Pro Football Hall of Fame: Breaking down 2024 finalists, voting process (2024)

Canton will soon be calling for some of the NFL's elite.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2024 class will be revealed during Thursday's NFL Honors ceremony, which begins airing at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Up to five of the 15 modern-era finalists announced in December can earn a bust at 2121 George Halas Drive in Canton, Ohio. And four others—senior category finalists Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and Art Powell, plus coach/contributor finalist Buddy Parker—could go in with them.

Before a select few players receive the knock at the door they've been anxiously awaiting for years, here's what to know about the Hall of Fame, including a closer look at this year's finalists.

Who are the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Finalists?

The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists are composed of two first-time eligible players, nine standouts who reached this stage of the selection process last year and four others who are finalists for the first time.

Here's a player-by-player breakdown.

Eric Allen — DB, 1988-2001

Times as a finalist: One (2024)

Year of eligibility: 18th

The six-time Pro Bowler finished his NFL career with 54 interceptions, eight of which were returned for touchdowns (including four during the 1993 season). Allen spent half of his 14 years in the league with Philadelphia and has since been named to the Eagles' 75th Anniversary Team and inducted into the franchise's Hall of Fame. The 1989 All-Pro—who also played for the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders—led his team, or shared the lead, in picks seven times.

Jared Allen — DE, 2004-15

Times as a finalist: Four (2021-24)

Year of eligibility: Fourth

The other Allen to be a 2024 Hall of Fame finalist finished his 12-year career with 136 sacks, good for 12th all-time on the official leaderboard. The four-time first-team All-Pro—who started off with the Kansas City Chiefs and spent most of his prime with the Minnesota Vikings—led the league in sacks twice, and came just half a sack shy of the single-season record (22.5) in 2011.

Willie Anderson — OT, 1996-2008

Times as a finalist: Three (2022-24)

Year of eligibility: 11th

Anderson played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and quickly garnered a reputation as one of the elite right tackles in the league. From 2003-06, Anderson was named a first-team All-Pro three times and a second-teamer once. The four-time Pro Bowler known for his punishing run blocking led the way for nine 1,000-yard rushers over the course of his career, while also successfully standing in the way against some of the elite pass-rushers of the era.

Jahri Evans — OL, 2006-17

Times as a finalist: One (2024)

Year of eligibility: Second

Many of the potent Saints offenses of the Drew Brees-Sean Payton era had a commonality up front—Evans. The former fourth-round pick out of Division II Bloomsburg University played all but one of his 13 seasons in New Orleans, where he went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14), was named first-team All-Pro four times (2009-12) and blocked for the Super Bowl XLIV-winning Saints. Evans was a unanimous selection to the Saints Hall of Fame, and has also been named to the franchise's 50th Anniversary Team and the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.

Dwight Freeney — DE, 2002-17

Times as a finalist: Two (2023-24)

Year of eligibility: Second

The master of the spin move, Freeney earned seven Pro Bowl nods and was part of the All-Pro team three times over a 16-year career—11 of which were spent with the Indianapolis Colts. The Super Bowl XLI champion and member of the Hall of Fame's All-Decade team for the 2000s played for six teams and is 18th on the all-time sack list (125.5) and credited with 47 forced fumbles, tied for third-most on the NFL's leaderboard. Freeney led the NFL in sacks (16) in 2004.

Antonio Gates — TE, 2003-18

Times as a finalist: One (2024)

Year of eligibility: First

The former basketball standout played his entire 16-year career for the Chargers, first in San Diego and then in Los Angeles, and retired with the most receiving touchdowns ever by a tight end (116). Gates, a three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, also recorded 955 receptions for 11,841 yards and tallied eight seasons with eight or more end zone trips—the most ever by a tight end. The Red Zone matchup nightmare earned a spot on the 2000s All-Decade Team.

Rodney Harrison — DB, 1994-2008

Times as a finalist: One (2024)

Year of eligibility: 11th

Described by Bill Belichick as the best safety he ever coached, Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, after starting his time in the pros out with the Chargers, to cement the early portion of the organization's long-running dynasty. The hard-hitting, ball-hawking safety picked off 34 passes and accounted for 30.5 sacks (most ever by a defensive back) over a career that included a pair of first-team All-Pro nods.

Devin Hester — PR/KR/WR, 2006-16

Times as a finalist: Three (2022-24)

Year of eligibility: Third

The most accurate description of Hester's NFL career may be "ridiculous." The most prolific returner the game has ever seen played eight of his 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears, earning spots on two different All-Decade teams. Hester, a four-time All-Pro, is the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns (20), and memorably ran back the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI.

