The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class semifinalists were announced just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving. Getting introduced is just one of the first steps in getting inducted, with a cut-down date of finalists announced in December or early 2023.
Some players — seven, to be exact — have been nominated for the first time since their retirement, while others, such as Torry Holt, Darren Woodson, and Hines Ward, have been named a semifinalist at least seven times now. A total of 29 nominees are listed below.
Semifinalists for the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class
- CB Eric Allen
Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2021-23
Philadelphia Eagles | 1988-1994
New Orleans Saints| 1995-97
Oakland Raiders | 1998-2001 - DE Jared Allen
Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2021-23
Kansas City Chiefs | 2004-07
Minnesota Vikings | 2008-2013
Chicago Bears | 2014-15
Carolina Panthers | 2015 - T Willie Anderson
Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2021-23
Cincinnati Bengals | 1996-2007
Baltimore Ravens | 2008 - CB/S Ronde Barber
Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2018-2023
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1997-2012 - WR Anquan Boldin
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
Arizona Cardinals | 2003-09
Baltimore Ravens | 2010-12
San Francisco 49ers | 2013-15
Detroit Lions | 2016 - WR Henry Ellard
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
Los Angeles Rams | 1983-1993
Washington Redskins | 1994-98
New England Patriots | 1998 - G Jahri Evans
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
New Orleans Saints | 2006-2016
Green Bay Packers | 2017 - LB London Fletcher
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
St. Louis Rams | 1998-2001
Buffalo Bills | 2002-06
Washington Redskins | 2007-2013 - DE Dwight Freeney
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
Indianapolis Colts | 2002-2012
San Diego Chargers | 2013-14
Arizona Cardinals | 2015
Atlanta Falcons | 2016
Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions | 2017 - LB James Harrison
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
Pittsburgh Steelers | 2002-2012, 2014-17
Cincinnati Bengals | 2013
New England Patriots | 2017 - S Rodney Harrison
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2021, 2023
San Diego Chargers | 1994-2002
New England Patriots | 2003-08 - PR/KR/WR Devin Hester
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
Chicago Bears | 2006-2013
Atlanta Falcons | 2014-15
Baltimore Ravens | 2016 - WR Torry Holt
Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2015-2023
St. Louis Rams | 1999-2008
Jacksonville Jaguars | 2009 - WR Andre Johnson
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
Houston Texans | 2003-2014
Indianapolis Colts | 2015
Tennessee Titans | 2016 - CB Albert Lewis
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2013, 2023
Kansas City Chiefs | 1983-1993
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders | 1994-98 - DE/LB Robert Mathis
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
Indianapolis Colts | 2003-2016 - CB Darrelle Revis
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
New York Jets | 2007-2012, 2015-16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2013
New England Patriots | 2014
Kansas City Chiefs | 2017 - WR Steve Smith Sr.
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
Carolina Panthers | 2001-2013
Baltimore Ravens | 2014-16 - RB Fred Taylor
Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2020-23
Jacksonville Jaguars | 1998-2008
New England Patriots | 2009-2010 - T Joe Thomas
Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2023
Cleveland Browns | 2007-2017 - LB Zach Thomas
Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2019-2023
Miami Dolphins | 1996-2007
Dallas Cowboys | 2008 - WR Hines Ward
Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2017-2023
Pittsburgh Steelers | 1998-2011 - LB/DE DeMarcus Ware
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
Dallas Cowboys | 2005-2013
Denver Broncos | 2014-16 - RB Ricky Watters
Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2020, 2022-23
San Francisco 49ers | 1992-94
Philadelphia Eagles | 1995-97
Seattle Seahawks | 1998-2001 - WR Reggie Wayne
Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2020-23
Indianapolis Colts | 2001-2014 - DT Vince Wilfork
Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2022-23
New England Patriots | 2004-2014
Houston Texans | 2015-16 - LB Patrick Willis
Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2020-23
San Francisco 49ers | 2007-2014 - S Darren Woodson
Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2023
Dallas Cowboys | 1992-2003
Why 29 Semifinalists in the 2023 Class?
Typically, the list of semifinalists is cut down to 25, a process the NFL adopted in 2004. However, if there are ties for the 25th nominee, all those that tied are included in the semifinalists’ list.
When Will the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class Be Announced?
Of this list of 29 semifinalists, a total of 15 modern-era finalists will be announced at a later date. Then a list of four to nine former players will be chosen to be a part of the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class and announced at the 2023 NFL Honors on Feb. 9, just prior to Super Bowl LVII kicking off in Glendale, Arizona.
Who Are the First-Year Semifinalists, and Who’s Been Nominated the Most in the 2023 Class?
The first-year semifinalists nominated are Joe Thomas, James Harrison, Darrelle Revis, Henry Ellard, London Fletcher, Jahri Evans, and Dwight Freeney. Of that group, Thomas, Harrison, Revis, Evans, and Freeney are in their first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
MORE: NFL Head Coach Wins Leaders
Of the list announced, no player has been named a semifinalist more than former Rams and Jaguars WR Torry Holt. Holt was a key cog in what’s deemed the “Greatest Show on Turf,” a Rams squad that won the Super Bowl in the 1999-2000 season.