MAIN Recreation Sports Football 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame

It's the official start of the 2025 NFL preseason as the Pro Hall of Fame Game kicks off in August.

Watch for the TV broadcast on ABC and ESPN when the game is televisted on Thursday, August 1, 2025 beginning at 8 p.m. ET live from the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH

And coming up that weekend -- the class of 2025 inductees will be honored right next door at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, beginning at noon on Saturday, August 3 with nationwide television coverage on ESPN and the NFL Network.

Football Hall of Fame Class of '25

The total list of more than a hundred nominees announced were reduced to 25 semifinalists in November.

This list was again reduced to 15 finalists in January, The selection committee then choose the official class in February (during Super Bowl week) for eventual enshrinement at the August ceremony.

Hall of Fame Enshrinement Class of 2025

The Class of 2025 was announced on Thursday, February 6 during the "NFL Honors " broadcast live from New Orleans, on FOX and NFL Network and streamed on NFL+. The show airs at 9 p.m. ET.

Here they are:

Eric Allen, Cornerback – 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

Antonio Gates, Tight End – 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

Sterling Sharpe, The lone finalist from the Seniors, Coach and Contributor categories Sharpe was an NFL pro for just seven seasons, Sharpe led the league in receptions three times in his seven seasons, all with the Packers.

The four person class is the smallest one to be inducted since 2025. A four-member class is now the smallest allowed under the Hall's current bylaws.

The 15 Finalists

Announced in December, two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning looked to follow his brother Peyton Manning who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021. Another standout was tight end Antonio Gates who made the cut (see above).. By tradition, only four to eight candidates are selected in any given year.

Quarterback Eli Manning was a Hall of Fame finalist in 2025.

Willie Anderson, Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Jahri Evans, Guard – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker – 2012-19 Carolina Panthers

Eli Manning, Quarterback – 2004-2019 New York Giants

Steve Smith Sr., Wide Receiver – 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens

Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End – 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs

Fred Taylor, Running Back – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts

Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

To be considered for Pro Football Hall of Fame election, a nominated player or coach must have been retired at least five years. This year's class will increase to well more than 300 the players and coaches who are now permanently honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

DID YOU KNOW? Hall of Fame fun facts

• What's in a name? The more colorfully-named Hall of Fame inductees have included Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch, Frank (Bruiser) Kinard, Dick (Night Train) Lane, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans, and "Mean" Joe Greene.

Class of '87: Pete Rozelle, O.J. Simpson, Joe Namath, Roger Staubach.

• "Mean" Joe Greene was inducted in 1987, but remains even more famous for starring in a Coke commercial entitled "Hey, Kid Catch!" which aired during the 1979 Super Bowl.

• One of the most illustrious Hall of Fame classes was inducted in 1985. It included Joe Namath, Pete Rozelle, O.J. Simpson, and Roger Staubach.

• Cal Hubbard is currently the only person in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame (as a player) and the Baseball Hall of Fame (as an umpire).

• Pennsylvania is the state that leads the pack in Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, with 30 members born in the Keystone state.

More about the pro football Hall of Fame around the Web:

On the Web, take a virtual tour, learn more about football greats of the past in profiles & photos, get details on the Hall of Fame Weekend festivities, and what else it means to be forever enshrined in the American Pro Football Hall of Fame ....

2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame - Check out the official site with pictures, updates, inductee news, annual Hall of Fame Weekend & game schedule, museum virtual tour, pictures & video presentations, extensive historical guides including a decade-by-decade timeline, player profiles, plus a complete visitor guide with directions, contact info.

Pro Football Hall of Fame - Wikipedia - Get a leg up on encyclopedic knowledge of its history, the selection process, a list of inductees dating back to 1963, and related resources.