Die diesjährige Liste mit den für die Hall of Fame-Nominierten umfasst 133 Namen und ist damit eine der längsten der Geschichte. Diese Liste wird in einem ersten Schritt durch die Hall of Fame-Selektoren auf 25 Personen reduziert, in einem zweiten Schritt auf 15 Namen. Zu diesen 15 Finalisten stossen dann mit Bob Hayes und Claude Humphrey die beiden vom Senior Committee nominierten Spieler, welche ihrer Karriere vor mehr als 30 Jahren absolviert haben.

Der letzte Schritt findet dann am Vorabend der Super Bowl statt, diesesmal am 31. Janaur 2009. An diesem Tag werden die 39 Mitglieder des Board of Selectors an ihrer Tagung in Tampa, Florida, vier bis sieben Spieler auswählen, welche dann die Hall of Fame-Class of 2009 bilden. Um in die Hall of Fame aufgenommen zu werden, benötigt ein Nominierter die Zustimmung von 80 Prozent der Selektoren (32 von 39 Stimmen).

Unter den Spielern, die erstmals – fünf Jahre nach ihrer letzten NFL-Saison – wählbar sind, befinden sich auch ein paar bekannte Namen: Defensive End Bruce Smith, der so viele Sacks erzielt hat, wie kein anderern Spieler in der NFL-Geschichte, Tigh End Shannon Sharpe, der bis dieses Jahr so ziemlich jeden Rekord für Tight Ends hielt – bevor ihn Chiefs-Tight End Tony Gonzalez – enthronte, oder Cornerback Rod Woodson, der NFL-Rekordhalter bezüglich zum Touchdown zurückgetragene Interceptions. Dazu kommen natürlich noch weitere «heisse» Kandidaten, wie etwa die Wide Receivers Cris Carter und Andre Reed oder der vormalige NFL-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Die Liste umfasst 110 Spieler, sieben Coaches und 16 sogenannte «Contributors», also Besitzer, Manager, Scouts oder Liga-Offizielle, die einen Beitrag zur Entwicklung des Footballs geleistet haben. Spieler und Trainer müssen dabei mindesten fünf Jahre im Ruhestand sein, bevor sie in die Hall of Fame aufgenommen werden können, bei den übrigen Kandidaten gilt diese Einschränkung nicht.

Die Nominierten

Quarterbacks
Ken Anderson – Augustana (IL) – 1971-1986 Cincinnati Bengals
Boomer Esiason – Maryland – 1984-1992 Cincinnati Bengals, 1993-1995 New York Jets, 1996 Arizona Cardinals, 1997 Cincinnati Bengals
Jim Plunkett – Stanford – 1971-1975 New England Patriots, 1976-1977 San Francisco 49ers, 1979-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Phil Simms – Morehead State – 1979-1993 New York Giants
Ken Stabler – Alabama – 1970-1979 Oakland Raiders, 1980-1981 Houston Oilers, 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints
Joe Theismann – Notre Dame – 1971-1973 Toronto Argonauts (CFL), 1974-1985 Washington Redskins
Doug Williams – Grambling State – 1978-1982 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1984-1985 Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws (USFL), 1986-1989 Washington Redskins

Running Backs
Ottis Anderson – Miami (FL) – 1979-1986 St. Louis Cardinals, 1986-1992 New York Giants
Larry Centers – Stephen F. Austin – 1990-1998 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1999-2000 Washington Redskins, 2001-2002 Buffalo Bills, 2003 New England Patriots
Roger Craig – Nebraska – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-1993 Minnesota Vikings
Terrell Davis – Georgia – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Brian Mitchell (KR/PR) – Louisiana-Lafayette – 1990-1999 Washington Redskins, 2000-2002 Philadelphia Eagles, 2003 New York Giants
Greg Pruitt (KR/PR) – Oklahoma – 1973-1981 Cleveland Browns, 1982-1984 Los Angeles Raiders
Herschel Walker – Georgia – 1983-1985 New Jersey Generals (USFL), 1986-1989 Dallas Cowboys, 1989-1991 Minnesota Vikings, 1992-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995 New York Giants, 1996-1997 Dallas Cowboys
Ricky Watters – Notre Dame – 1992-1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-1997 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks

