Die diesjährige Liste mit den für die Hall of Fame-Nominierten umfasst 127 Namen und ist damit etwas länger als im Vorjahr. 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 Curley Culp und Dave Robinson 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 2. Februar 2013. An diesem Tag werden die 44 Mitglieder des Board of Selectors an ihrer Tagung in New Orleans, Louisiana, vier bis sieben Spieler auswählen, welche dann die Hall of Fame-Class of 2013 bilden. Um in die Hall of Fame aufgenommen zu werden, benötigt ein Nominierter die Zustimmung von 80 Prozent der Selektoren (36 von 44 Stimmen).

Dreizehn der Nominierten sind zum ersten Mal wählbar, darunter mit Michal Strahan der Season-Sack-Rekordhalter der NFL, mit Morten Andersen, der Career-Scoring-Rekordhalter. Zum ersten Mal wählbar sind auch Guard Larry Allen. Tackle Jonathan Ogden und Defensive Tackle Warren Sapp, welche alle ins All-Decade-Team für die 2000er Jahre gewählten worden waren. Zu den erstmals wählbaren Personen kommt eine ganze Reihe von Spielern, welch schon seit längerem auf eine Aufnahme warten. Insbesondere auf der Receiver-Position stauen sich mit Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Gary Clark, Mark Clayton, Andre Reed und Rod Smith die valablen Kandidaten. Weiterhin auf eine Aufnahem in die Ruhmeshalle wartet auch Defensive End Charles Haley, der als einziger Spieler fünf Super Bowl-Siege erringen konnte. Von den Nicht-Spielern gelten der frühere Head Coach Bill Parcells und der ehemalige NFL-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue als mögliche Kandidaten.

Die Liste umfasst 89 Spieler, 14 Coaches und 24 sogenannte «Contributors», also Besitzer, Manager, Scouts oder Liga-Offizielle, die einen Beitrag zur Entwicklung des Footballs geleistet haben. Spieler und Trainer müssen vor einer Wahl mindestens 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
Drew Bledsoe – Washington State – 1993-2001 New England Patriots, 2002-2004 Bufflo Bills, 2005-2006 Dallas Cowboys
Randall Cunningham – Nevada-Las Vegas – 1985-1995 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 Baltimore Ravens
Ron Jaworski – Youngstown State – 1974-1976 Los Angeles Rams, 1977-1986 Philadelphia Eagles, 1988 Miami Dolphins, 1989 Kansas City Chiefs
Neil Lomax – Portland State – 1981-1988 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals
Steve McNair – Alcorn State – 1995-2005 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans, 2006-2007 Baltimore Ravens
Phil Simms – Morehead State – 1979-1993 New York Giants
Danny White (P) – Arizona State – 1974-1975 Memphis Southmen (WFL), 1976-1988 Dallas Cowboys

Running Backs
Jamal Anderson – Utah – 1994-2001 Atlanta Falcons
Ottis Anderson – Miami (FL) – 1979-1986 St. Louis Cardinals, 1986-1992 New York Giants
Tiki Barber – Virginia – 1997-2006 New York Giants
Jerome Bettis – Notre Dame – 1993-1995 Los Angeles Rams/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
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
Stephen Davis – Auburn – 1996-2002 Washington Redskins, 2003-2005 Carolina Panthers, 2006 St. Louis Rams
Terrell Davis – Long Beach State, Georgia – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Eddie George – Ohio State – 1996-2003 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans, 2004 Dallas Cowboys
Priest Holmes – Texas – 1997-2000 Baltimore Ravens, 2001-2007 Kansas City Chiefs
Brian Mitchell (KR/PR) – Louisiana-Lafayette – 1990-1999 Washington Redskins, 2000-2002 Philadelphia Eagles, 2003 New York Giants
Gerald Riggs – Arizona State – 1982-1988 Atlanta Falcons, 1989-1991 Washington Redskins
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
Tim Brown – Notre Dame – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Carter – Ohio State – 1987-1989 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Gary Clark – James Madison – 1985-1992 Washington Redskins, 1993-1994 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1995 Miami Dolphins
Mark Clayton – Louisville – 1983-1992 Miami Dolphins, 1993 Green Bay Packers
Henry Ellard (PR) – Fresno State – 1983-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-1998 Washington Redskins, 1998 New England Patriots
Keyshawn Johnson – Southern California – 1996-1999 New York Jets, 2000-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-2005 Dallas Cowboys, 2006 Carolina Panthers
Keenan McCardell – Nevada-Las Vegas – 1991 Washington Redskins, 1992-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-2006 San Diego Chargers, 2007 Washington Redskins
Stanley Morgan – Tennessee – 1977-1989 New England Patriots, 1990 Indianapolis Colts
Andre Reed – Kutztown – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Sterling Sharpe – Southern Carolina – 1988-1994 Green Bay Packers
Jimmy Smith – Jackson State – 1992-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1995-2005 Jacksonville Jaguars
Rod Smith – Missouri Southern State – 1994-2007 Denver Broncos

