For the fourth straight year, Bengals Ring of Honor member Willie Anderson is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall released the 15 modern-era names Saturday morning on a list headed by Anderson, five-time finalist Jared Allen, and six-time finalists Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne.
Also on the final ballot are senior nominees Sterling Sharpe, Jim Tyrer, and Maxie Baughan, as well as coach nominee Mike Holmgren, and contributor nominee Ralph Hay.
The 2025 class is set to be announced Feb. 6 during Super Bowl festivities in New Orleans at NFL Honors after voting by the 50-member selection committee, of which Bengals.com is a member.
Anderson, 48, considered one of the most dominant players of the turn-of the-century NFL, is the only right tackle in the last five decades to make three straight All-Pro teams when he did it from 2004-2006. His career began as the Bengals first-round pick in 1996 and included blocking for franchise all-time rusher Corey Dillon and captaining Cincinnati’s first AFC North champions in 2005. After a dozen years as a Bengal, he spent the 2008 season with the Ravens before retiring.
Two of his teammates on that Baltimore team, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and guard Marshal Yanda, are also on the list of 15 modern-era finalists as first-time eligibles, Other finalists who are also first-time eligibles are Eli Manning, Adam Vinatieri, and Luke Kuechly, a Cincinnati prep star.
The selection committee may elect up to five modern-era players; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80% for election. The class can be made up of four to eight inductees.
The list of 15:
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
Willie Anderson, Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Jahri Evans, Guard – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
Antonio Gates, Tight End – 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
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
