INDIANAPOLIS – The pursuit of three Indianapolis Colts standouts to secure residency in Canton, Ohio, continues.
Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis and Adam Vinatieri are among the 25 modern-era Semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.
Vinatieri is in his first year of eligibility while Mathis has reached this phase of the process for a fourth year.
Wayne is in the midst of a long journey. He’s not only reached the 25-player Semifinal level for a sixth consecutive year, but has advanced to the Final 15 in each of his five years of eligibility.
His frustration was evident last February when the Class of 2024 was announced. Former teammate Dwight Freeney was selected, but Wayne fell short.
Again.
“It is what it is,’’ Wayne said at the time. “There’s a lot of stuff that I’ve waited on in my lifetime. I’ve waited on becoming the No. 1 receiver for the Colts for six, seven years . . . I didn’t always get that BMX bike when I was a kid. . . . I didn’t always get that Nintendo right when it came out.
“You’ve got to wait until your number is called (and) when it does, you just got to answer the bell.’’
Wayne’s 14-year career placed him in a rare neighborhood. The second-leading receiver in Colts’ history is one of two players in NFL history to rank in the top 10 in receptions and yards in the regular season and postseason.
The other is Jerry Rice.
Wayne ranks No. 10 in the regular season with 1,070 receptions and 14,345 yards, and No. 6 in the postseason with 93 receptions and No. 7 with 1,254 yards.
Vinatieri is arguably the best clutch kicker in league history, not to mention its all-time scoring leader in the regular season and playoffs. He was part of four Super Bowl championships – three during his 10-year career with the New England Patriots, one during a 14-year stint with the Colts – and delivered last-second game-winning kicks in Super Bowl XXXVI (versus St. Louis) and Super Bowl XXXVIII (Carolina).
He also kickstarted the Patriots dynasty by converting two field goals in blizzard conditions against the Oakland Raiders in a 2001 AFC Divisional round overtime victory.
Vinatieri’s 2,673 points, 599 field goals and 715 attempts are league records, as are his 238 points, 56 field goals and 69 attempts in the postseason. His 24 seasons rank No. 3 in league history and his 365 games are No. 2.
He was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary team.
Mathis is the Colts’ career sack leader with 123 – that ranks No. 20 in league history – and generated a league record 54 forced fumbles.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee (I am a member) first pared the list of 167 preliminary nominees to 50, then to 25.
The next step is for the list of 25 to be cut to 15.
The Selection Committee will discuss the 15 Finalists and a maximum of five modern-era players will comprise the Class of 2025. Three Senior candidates along with one Coach and one Contributor also will be considered for induction.
The Class of 2025 will be revealed at the “NFL Honors’’ show in New Orleans prior to Super Bowl LIX in February and enshrined in August in Canton.
The 25 Semifinalists (x-denotes a 2024 Finalist; y-denotes first-year eligible):
- WR Reggie Wayne-x
- K Adam Vinatieri-y
- DE/LB Robert Mathis
- CB Eric Allen-x
- DE Jared Allen-x
- OT Willie Anderson-x
- WR Anquan Boldin
- G Jahri Evans-x.
- TE Antonio Gates-x
- LB James Harrison
- S Rodney Harrison-x
- WR Torry Holt-x
- LB Luke Kuechly-y
- QB Eli Manning-y
- WR Steve Smith Sr.
- DE Terrell Suggs-y
- RB Fred Taylor-x
- DB Earl Thomas-y
- WR Hines Ward
- RB Ricky Watters
- OT Richmond Webb
- DT Vince Wilfork
- G Steve Wisniewski
- S Darren Woodson-x
- G/T Marshal Yanda-y