Julius Peppers, Antonio Gates, and the 15 Finalists for the 2024 Hall of Fame

The nominees for the National Football League’s Hall of Fame have been announced. Fifteen former players are eligible to be immortalized in Canton, Ohio, and the official ballot with five players will be named tonight at the NFL Honors ceremony. Here is a list of all 15 nominees.

Position: DETeams: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay PackersSeasons: 17 (2002-18)

Peppers was the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, and is the only player in NFL history to have at least 150 sacks and 10 or more interceptions. He has 159.5 total sacks in his career, fourth all-time behind Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Kevin Greene.

Position: TETeam: San Diego/Los Angeles ChargersSeasons: 16 (2003-18)

Antonio Gates leads all NFL tight ends in receptions, and is the Chargers’ franchise leader in catches (955), receiving yards (11,841), and receiving TDs (116).

Not bad for an undrafted guy who played basketball in college.

Position: DE

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Bears, Panthers

Seasons: 12 (2004-15)

Allen recorded 136 sacks — including a career high 22 in 2011 — and holds the NFL record for most safeties with four. Allen was a four-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. He forced 32 fumbles, recovering 19 and scoring once.

Position: S

Teams: Chargers and New England Patriots

Seasons: 15 (1994-2008)

Before becoming an analyst for NBC’s Football Night in America, Harrison recorded 920 solo tackles, 30.5 sacks, and 34 interceptions. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots.

Position: CB

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders

Seasons: 14 (1988-2001)

Allen had 54 picks for 826 yards — and eight TDs — was a six-time Pro Bowler, and is a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame.  

Position: OT

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens

Seasons: 13 (1996-2008)

Anderson was the 10th overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft. The four-time Pro Bowler helped block for Corey Dillon, who broke Jim Brown’s single-game rookie rushing record, and Walter Payton’s single-game rushing record.

Position: OG

Teams: Saints and Packers

Seasons: 12 (2006-2017)

Evans is currently on the Saints’ coaching staff. During his playing days, the fourth-round pick made six Pro Bowls and was a key cog in New Orleans’ first-ever Super Bowl victory.

Position: DETeams: Indianapolis Colts, Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions

Seasons: 17 (2002-17)

Known for spinning off the opposition to get to opposing QBs, Freeney spent 11 years with the Colts, winning Super Bowl XLI. He had 125.5 sacks and 148 QB hits in his career.

Position(s): WR/KR/PR

Teams: Bears, Falcons, Ravens and Seahawks

Seasons: 11 (2006-16)

Hester has the most return touchdowns in NFL history with 19. He could be the first-ever return specialist in Canton. Hester made history when he returned the opening kick in Super Bowl XLI for a 92-yard score. He’s the first and only player to do so.

Position: WR

Teams: Houston Texans, Colts and Tennessee Titans

Seasons: 14 (2003-16)

The third overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft, Johnson caught 1,062 passes for 14,185 yards, and 70 TDs. He led the league in catches twice, and in receiving yards once.

Johnson was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All Pro.

Position: RB

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars and Patriots

Seasons: 13 (1998-2010)

Taylor is Jacksonville’s all-time rushing yards leader. His career 11,685 yards are good for 17th all-time in NFL history. Taylor scored 66 TDs.

Despite rushing for over 1,000 yards seven times, Taylor was only named to the Pro Bowl once.

Position: DB

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Seasons: 12 (1992-2003)

Dallas took Woodson with one of the picks it received from the infamous Hershel Walker trade.

He was a three-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Woodson had 639 solo tackles, 11 sack, 11 fumble recoveries, and 23 interceptions (two were pick-sixes).

Position: WR

Team: Colts

Seasons: 14 (2001-14)

Wayne racked up 1,070 receptions for 14,345 yards and scored 82 TDs. The six-time Pro Bowler had two catches for 61 yards and a score in Indy’s Super Bowl XLI victory over the Bears.

He led the league in receiving yards in 2007.

Position: WR

Teams: Rams, Jaguars

Seasons: 11 (1999-2009)

Holt was a member of the legendary “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams that won Super Bowl XXXIV.

For his career, he caught 920 passes for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns.

The seven-time Pro Bowler twice led in the league in receiving yards.

Position: LB

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Seasons: 8 (2007-14)

Willis didn’t have a long career, but was dominant during his time with San Fran.

He won Defensive Rookie of the Year, was a seven-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, and was named to the Hall of Fame’s 2010s team.

Willis racked up 20.5 sacks, 733 solo tackles, and 16 forced fumbles.