Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 11/21/2017 #PFHOF18

CONTACTS: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622 Rachel Gutting, Communications Coordinator [email protected]; 330-588-3671

MODERN-ERA SEMIFINALISTS FOR CLASS OF 2018 ANNOUNCED LIST TRIMMED FROM 108 NOMINEES; INCLUDES 10 FIRST-TIME SEMIFINALISTS

CANTON, OHIO – Six first-year eligible candidates – cornerback/safety , guard Steve Hutchinson, linebackers and , wide receiver and defensive end/defensive tackle – are among the 27 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018.

Although Hall of Fame bylaws call for the selection of 25 semifinalists they also provide that the semifinalist list includes all ties for the twenty-fifth position, as has occurred this year with the total of 27 semifinalists

Four other players – safety LeRoy Butler, defensive ends Leslie O’Neal and Simeon Rice, and cornerback Everson Walls – although previously eligible for the Hall, are semifinalists for the first time. All other individuals on the 2018 list have been a semifinalist in previous years.

The Class of 2018 semifinalists includes 25 players – 12 on offense (RB=2; WR=5; OL=5); 13 on defense (DL=3; LB=3; DB=7), and two coaches.

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

The year-round selection process is integral in fulfilling the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s important mission to “Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values and Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.”

The following is the complete list of 2018 Modern-Era semifinalists, including their positions, years, and teams. Also listed are the number of times and years the individual has been named a semifinalist since this reduction vote was added to the Selection Committee Bylaws in 2004.

• , S – 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2012-18) • Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018) • Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Texans (injured reserve) | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2016-18) • , WR – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18) • LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018) • Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 – 2005, 2010-18) • Roger Craig, RB – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 – 2009-18) • , S – 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2017-18) • Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 , 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2016-18) • , WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18) • Steve Hutchinson, G – 2001-05