Ole Miss legendary quarterback Eli Manning named finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame
OXFORD, Miss. — Former Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, has made it one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On Saturday, the Hall of Fame announced Manning is one of the 15 finalists for its 2025 class.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalist@ProFootballHOF | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Rgf4CypFkV
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 28, 2024
Four other players join the Rebels’ legend as finalists in their first year of eligibility: Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri and Marshal Yanda.
The complete list is as follows:
Eric Allen, Cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland
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
The class will be announced in New Orleans during Super Bowl week. While there isn’t a set number of players who are admitted to the Hall of Fame each week, the bylaws state that between four and eight former players will be chosen ahead of their enshrinement in Canton in August.
The original list of potential nominees began with 167 players. It has been reduced twice, down to 50 nominees and 25 semifinalists before this final cut to 15 players
The finalists in the Modern-Era Player category were determined by the Hall’s independent Selection Committee from a list that originated with 167 nominees. It was reduced two other times (to 50 nominees and to 25 semifinalists) before the cut to the 15 finalists. Best of luck to Eli!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
