The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed the 15 modern-era finalists for the Class of 2022. Former San Francisco 49ers stars Patrick Willis and Bryant Young are among those names. This is the first time Willis has been named a finalist.
The 49ers made Willis the No. 11 overall draft pick in 2007, and he spent eight seasons with San Francisco before retiring after the 2014 season. He was named to seven Pro Bowls and is a five-time first-team All-Pro.
San Francisco made Young the No. 7 overall draft pick in 1994, and he spent 14 seasons with the team. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and was a first-team All-Pro in 1996.
LB @PatrickWillis52 has been selected as a Finalist for the HOF Class of 2022.#PFHOF22 | @49ers pic.twitter.com/HAaIoPXgfb
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) December 30, 2021
DT/DE @Bgr8t has been selected as a Finalist for the HOF Class of 2022.#PFHOF22 | @49ers pic.twitter.com/ORFDzfVONB
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) December 30, 2021
A vote will take place before the Super Bowl to determine which of the 15 finalists enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Below is a list of the former NFL stars who have been announced as a finalist.
- Jared Allen, DE – 2004-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2015 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
- Willie Anderson, OT -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
- Ronde Barber, DB – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tony Boselli, T -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
- LeRoy Butler, S -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
- Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR -- 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2015 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
- Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Andre Johnson, WR -- 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
- Sam Mills, LB -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
- Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
- Zach Thomas, LB -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
- DeMarcus Ware, LB -- 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-2016 Denver Broncos
- Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
- Patrick Willis, LB -- 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
- Bryant Young, DE/DT -- 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
The selection process started with the selection of 122 modern-era nominees. That number was reduced to 26 semifinalists in November and is now down to 15.