Wide Receivers
Cliff Branch – Warton County (TX) Junior College; Colorado – 1972-1985 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Harold Carmichael – Southern – 1971-1983 Philadelphia Eagles, 1984 Dallas Cowboys
Cris Carter – Ohio State – 1987-1989 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Wes Chandler – Florida – 1978-1981 New Orleans Saints, 1981-1987 San Diego Chargers, 1988 San Francisco 49ers
Gary Clark – James Madison – 1985-1992 Washington Redskins, 1993-1994 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1995 Miami Dolphins
Isaac Curtis – San Diego State – 1973-1984 Cincinnati Bengals
Henry Ellard – Fresno State – 1983-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-1998 Washington Redskins, 1998 New England Patriots
Irving Fryar – Nebraska – 1984-1992 New England Patriots, 1993-1995 Miami Dolphins, 1996-1998 Philadelphia Eagles, 1999-2000 Washington Redskins
Roy Green – Henderson State – 1979-1990 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, 1991-1992 Philadelphia Eagles
Harold Jackson – Jackson State – 1968 Los Angeles Rams, 1969-1972 Philadelphia Eagles, 1973-1977 Los Angeles Rams, 1978-1981 New England Patriots, 1982 Minnesota Vikings, 1983 Seattle Seahwaks
Herman Moore – Virginia – 1991-2001 Detroit Lions, 2002 New York Giants
Stanley Morgan – Tennessee – 1977-1989 New England Patriots, 1990 Indianapolis Colts
Andre Reed – Kutztown – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Sterling Sharpe – South Carolina – 1988-1994 Green Bay Packers

Tight Ends
Marc Bavaro – Notre Dame – 1985-1990 New York Giants, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993-1994 Philadelphia Eagles
Todd Christensen – Brigham Young – 1979 New York Giants, 1979-1988 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Ben Coats – Livingstone College – 1991-1999 New England Patriots, 2000 Baltimore Ravens
Russ Francis – Oregon – 1975-1980 New England Patriots, 1982-1987 San Francisco 49ers, 1987-1988 New England Patriots
Brent Jones – Santa Clara – 1973-1983 Dallas Cowboys
Steve Jordan – Brown – 1982-1994 Minnesota Vikings
Shannon Sharpe – Savannah State – 1990-1999 Denver Broncos, 2000-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-2003 Denver Broncos
Jay Novacek – Wyoming – 1985-1989 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, 1990-1995 Dallas Cowboys

