Eli Manning, Marshawn Lynch Among Final 50 Candidates for 2025 Pro Football HOF Class

The Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed down its list of Modern-Era candidates for induction in 2025 to 50 players.

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas are among the first-time nominees.

Manning might be perhaps the most fascinating case of anybody in the field because fans have spent years arguing over his Hall of Fame credentials.

The 43-year-old made four Pro Bowls and was never an All-Pro across his 16 seasons. His career numbers aren’t overwhelming, either, when factoring in his longevity. He’s 11th in total passing yards (57,023) but 21st in yards per game (241.6).

But Manning’s two Super Bowl triumphs will loom large when evaluating his résumé. He was the MVP in each of those Super Bowls as well.

Maybe Manning doesn’t go in on the first ballot, but the pair of titles will likely put him into the Hall of Fame at some point.

Because they have such stiff competition at their respective positions, Suggs and Thomas could be in a similar boat.

Suggs was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and hit double digits in sacks in seven of his 17 seasons. His 139 sacks are unofficially the 12th-most all time, and every player above him is enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Still, Suggs might wind up splitting some votes with fellow first-timer Luke Kuechly, James Harrison and Cornelius Bennett.

Thomas is up against fellow Legion of Boom standout Kam Chancellor at defensive back in addition to Troy Vincent, Rodney Harrison, Eric Allen and Darren Woodson. The way in which his career tailed off won’t help him. A four-time All-Pro, he was never the same player after fracturing his tibia in 2016, though he did notch a Pro Bowl appearance in his final season (2019).

While Hall of Fame voters have historically been unkind to kickers, Adam Vinatieri is surely a safe bet to go in on the first ballot. The 51-year-old is regarded as one of the most clutch kickers ever, hitting a number of important kicks during his spells with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

His 56 made field goals in the postseason are the most ever, well ahead of Stephen Gostkowski (41) in second place. Harrison Butker is the active leader and needs to connect on 24 more field goals to catch Vinatieri.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will narrow its candidate list to 25 players for the semifinal stage. Ultimately, between just four and eight new enshrinees will get the call.