Torry Holt — WR, 1999-2009

Times as a finalist: Five (2020-24)

Year of eligibility: 10th

Holt was a rookie on the "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV, a game in which he caught seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. The seven-time Pro Bowler then rattled off eight consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, including six straight with at least 1,300 yards. Holt's career-best 117 catches and 1,696 yards garnered All-Pro recognition in 2004. The All-Decade Team member for the 2000s, who spent all but one of 11 seasons with the Rams, caught 74 career touchdowns.

Andre Johnson — WR, 2003-16

Times as a finalist: Three (2022-24)

Year of eligibility: Third

Despite subpar quarterback play around him for nearly his entire career, Johnson still managed to post 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 receiving touchdowns. That includes seven 1,000-yard seasons (three with 1,500+) and five 100-catch campaigns. The seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro led the league in receptions and yards twice and was the first player ever elected to the Houston Texans' Ring of Honor.

Julius Peppers — DE, 2002-18

Times as a finalist: One (2024)

Year of eligibility: First

This dominant defensive end finished his NFL career fourth on the all-time sacks list (159.5) and is the only player in league history with 100-plus sacks and at least 10 interceptions. Peppers was named to both the All-2000s and All-2010s teams over a career that included nine Pro Bowl nods and three seasons with All-Pro praise. The 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year terrorized quarterbacks with the Panthers, Bears and Packers.

Fred Taylor — RB, 1998-2010

Times as a finalist: One (2024)

Year of eligibility: Ninth

The only running back among this year's finalists recorded seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his way to 11,695 career yards and 66 touchdowns on the ground, despite often being hampered by injuries. Taylor scored 17 touchdowns as a rookie and ran for a personal-best 1,572 yards in 2003. The Pro Bowler played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars before a two-season stint with the Patriots.

Reggie Wayne — WR, 2001-14

Times as a finalist: Five (2020-24)

Year of eligibility: Fifth

One of Peyton Manning's favorite targets with the Indianapolis Colts is once again close to joining "The Sheriff" in Canton. Wayne caught 100 or more passes in a season four times and posted eight 1,000-yard seasons. The six-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with a career-high 1,510 receiving yards in 2007, and is 10th on the league's all-time list (14,345 yards). Wayne retired as the NFL's second all-time leader in postseason catches (93) and won Super Bowl XLI with Indy.

Patrick Willis — LB, 2007-14

Times as a finalist: Three (2022-24)

Year of eligibility: Fifth

Injuries shortened Willis' career, but over an eight-season span, he solidified himself as one of the most accomplished linebackers of the modern era. The 49ers great's resume includes 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, five first-team All-Pro nods, seven Pro Bowl trips, a spot on the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2010s and two seasons as the league's tackling leader. And all that came before Willis retired at age 30 after dealing with foot injuries.

Darren Woodson — S, 1992-2003

Times as a finalist: Two (2023-24)

Year of eligibility: 16th

Woodson patrolled the secondary for all three of the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1990s after being drafted by the franchise in 1992 with a pick obtained in the famous Herschel Walker trade. The three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler picked off 23 passes over his career and retired as the Cowboys' all-time leading tackler, per the Hall of Fame.

How Does NFL HOF Voting Work?

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which consists of one media representative from each pro football city (two each from New York and Los Angeles), is polled multiple times each year before determining a list of modern-era nominees for possible enshrinement. Players and coaches must be retired for at least five years before they can be considered, and there are separate requirements for contributors and senior candidates.

For this year's class, a list of 173 nominees was released in September, then reduced to 25 semifinalists in November and eventually whittled again to the 15 finalists. At an annual, in-person meeting before the Super Bowl, the Selection Committee discusses each finalist to eventually determine the Hall of Fame class.

The committee may select up to five modern-era players for the Class of 2024, and each finalist must receive at least 80 percent approval from the committee to be elected.

The selection process, the NFL says, aligns with Hall of Fame's mission to, "Honor the greatest of the game, preserve its history, promote its values and celebrate excellence together."

When is the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Ceremony?

The members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2024 class revealed on Thursday night will officially be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, in August. Events for that weekend include the annual Hall of Fame game on August 1 (teams yet to be selected), the enshrinees' gold jacket dinner on August 2, and the induction ceremony on August 3.