Offensive Linemen
Tony Boselli (T) – Southern California – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
Lomas Brown (T) – Florida – 1985-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-1998 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 Cleveland Browns, 2000-2001 New York Giants, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jim Covert (C) – Pittsburgh – 1983-1990 Chicago Bears
Randy Cross (C/G) – UCLA – 1976-1988 San Francisco 49ers
Dave Dalby (C) – UCLA – 1972-1985 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Dermontti Dawson (C) – Kentucky – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Ray Donaldson (C) – Georgia – 1980-1992 Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, 1993-1994 Seattle Seahawks, 1995-1996 Dallas Cowboys
Russ Grimm (G) – Pittsburgh – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Jay Hilgenberg (C/G) – Iowa – 1981-1991 Chicago Bears, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993 New Orleans Saints
Kent Hill (G/T) – Georgia Tech – 1979-1986 Los Angeles Rams, 1986-1987 Houston Oilers
Chris Hinton (G) – Northwestern – 1983-1989 Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, 1990-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994-1995 Minnesota Vikings
Kent Hull (C) – Mississippi State – 1983-1985 New Jersey Generals (USFL), 1986-1996 Buffalo Bills
Joe Jacoby (T) – Louisville – 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Mike Kenn (T) – Michigan – 1978-1994 Atlanta Falcons
Lincoln Kennedy (T) – Washington – 1993-1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-2003 Oakland Raiders
Bob Kuechenberg (G) – Notre Dame – 1970-1983 Miami Dolphins
Jim Lachey (T) – Ohio State – 1985-1987 San Diego Chargers, 1988 Los Angeles Raiders, 1988-1995 Washington Redskins
Henry Lawrence (G/T) – Florida A&M – 1974-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Mark May (C/G/T) – Pittsburgh – 1981-1990 Washington Redskins, 1991 San Diego Chargers, 1992-1993 Phoenix Cardinals
Randall McDaniel (G) – Arizona State – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Max Montoyay (G) – UCLA – 1979-1989 Cincinnati Bengals, 1990-1994 Los Angeles Raiders
Marvin Powell (T) – 1977-1985 New York Jets, 1986-1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steve Wisniewski (G) – Penn State – 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Defensive Linemen
Ray Childress (DE/DT) – Texas A&M – 1985-1995 Houston Oilers, 1996 Dallas Cowboys
Richard Dent (DE) – Tennessee State – 1983-1993 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Doleman (DE) – Pittsburgh – 1985-1993 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-1998 San Francisco 49ers, 1999 Minnesota Vikings
Carl Hairston (DE/DT) – Maryland-Eastern Shore – 1976-1983 Philadelphia Eagles, 1984-1989 Cleveland Browns, 1990 Phoenix Cardinals
Charles Haley (DE) – James Madison – 1983-1993 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-1996 Dallas Cowboys, 1999 San Francisco 49ers
Ed "Too Tall” Jones (DE) – Tennessee State – 1974-1978, 1980-1989 Dallas Cowboys
Cortez Kennedy (DT) – Miami (FL) – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Joe Klecko (DE/DT/NT) – Temple – 1977-1987 New York Jets, 1988 Indianapolis Colts
Steve McMichael (DT/NT) – Texas – 1980 New England Patriots, 1981-1993 Chicago Bears, 1994 Green Bay Packers
Leslie O'Neal (DE) – Oklahoma State – 1986-1995 San Diego Chargers, 1996-1997 St. Louis Rams, 1998-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
John Randle (DT) – Texas A&I – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-2003 Seattle Seahawks
Fred Smerlas (NT) – Boston College – 1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991–1992 New England Patriots
Bruce Smith (DE) – Virginia Tech – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-2003 Washington Redskins
Art Still (DE) – Kentucky – 1978-1987 Kansas City Chiefs, 1988-1989 Buffalo Bills
Dana Stubblefield (DT) – Kansas – 1993-1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2000 Washington Redskins, 2001-2002 San Francisco 49ers, 2003 Oakland Raiders

Linebackers
Jessie Armstead – Miami (FL) – 1993-2001 New York Giants, 2002-203 Washington Redskins
Cornelius Bennett – Alabama – 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-1998 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts
Robert Brazile – Jackson State – 1975-1984 Houston Oilers
Kevin Greene – Auburn – 1985-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-1995 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-1999 Carolina Panthers
Ken Harvey – California – 1988-1993 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-1998 Washington Redskins
Rickey Jackson – Pittsburgh – 1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-1995 San Francisco 49ers
Tom Jackson – Louisville – 1973-1986 Denver Broncos
Clay Matthews – Southern California – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-1996 Atlanta Falcons
Karl Mecklenburg – Augustana (SD); Minnesota – 1983-1994 Denver Broncos
Sam Mills – Montclair State (NJ) – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-1997 Carolina Panthers
Hardy Nickerson – California – 1987-1992 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1993-1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2000-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Green Bay Packers
Chris Spielman – Ohio State – 1988-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-1997 Buffalo Bills
Pat Swilling – Georgia Tech – 1986-1992 New Orleans Saints, 1993-1994 Detroit Lions, 1995-1996, 1998 Oakland Raiders
Darryl Talley – West Virginia – 1983-1994 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996 Minnesota Vikings
Derrick Thomas – Alabama – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs

Defensive Backs
Eric Allen (CB) – Arizona State – 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-1997 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
Steve Atwater (S) – Arkansas – 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
Joey Browner (S) – Southern California – 1983-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LeRoy Butler (S) – Florida State – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
Deron Cherry (S) – Rutgers – 1981-1991 Kansas City Chiefs
Raymond Clayborn (CB) – Texas – 1977-1989 New England Patriots, 1990-1991 Cleveland Browns
Kenny Easley (S) – UCLA – 1981-1987 Seattle Seahawks
Lester Hayes (CB) – Texas A&M – 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Albert Lewis (CB) – Grambling State – 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-1998 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Ken Riley (CB) – Florida A&M – 1969-1983 Cincinnati Bengals
Eugene Robinson (S) – Colgate – 1985-1995 Seattle Seahawks, 1996-1997 Green Bay Packers, 1998-1999 Atlanta Falcons, 2000 Carolina Panthers
Darren Woodson (S) – Arizona State – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Rod Woodson (CB/S) – Purdue – 1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-2003 Oakland Raiders
Donnie Shell (S) – South Carolina State – 1974-1987 Pittsburgh Steelers
Louis Wright (CB) – San José State – 1975-1986 Denver Broncos

Special Teams-Spieler
Steve Tasker (WR) – Dodge City CC (KS), Northwestern – 1985-1986 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills

Punter/Kicker
Rich Camarillo (P) – Washington – 1981-1987 New England Patriots, 1988 Los Angeles Rams, 1989-1993 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-1995 Houston Oilers, 1996 Oakland Raiders
Ray Guy (P) – Southern Mississippi – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Nick Lowery (K) – Dartmouth – 1978 New England Patriots, 1980-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-1996 New York Jets
Reggie Roby (P) – Iowa – 1983-1992 Miami Dolphins, 1993-1994 Washington Redskins, 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1996-1997 Houston Oilers, 1998 San Francisco 49ers

Coaches
Don Coryell – Washington – 1973-1977 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Tom Flores – Pacific – 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-1994 Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Johnson – Arkansas – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-1999 Miami Dolphins
Chuck Knox – Juniata College (PA) – 1973-1977 Los Angeles Rams, 1978-1982 Buffalo Bills, 1983-1991 Seattle Seahawks, 1992-1994 Los Angeles Rams
Buddy Parker – Centenary College (LA) – 1949 Chicago Cardinals, 1951-1956 Detroit Lions, 1957-1964 Pittsburgh Steelers
Dan Reeves – South Carolina – 1981-1992 Denver Broncos, 1993-1996 New York Giants, 1997-2003 Atlanta Falcons
Clark Shaugnessy – Minnesota – 1948-1949 Los Angeles Rams

Besitzer/Funktionäre
Bud Adams (Besitzer) – seit 1960 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans
Gil Brandt (Manager) – 1960-1988 Dallas Cowboys, seit 1995 National Football League
C.O. Brocato (Scout) – 1974-1976, seit 1981 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans
Leo Carlin (Administrator) – seit 1960 Philadelphia Eagles
Ed DeBartolo, Jr. (Besitzer) – 1979-1997 San Francisco 49ers
Ben Dreith (Schiedsrichter) – 1960-1969 American Football League, 1970-1990 National Football League
Bob Harlan (Manager) – seit 1975 Green Bay Packers
Jerry Jones (Besitzer) – seit 1989 Dallas Cowboys
Art Modell (Besitzer) – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
Art Rooney Jr. (Manager) – seit 1961 Pittsburgh Steelers
Ed Sabol (Filmer) – 1964-1995 NFL Films
Steve Sabol (Filmer) – seit 1964 NFL Films
Paul Tagliabue (Commissioner) – 1989-2006 National Football League
Ralph Wilson, Jr. (Besitzer) – seit 1959 Buffalo Bills
Ron Wolf (Manager) – 1991–2001 Green Bay Packers
George Young (Manager) – 1979–1997 New York Giants

Nominiert durch das Senior Committee