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For Immediate Release
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Hall of Fame Modern-Era Semi-Finalist List Announced CANTON, OH – Former All-Pro quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young are among the several first-year eligible players who head the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2005. The semi-finalists were chosen by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors from the recently announced list of 90 preliminary nominees. The list of 25 semi-finalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 13 modern-era candidates. That list will then increase to 15 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame’s Senior Committee. This year’s Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are two of pro football's early pioneers – Benny Friedman and Fritz Pollard. The Seniors Committee reviews the qualifications of those players, coaches, and contributors whose careers took place more than 25 years ago. The list of 15 finalists for the Class of 2005 will be announced in mid-January. The list of 25 modern-era semi-finalists includes: § Harry Carson, LB - 1976-1988 New York Giants § Don Coryell, Coach - 1973-1977 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers § Fred Dean, DE - 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-1985 San Francisco 49ers
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Richard Dent, DE - 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San
Francisco 49ers, § Chris Doleman, DE/LB - 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-1998 San Francisco 49ers § Randy Gradishar, LB - 1974-1983 Denver Broncos § L. C. Greenwood, DE - 1969-1981 Pittsburgh Steelers § Russ Grimm, G - 1981-1991 Washington Redskins § Ray Guy, P - 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders § Charles Haley, DE/LB - 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-1996 Dallas Cowboys § Lester Hayes, CB - 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
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Claude Humphrey, DE - 1968-1974, 1976-1978 Atlanta Falcons,
§ Michael Irvin, WR - 1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys § Joe Jacoby, T - 1981-1993 Washington Redskins § Bob Kuechenberg, G - 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins § Dan Marino, QB - 1983-1999 Miami Dolphins § Art Modell, Owner - 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens § Art Monk, WR - 1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles § Ken Stabler, QB - 1970-1979 Oakland Raiders, 1980-1981 Houston Oilers, 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints § Derrick Thomas, LB - 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs § Roger Wehrli, CB - 1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals § Ralph Wilson, Jr., Owner - 1959-current Buffalo Bills § George Young, GM/Administrator - 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League § Steve Young, QB - 1985-1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1987-1999 San Francisco 49ers § Gary Zimmerman, T - 1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-1997 Denver Broncos To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player must have been retired at least five years. For a non-player, there is not a mandatory retirement period, but a coach must be retired before he may be considered. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career. The Class of 2005 will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Saturday February 5, 2005, in Jacksonville, Florida, the day before Super Bowl XXXIX. The election results are announced immediately following the meeting at a press conference at the media headquarters. Hall of Fame bylaws stipulate that between three and six new members will be selected each year. |