For Immediate Release
October 27, 1999

For More Information, Contact Joe Horrigan -- (330) 456-8207

CANTON, OHIO – Former San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana heads up the list of 71 former NFL players, coaches, and contributors that make up the modern-era nomination list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2000.

To be considered for Hall of Fame election, a player must have been retired at least five years. First-time eligible players who were named to a major All-NFL, All-AFC, All-NFC, or Pro Bowl team at least once during their careers are automatically included on the preliminary ballot. For a non-player, there is no mandatory retirement period, but a coach must be retired before he may be considered.

In addition to Montana, others who are eligible for the first time include defensive back Ronnie Lott; wide receiver Sterling Sharpe; offensive lineman Mike Kenn; defensive linemen Charles Mann, Leonard Marshall, and Steve McMichael; and linebacker Karl Mecklenburg.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors, by a straight plurality vote will determine 12 modern-era finalists from the 71-nominee list. The 13th and 14th modern-era finalists will be defensive end Howie Long and wide receiver Lynn Swann because they finished in the top six in the voting for the Hall’s 1999 class, but were not elected. The 15th member of the group of finalists that will be announced in mid-January will be former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dave Wilcox, the recommended candidate of the Seniors Committee which reviews the qualifications of those players, coaches, and contributors whose careers primarily took place more than 25 years ago.

The Class of 2000 will be determined at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting in Atlanta, GA, on January 29, the day before Super Bowl XXXIV. The election results will be announced at 11:30 a.m. (ET) that day. There is no set number for any class of enshrinees, but the current ground rules do stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year.

QUARTERBACKS
Joe Montana, Jay Schroeder

WIDE RECEIVERS
Eric Martin, Sterling Sharpe, Clarence Verdin

RUNNING BACKS
Barry Foster, Johnny Johnson

TIGHT ENDS
Mark Bavaro, Ferrell Edmunds, Ethan Horton, Steve Jordan

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Mark Bortz, (G); Max Montoya, (G); Mike Kenn, (T); Luis Sharpe (T)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Tim Krumrie, (DT); Charles Mann, (DE); Leonard Marshall, (DE/DT); Steve McMichael, (DT)

LINEBACKERS
Vaughan Johnson, Karl Mecklenburg

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Carl Lee,(CB); Ronnie Lott, (CB/S); Dennis Smith, (S)

KICKER
David Treadwell

PUNTER
Jim Arnold

COACH
Marty Schottenheimer

ADDITIONAL NOMINEES

QUARTERBACKS
Ken Anderson, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Ken Stabler

WIDE RECEIVERS
Harold Jackson, James Lofton, Drew Pearson, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann

RUNNING BACKS
Ottis Anderson, Roger Craig, Archie Griffin

TIGHT END

Dave Casper

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Randy Cross, (G/C); Joe DeLamielleure, (G); Russ Grimm, (G); Bob Kuechenberg, (G); Mike Munchak, (G); Bob Young, (G); Joe Jacoby, (T); Ron Yary, (T); Jeff Bostic, (C); Jay Hilgenberg, (C); Jeff Van Note, (C)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
L.C. Greenwood, (DE); Dan Hampton, (DE/DT); Ed "Too Tall" Jones, (DE); Howie Long, (DE); Jack Youngblood, (DE)

LINEBACKERS
Robert Brazile, Harry Carson, Randy Gradishar

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Cliff Harris, (S); Lester Hayes, (CB); Donnie Shell, (S); Everson Walls, (CB); Roger Wehrli, (CB)

PUNTER
Ray Guy

COACHES
Marv Levy, John Madden

CONTRIBUTORS
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Dan Rooney, Jim Tunney, Ralph Wilson