First-time candidates Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates have joined nine returning finalists who have advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024.
In their inaugural year of eligibility, Peppers and Gates were announced as finalists on Wednesday, securing spots on the 15-player ballot alongside five-time finalists wide receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne. Seven other players have returned as finalists, including Patrick Willis, Andre Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson, and Devin Hester.
Defensive backs Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison, running back Fred Taylor, and offensive lineman Jahri Evans have reached this stage for the first time after previously being semifinalists.
The selection process will gradually reduce the 15 finalists to 10 and then further narrow them down to five during early next year’s selection meeting. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the final five candidates must secure at least 80% of the votes from the panel.
Four finalists in other categories were previously announced, including Buddy Parker in the coaching category and Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael, and Art Powell in the senior category. They will also gain induction if they garner support from at least 80% of voters.
The announcement of the class of 2024 is scheduled to take place at the NFL Honors show in Las Vegas on Feb. 8, coinciding with The Associated Press’ season awards for 2023.
Both Peppers and Gates initially pursued college basketball before achieving significant success in football. Peppers, selected second overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2002, emerged as one of the league’s most dominant linemen, boasting a 17-year career with notable stops in Chicago and Green Bay.
Peppers, a three-time All-Pro (2004, 2006, 2010), concluded his career with 159.5 sacks, ranking fourth since their official recognition in 1982. Gates, a former college basketball player, transitioned to become one of the NFL’s top tight ends. The Chargers took a chance on him, and it paid off as he earned All-Pro honors in his second season (2004) and went on to amass 955 catches, 11,841 yards, and an NFL-record 116 touchdown receptions for tight ends in his 16-year career.
Among the 15 finalists, notable achievements include the prolific wideouts Johnson, Holt, and Wayne, each with over 900 catches and ranking in the top 20 in career receiving yards. Defensive standouts Allen and Freeney are among the top 20 all-time in sacks, with multiple first-team All-Pro selections. Other finalists such as Willis, Evans, Anderson, Woodson, Hester, and Harrison also garnered multiple first-team All-Pro selections during their careers.
