CANTON, Ohio, 14 November 2003 — Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders are among 25 candidates for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall announced its list of 25 semifinal candidates for induction this year on Wednesday and included Elway and Sanders who are both in their first year of eligibility.
The board of selectors started with a list of 67 nominees for the 2004 induction and the current list of 25 semifinalists will be reduced to 13 modern-era candidates during a mail ballot.
The results of that ballot will be announced in mid-January.
The Hall’s senior committee then adds two candidates to be considered. This year’s nominees are tackle Bob Brown (Philadelphia Eagles 1964-68, Los Angeles Rams 1969-70 and Oakland Raiders 1971-73) and Bob Hayes, a wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys (1965-74) and San Francisco 49ers (1975).
The new class of inductees for 2004 comes out of those final 15 nominations.
New additions to the Hall will be announced the day before the Super Bowl in Houston.
Harry Carson and George Young will be automatic finalists for 2004 consideration because of their high finish in last year’s voting.
Also nominated for this year are: wide receivers Cliff Branch, Art Monk and Steve Tasker; quarterback Ken Stabler; defensive ends Richard Dent, Carl Eller, L.C. Greenwood, Claude Humphrey and Jim Marshall; linebacker Randy Gradishar; guards Russ Grimm and Bob Kuechenberg; safeties Cliff Harris and Donnie Shell; cornerbacks Lester Hayes and Roger Wehrli; tackles Rayfield Wright and Gary Zimmerman; punter Ray Guy; and NFL team owners Art Modell (Browns, Ravens) and Ralph Wilson Jr. (Bills).
The Super Bowl will be played on Feb. 1, 2004.
