The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced 94 former players and coaches as modern-era nominees for the Hall’s 2017 class.
Prominent first-year nominees include pass rusher Jason Taylor, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and wide receiver Hines Ward. 2016 finalists back on the ballot include quarterback Kurt Warner, running backs Edgerrin James and Terrell Davis, wide receiver Terrell Owens, offensive linemen Alan Faneca and Joe Jacoby, safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch, kicker Morten Andersen and ex-coach Don Coryell.
The list will be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November and to 15 finalists in January. Eighteen finalists -- those 15 from this group, senior finalist Kenny Easley and contributor category finalists Jerry Jones and Paul Tagliabue -- will be presented to the selection committee before the Super Bowl next February. Between four and eight new Hall of Famers will be selected.
The full list of 2017 nominees, by position, is below...
Quarterbacks (7)
Drew Bledsoe, Randall Cunningham, Doug Flutie, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Phil Simms, Kurt Warner
Running backs (13)
Shaun Alexander, Ottis Anderson, Tiki Barber, Larry Centers, Roger Craig, Terrell Davis, Eddie George, Edgerrin James, Daryl Johnston, Eric Metcalf, LaDainian Tomlinson, Herschel Walker Ricky Watters
Wide receivers (10)
Isaac Bruce, Henry Ellard, Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason, Terrell Owens, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Hines Ward
Tight end (1)
Mark Bavaro
Offensive linemen (14)
Tony Boselli, Ray Donaldson, Alan Faneca, Jay Hilgenberg, Chris Hinton, Kent Hull, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Olin Kreutz, Jim Lachey, Kevin Mawae, Tom Nalen, Nate Newton, Steve Wisniewski
Defensive linemen (5)
Leslie O’Neal, Simeon Rice, Fred Smerlas, Jason Taylor, Bryant Young
Linebackers (11)
Carl Banks, Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, Seth Joyner, Levon Kirkland, Clay Matthews Jr., Willie McGinest, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Joey Porter, Zach Thomas
Defensive backs (16)
Eric Allen, Steve Atwater, Joey Browner, LeRoy Butler, Brian Dawkins, Rodney Harrison, Ty Law, Albert Lewis, John Lynch, Frank Minnifield, Bob Sanders, Darren Sharper, Dennis Smith, Troy Vincent, Everson Walls, Darren Woodson
Kicker/punter (4)
Morten Andersen, Gary Anderson, Sean Landeta, Nick Lowery
Special teams (2)
Brian Mitchell, Steve Tasker
Coaches (11)
Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil
