Eli Manning Among 25 Semifinalists for 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

Longtime New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was one of 25 players named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 on Wednesday.

Per NFL.com, the full listing of modern-era semifinalists is as follows:

• Eric Allen, CB
• Jared Allen, DE
• Willie Anderson, OT
• Anquan Boldin, WR
• Jahri Evans, OG
• Antonio Gates, TE
• James Harrison, LB
• Rodney Harrison, S
• Torry Holt, WR
• Luke Kuechly, LB
• Eli Manning, QB
• Robert Mathis, DE
• Steve Smith Sr., WR
• Terrell Suggs, LB/DE
• Fred Taylor, RB
• Earl Thomas, DB
• Adam Vinatieri, PK
• Hines Ward, WR
• Ricky Watters, RB
• Reggie Wayne, WR
• Richmond Webb, OT
• Vince Wilfork, DT
• Steve Wisniewski, OG
• Darren Woodson, S
• Marshal Yanda, OG/OT

Manning is the only quarterback among the semifinalists, as Marc Bulger, Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Doug Flutie, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair and Tony Romo were all cut from the initial list of 167 nominees.

The 43-year-old Manning, who is the son of longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and brother of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the New York Giants.

Initially selected No. 1 overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, Manning was traded to the Giants on draft day and he went on to become arguably the best quarterback in franchise history.

Although he went just 117-117 in 234 career regular-season starts, Manning won a pair of Super Bowls, beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots twice, and earning Super Bowl MVP honors on both occasions.

Manning also ranks 11th in NFL history in passing yardage (57,023), passing touchdowns (366) and completions (4,895).

Manning is one of six players to be named a semifinalist for the 2025 Hall of Fame class in their first year of eligibility, along with Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Baltimore Ravens pass-rusher Terrell Suggs, Ravens offensive lineman Marshal Yanda, Seattle Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas and Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Meanwhile, 17 of this year’s semifinalists were also semifinalists last year, including Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt, Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Jared Allen.

Although Manning is the biggest name up for enshrinement, Vinatieri would arguably be the most historic choice if he is voted in.

Only four kickers are currently in the Hall of Fame, and only two of them were exclusively kickers in Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud, as Lou Groza and George Blanda also played other positions.

Vinatieri has a chance to join Stenerud as the only pure kickers to be first-ballot Hall of Famers, and he has the résumé to do it with four Super Bowl wins and the most points scored in NFL history to his credit.

The list of 25 semifinalists will be shaved down further to 15 finalists next month, and there will be 20 Hall of Fame finalists in all when adding in senior finalists, coaches and contributors.

A class of between four and eight Hall of Famers will then be announced in February as part of the NFL Honors award show in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX.