ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Just a year after the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 included three enshrines who had been eligible for the first time, the Class of ’19 could turn the trick again.
Former Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed and former Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez were named among the 15 modern-era finalists announced Thursday night for the Hall of Fame.
Last February Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and Randy Moss were each chosen for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame when each was in the first year of eligibility.
The Hall’s Board of Selectors will Feb. 2, in Atlanta, the day before Super Bowl LIII, to narrow the list of 15 finalists to a maximum of five enshrines for the Class of 2019.
The other modern-era finalists announced Thursday were: running back Edgerrin James, wide receiver Isaac Bruce, cornerback Ty Law, safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, offensive linemen Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Kevin Mawae, and coaches Don Coryell and Tom Flores.
In addition previously announced finalists Johnny Robinson (seniors finalist) to go with Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt (contributors) will be voted on by the Board of Selectors separately on a “yes” or “no” ballot.
Among this year’s modern-era finalists, Lynch and Coryell have been finalists the most often at six and five times respectively.
Gonzalez, a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, Bailey, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and Reed, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, give this year’s list of finalists a different feel. They are three of seven first-time finalists in the 15 finalists and among the nine who have been finalists two or fewer times.
And just one of this year’s modern-era finalists — Coryell — has been a finalist before 2014. Coryell was a first-time modern-era finalists in 2010.