Tight Ends
Todd Christensen – Brigham Young – 1979 New York Giants, 1979-1988 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Ben Coates – Livingstone – 1991-1999 New England Patriots, 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Offensive Linemen
Larry Allen (G) – Sonoma State – 1994-2005 Dallas Cowboys, 2006-2007 San Francisco 49ers
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 (T) – Pittsburgh – 1983-1990 Chicago Bears
Joe Fields (C/G) – Wildener – 1975-1987 New York Jets, 1988 New York Giants
Bill Fralic (G/T) – Pittsburgh – 1985-1992 Atlanta Falcons, 1993 Detroit Lions
Jeff Hartings (G/C) – Penn State – 1996-2000 Detroit Lions, 2001-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers
Jay Hilgenberg (C/G) – Iowa – 1981-1991 Chicago Bears, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993 New Orleans Saints
Chris Hinton (G/T) – 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
Jim Lachey (T) – Ohio State – 1985-1987 San Diego Chargers, 1988 Los Angeles Raiders, 1988-1995 Washington Redskins
Tom Nalen (C) – Boston College – 1994-2007 Denver Broncos
Jonathan Ogden (T) – UCLA – 1996-2007 Baltimore Ravens
Will Shields (G) – Nebraska – 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
Erik Williams (T) – Central State – 1991-2000 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 Baltimore Ravens
Steve Wisniewski (G) – Penn State – 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Defensive Linemen
Sam Adams (DT) – Texas A&M – 1994-1999 Seattle Seahawks, 2000-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002 Oakland Raiders, 2003-2005 Buffalo Bills, 2006 Cincinnati Bengals, 2007 Denver Broncos
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
Joe Klecko (DE/DT/NT) – Temple – 1977-1987 New York Jets, 1988 Indianapolis Colts
Dexter Manley (DE) – Oklahoma State – 1981-1989 Washington Redskins, 1990 Phoenix Cardinals, 1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1992-1993 Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL)
Charles Mann (DE) – Nevada – 1983-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 San Francisco 49ers
Warren Sapp – Miami (FL) – 1995-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-2007 Oakland Raiders
Fred Smerlas (NT/DT) – Boston College – 1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991–1992 New England Patriots
Michael Strahan (DE) – Texas Southern – 1993-2007 New York Giants
Ted Washington (DT/NT) – Louisville – 1991-1993 San Francisco 49ers, 1994 Denver Broncos, 1995-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-2002 Chicago Bears, 2003 New England Patriots, 2004-2005 Oakland Raiders, 2006-2007 Cleveland Browns
Bryant Young – Notre Dame – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers

Linebackers
Cornelius Bennett – Alabama – 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-1998 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts
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
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 Darryl Talley – West Virginia – 1983-1994 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996 Minnesota Vikings

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
Nolan Cromwell (S) – Kansas – 1977-1987 Los Angeles Rams
Albert Lewis (CB) – Grambling State – 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-1998 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
John Lynch (S) – Stanford – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-2007 Denver Broncos
Dennis Smith (S) – Southern California – 1981-1994 Denver Broncos
Troy Vincent (CB) – Wisconsin – 1992-1995 Miami Dolphins, 1996-2003 Philadelphia Eagles, 2004-2006 Buffalo Bills, 2006 Washington Redskins
Everson Walls (CB) – Grambling State – 1981-1989 Dallas Cowboys, 1990-1992 New York Giants, 1992-1993 Cleveland Browns
Aeneas Williams (CB/S) – Southern – 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-2004 St. Louis Rams
Darren Woodson (S) – Arizona State – 1992-2004 Dallas Cowboys

Special Teams-Spieler
Morten Andersen (K) – Michigan State – 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-2003 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings, 2006-2007 Atlanta Falcons
Gary Anderson (K) – Syracuse – 1982-1994 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1995-1996 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2002 Minnesota Vikings, 2003-2004 Tennesee Titans
Sean Landeta (P) – Towson – 1983-1985 Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (USFL), 1985-1993 New York Giants, 1993-1996 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1998 Green Bay Packers, 1999-2002 Philadelphia Eagles, 2003-2004 St. Louis Rams, 2005 Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Lowery (K) – Dartmouth – 1978 New England Patriots, 1980-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-1996 New York Jets
Steve Tasker (WR) – Dodge City CC (KS), Northwestern – 1985-1986 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills

Coaches
Bill Arnsparger – Miami (OH) – 1964-1969 Baltimore Colts, 1970-1973 Miami Dolphins, 1974-1976 New York Giants (HC), 1976-1983 Miami Dolphins, 1992-1994 San Diego Chargers
Doug Blevins – Asheville – 1995-1997, 1999 World League/NFL Europe, 1997-2003 Miami Dolphins (AC)
Bud Carson – North Carolina – 1971-1977 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1978-1981 Los Angeles Rams, 1982 Baltimore Colts, 1983 Kansas City Chiefs, 1985-1988 New York Jets, 1989-1990 Cleveland Browns (HC), 1991-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997 St. Louis Rams
Don Coryell – Washington – 1973-1977 St. Louis Cardinals (HC), 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers (HC)
Bill Cowher – North Carolina State – 1985-1988 Cleveland Browns, 1989-1991 Kansas City Chiefs, 1992-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers (HC)
Tom Flores – Pacific – 1971 Buffalo Bills, 1972-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1979-1987 HC), 1992-1994 Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Johnson – Arkansas – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys (HC), 1996-1999 Miami Dolphins (HC)
Chuck Knox – Juniata College (PA) – 1963-1966 New York Jets, 1967-1972 Detroit Lions, 1973-1977 Los Angeles Rams (HC), 1978-1982 Buffalo Bills (HC), 1983-1991 Seattle Seahawks (HC), 1992-1994 Los Angeles Rams (HC)
Bill Parcells – Wichita State – 1979 New York Giants, 1980 New England Patriots, New York Giants 1981-1990 New York Giants (1983-1990 HC), 1993-1996 New England Patriots (HC), 1997-1999 New York Jets (HC), 2003-2006 Dallas Cowboys (HC)
Buddy Parker – Centenary College (LA) – 1945-1949 Chicago Cardinals (1949 HC), 1951-1956 Detroit Lions (HC), 1957-1964 Pittsburgh Steelers (HC)
Dan Reeves – South Carolina – 1974-1980 Dallas Cowboys, 1981-1992 Denver Broncos (HC), 1993-1996 New York Giants (HC), 1997-2003 Atlanta Falcons (HC)
Marty Schottenheimer – Pittsburgh – 1975-1977 New York Giants, 1978-1979 Detroit Lions, 1980-1988 Cleveland Browns (1984-1988 HC), 1989-1998 Kansas City Chiefs (HC), 2001 Washington Redskins (HC), 2002-2006 San Diego Chargers (HC), 2011 Virginia Destroyer (UFL) (HC)
Clark Shaugnessy – Minnesota – 1940 Chicago Bears, 1948-1949 Los Angeles Rams (HC), 1951-1962 Chicago Bears
Dick Vermeil – San Jose State – 1969, 1971-1973 Los Angeles Rams, 1976-1982 Philadelphia Eagles (HC), 1997-1999 St. Louis Rams (HC), 2001-2005 Kansas City Chiefs (HC)

Besitzer/Funktionäre
K.S. "Bud" Adams (Besitzer) – seit 1960 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans
George Anderson (Betreuer) – 1960-1993 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Bobby Beathard (Manager) – 1978-1988 Washington Redskins, 1990-1999 San Diego Chargers
Gil Brandt (Manager) – 1960-1988 Dallas Cowboys, seit 1995 National Football League
C.O. Brocatoy (Scout) – 1974-1976, seit 1981 Houston Oilers/Tennesse Oilers/Tennessee Titans
Leo Carlin (Administrator) – seit 1960 Philadelphia Eagles
Jack Kent Cooke (Besitzer) – 1974-1997 Washington Redskins
Otho Davis (Betreuer) – 1971-1972 Baltimore Colts, 1973-1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Edward DeBartolo, Jr. (Besitzer) – 1979-2000 San Francisco 49ers
Ron Gibbs (Schiedsrichter) – 1940-1965 Schiedsrichter
Ralph Kohl (Scout) – 1978-1992 Minnesota Vikings
Eddie Kotal (Scout) – 1947-1961 Los Angeles Rams
Robert Kraft (Besitzer) – seit 1994 New England Patriots
Art McNally (Schiedsrichter) – 1959-1967 Schiedsrichter, 1968-1990 Schiedsrichter-Obmann
Art Modell (Besitzer) – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
Bill Polian (Manager) –1984-1992 Buffalo Bills, 1993-1994 National Football League, 1995-1997 Carolina Panthers, 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts
Art Rooney Jr. (Manager) – seit 1961 Pittsburgh Steelers
Steve Sabol (Filmer) – 1964-2012 NFL Films
Carl Storck (Besitzer/Coach/NFL-President) – 1916-1930 Dayton Triangles, 1921-1941 National Football League
Paul Tagliabue (Commissioner) – 1989-2006 National Football League
Burl Toler Sr. (Schiedsrichter) – 1965-1989 National Football League
Jim Tunney (Schiedsrichter) – 1960-1991 National Football League
Ron Wolf (Manager) – 1991–2001 Green Bay Packers
George Young (Manager) – 1979–1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League

Nominiert durch das Senior Committee
Curley Culp (DT) – Arizona State – 1968-1974 Kansas City Chiefs, 1974-1980 Houston Oilers, 1980-1981 Detroit Lions
Dave Robinson (LB) – Penn State – 1963-1972 Green Bay Packers, 1973-1974 Washington Redskins