Former Steelers Troy Polamalu, Alan Faneca named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hines Ward misses the cut as 15 finalists are chosen for Hall of Fame's Class of 2020
Updated: 7:45 PM EST Jan 2, 2020
Former Steelers Troy Polamalu, Alan Faneca named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hines Ward misses the cut as 15 finalists are chosen for Hall of Fame's Class of 2020
Updated: 7:45 PM EST Jan 2, 2020
WEBVTT DAD, I HOPE I MADE YOU PROUD. ANDREW: CERTAINLY AN EMOTIONAL MIGHT FOR JEROME BETTIS, AND WHILE JEROME SHARED HIS EMOTIONAL STORY ON THE STAGE, WE SAT AND WATCHED IT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THAT STORY HAPPEN. JEROME'S FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FORMER TEAMMATES. THIS EMOTIONAL MIGHT FOR JEROME BETTIS BEGAN LONG BEFORE HE SPOKE. HIS MOTHER GLADYS, CARRYING HIS LATE FATHER'S HAT IN HER PURSE, WAS OVERWHELMED. I'M ECSTATIC. I'M ALMOST IN TEARS. I'M GOING TO HOLD ON UNTIL I SEE BOTH MY BOYS OF THEIR. IT'S INCREDIBLE TO HAVE TWO SONS . I'M SO HAPPY. ANDREW: JUST BEHIND THE FAMILY, HIS FORMER TEAMMATES. TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN, AS THEIR BROTHER RECEIVED PRO FOOTBALL'S ULTIMATE INDIVIDUAL HONOR. IT IS SPECIAL. IT IS VERY SPECIAL. I THINK ALL THE GUYS HERE FEEL WE HAVE A LITTLE PIECE OF HELPING JEROME ALONG HIS JOURNEY UP YOUR TO SEE HIM GO IN THERE FOR A GUY WHO IS WORKED HARD AND MEANT SO MUCH TO US AS TEAMMATES IS VERY SPECIAL. ANDREW: EVERY ONE OF THESE MEN WISH THEY COULD TAKE THE PODIUM. WHEN I CAME INTO PITTSBURGH, HE EMBRACED ME. I USED TO TELL MY FAMILY THAT ALL THE TIME. IT SEEMS SURREAL.
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Former Steelers Troy Polamalu, Alan Faneca named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hines Ward misses the cut as 15 finalists are chosen for Hall of Fame's Class of 2020
Updated: 7:45 PM EST Jan 2, 2020
Troy Polamalu, the hard-hitting safety who played 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. (Scroll down to see a full list of finalists.)Alan Faneca, who played with Polamalu during his 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, was also selected as one of the 15 finalists on Thursday. This is Faneca's fifth time as a finalist for the Hall of Fame.Hines Ward, who was chosen as a semifinalist in November, missed the final cut. This was the former Pittsburgh receiver's fourth year of eligibility.The Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 inductees will be announced on Feb. 1, one day before Super Bowl LIV.HALL OF FAME MODERN-ERA PLAYER FINALISTS:Steve Atwater, safety -- 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York JetsTony Boselli, tackle -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville JaguarsIsaac Bruce, wide receiver -- 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ersLeRoy Butler, safety -- 1990-2001 Green Bay PackersAlan Faneca, guard -- 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona CardinalsTorry Holt, wide receiver -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville JaguarsSteve Hutchinson, guard -- 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee TitansEdgerrin James, running back -- 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle SeahawksJohn Lynch, safety -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver BroncosSam Mills, linebacker -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina PanthersTroy Polamalu, safety -- 2003-2014 Pittsburgh SteelersRichard Seymour, defensive end/defensive tackle -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland RaidersZach Thomas, linebacker -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas CowboysReggie Wayne, wide receiver -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis ColtsBryant Young, defensive tackle -- 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
Troy Polamalu, the hard-hitting safety who played 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. (Scroll down to see a full list of finalists.)
Alan Faneca, who played with Polamalu during his 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, was also selected as one of the 15 finalists on Thursday. This is Faneca's fifth time as a finalist for the Hall of Fame.
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Hines Ward, who was chosen as a semifinalist in November, missed the final cut. This was the former Pittsburgh receiver's fourth year of eligibility.
The Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 inductees will be announced on Feb. 1, one day before Super Bowl LIV.
HALL OF FAME MODERN-ERA PLAYER FINALISTS:
- Steve Atwater, safety -- 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
- Tony Boselli, tackle -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Isaac Bruce, wide receiver -- 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers
- LeRoy Butler, safety -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
- Alan Faneca, guard -- 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
- Torry Holt, wide receiver -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Steve Hutchinson, guard -- 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans
- Edgerrin James, running back -- 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
- John Lynch, safety -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
- Sam Mills, linebacker -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
- Troy Polamalu, safety -- 2003-2014 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Richard Seymour, defensive end/defensive tackle -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
- Zach Thomas, linebacker -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
- Reggie Wayne, wide receiver -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
- Bryant Young, defensive tackle -- 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
