined next August in Canton. The enshrinement is one of three marquee events, along with the Hall of Fame Game and the Concert for Legends, that are held in the spectacular Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium during Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. #PFHOF18 FAN VOTE For the seventh consecutive year, fans can vote for their favorite Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees. Fans should visit nfl.com/hofvote to make their picks. The Class of 2018 fan vote is presented by Ford, the Official Automobile of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Video: Toby Keith, who performed at the Concert for Legends at the Hall of Fame last month, encourages fans to enter the Fan Vote. https://profootballhof.box.com/s/9yzhriv8ww4sk28pi9erjhb788geq39y TICKETS & PACKAGES Official Ticket Packages for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls are on sale now at http://www.hofexperiences.com/ or by calling 844-751-0532. A variety of ticket packages, starting at $285, provide fans with VIP experiences, premium seating and parties with Hall of Famers. Packages range from event day offerings to four-day experiences that include a multitude of exclusive extras. TICKET PRE-SALE PROGRAM The Hall is also offering a Ticket Pre-Sale Program that gives fans the chance to guarantee a ticket to the Hall of Fame Game, Enshrinement Ceremony, and/or Concert for Legends. The cost is $25 to reserve a ticket. More details are available at http://www.profootballhof.com/2018-enshrinement-week-presale-program/ Individual tickets to the 2018 Hall of Fame Game, Enshrinement Ceremony, and Concert for Legends will go on sale at a later date. Follow the Hall on social media @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. #PFHOF18 ### ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution with the Mission to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE. Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience “The Most Inspiring Place on Earth!” that chronicles America’s most popular sport. Construction on Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a nearly $800 million development project that includes 10 main components, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus. For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE .