Die diesjährige Liste mit den für die Hall of Fame-Nominierten umfasst 108 Namen und ist damit in etwa gleich lang, wie letztes Jahr, als 113 Personen nominiert waren. Die letzte Woche in Canton, Ohio, präsentierte Liste wird nun in einem ersten Schritt durch die Hall of Fame-Elektoren auf 25 Personen reduziert, in einem zweiten dann auf 15 Namen. Zu diesen 15 Finalisten stossen dann mit den vom Senior Commitee nominierten Spieler Ken Stabler und Dick Stanfel sowie der vom Contributor Commitee nominierte ehemalige 49ers-Besitzer Eddie DeBartolo drei weitere Kandidaten für die Ruhmeshalle.

Der letzte Schritt des Wahlprozesses findet dann am Vorabend der Super Bowl statt, diesesmal am 6. Februar 2016. An diesem Tag werden die 46 Mitglieder des Board of Selectors an ihrer Tagung in San Francisco, aus dem Kreis der letzten 18 Nominierten maximal acht Personen auswählen, welche dann die Hall of Fame-Class of 2015 bilden. Um in die Hall of Fame aufgenommen zu werden, benötigt ein Nominierter die Zustimmung von 80 Prozent der Elektoren (37 von 46 Stimmen). Die Gewählten werden wie üblich am gleichen Abend im Rahmen der grossen Gala «NFL Honors», an welcher die jährlichen Awards an Spieler und Coaches verliehen werden, präsentiert. Die formelle Aufnahme findet dann Anfang August 2016 in Canton statt.

Elf der Nominierten sind zum ersten Mal wählbar. Unter diesen sticht natürlich vor allem Brett Favre heraus: Der Quarterback ist aktuell noch der Rekordhalter für die meisten Passing-Yards während einer Karriere – er wird den Rekord aber mit einiger Wahrscheintlichkeit diese Saison an Peyton Manning verlieren – und konnte mit den Green Bay Packers 1996 die Super Bowl XXXI gewinnen. Seine Wahl dürfte eine blosse Formsache sein. Ob noch andere Neulinge die Wahl im ersten Anlauf schaffen, ist ziemlich offen. Am besten sind wohl die Chancen von Terrell Owens: Der Wide Receiver hat die für eine Wahl nötigen Statistiken zweifellos, allerdings ist es gut möglich, dass ihn die Elektoren wegen seines oft umstrittenen Verhaltens neben dem Spielfeld in die Warteschlaufe schicken. Zumal die Konkurrenz nicht ohne ist: So stehen dieses Jahr auch wieder Quarterback Kurt Warner, Tackle Orlando Pace, Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison oder Head Coach Tony Dungy zur Wahl, die vergangenes Jahr alle bereits den Sprung unter die 15 Finalisten geschafft hatten.

Die Nominierten

Quarterbacks
Drew Bledsoe – Washington State – 1993-2001 New England Patriots, 2002-2004 Buffalo Bills, 2005-2006 Dallas Cowboys
Brett Favre – Southern Mississippi – 1991 Atlanta Falcons, 1992-2007 Green Bay Packers, 2008 New York Jets, 2009-2010 Minnesota Vikings
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
Vinny Testaverde – Miami (FL) – 1987-1992 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1993-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-1997 Baltimore Ravens, 1998-2003 New York Jets, 2004 Dallas Cowboys, 2005 New York Jets, 2006 New England Patriots, 2007 Carolina Panthers
Kurt Warner – Northern Iowa – 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-2009 Arizona Cardinals

Running Backs
Shaun Alexander – Alabama – 2000-2007 Seattle Seahawks, 2008 Washington Redskins
Ottis Anderson – Miami (FL) – 1979-1986 St. Louis Cardinals, 1986-1992 New York Giants
Tiki Barber – Virginia – 1997-2006 New York Giants
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
Edgerrin James – Miami (FL) – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-2008 Arzona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
Daryl Johnston (FB) – Syracuse – 1989-1999 Dallas Cowboys
Jamal Lewis – Tennessee – 2000-2006 Baltimore Ravens, 2007-2009 Cleveland Browns
Clinton Portis – Miami (FL) – 2002-2003 Denver Broncos, 2004-2010 Washington Redskins
Herschel Walker (KR) – 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
Brian Westbrook – Villanova – 2002-2009 Philadelphia Eagles, 2010 San Francisco 49ers

Wide Receivers
Isaac Bruce – Memphis State – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-2009 San Francisco 49ers
Gary Clark – James Madison – 1985-1992 Washington Redskins, 1993-1994 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1995 Miami Dolphins
Henry Ellard (PR) – Fresno State – 1983-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-1998 Washington Redskins, 1998 New England Patriots
Marvin Harrison – Syracuse – 1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts
Tory Holt – North Carolina State – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Terrell Owens – Tennessee-Chattanooga – 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-2005 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-2008 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
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
Mark Bavaro – Notre Dame – 1985-1990 New York Giants, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993-1994 Philadelphia Eagles
Jay Novacek – Wyoming – 1985-1989 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, 1990-1996 Dallas Cowboys

Offensive Linemen
Tony Boselli (T) – Southern California – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
Jeff Bostic (C) – Clemson – 1980-1993 Washington Redskins
Jim Covert (T) – Pittsburgh – 1983-1990 Chicago Bears
Alan Faneca (G) – Louisiana State – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-2009 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
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
Jon Janson (T) – Michigan – 1999-2008 Washington Redskins, 2009 Detroit Lions
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
Kevin Mawae (C/G) – Louisiana State – 1994-1997 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-2009 Tennessee Titans
Mark May (C/G/T) – Pittsburgh – 1981-1990 Washington Redskins, 1991 San Diego Chargers, 1992-1993 Phoenix Cardinals
Tom Nalen (C) – Boston College – 1994-2007 Denver Broncos
Nate Newton (G) – Florida A&M – 1986-1998 Dallas Cowboys, 1999 Carolina Panthers
Orlando Pace (T) – Ohio State – 1997-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Chicago Bears
Chris Samuels (T) – Alabama – 2000-2009 Washington Redskins
Mark Schlereth (G) – Idaho – 1989-1994 Washington Redskins, 1995-2000 Denver Broncos
Steve Wisniewski (G) – Penn State – 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Defensive Linemen
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
Leslie O’Neal (DE) – Oklahoma State – 1986-1995 San Diego Chargers, 1996-1997 St. Louis Rams, 1998-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
Simeon Rice (DE) – Illinois – 1996-2000 Arizona Cardinals, 2001-2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007 Denver Broncos, 2007 Indianapolis Colts, 2009 New York Sentinels (UFL)
Fred Smerlas (NT) – Boston College – 1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991–1992 New England Patriots
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
Tedy Bruschi – Arizona – 1996-2008 New England Patriots
Keith Bullucky – Syracuse – 2000-2009 Tennessee Titans, 2010 New York Giants
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
Levon Kirkland – Clemson – 1992-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2001 Seattle Seahawks, 2002 Philadelphia Eagles
Clay Matthews – Southern California – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-1996 Atlanta Falcons
Willie McGinest – Southern California – 1994-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2008 Cleveland Browns
Karl Mecklenburg – Augustana (SD), Minnesota – 1983-1994 Denver Broncos
Matt Millen – Penn State – 1980-1988 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1989-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Washington Redskins
Sam Mills – Montclair State (NJ) – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-1997 Carolina Panthers
Zach Thomas – Texas Tech – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
Mike Vrabel – Ohio State – 1997-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2001-2008 New England Patriots, 2009-2010 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
Rodney Harrison (S) – Western Illinois – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-2008 New England Patriots
Ty Law (CB) – Michigan – 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005 New York Jets, 2006-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008 New York Jets, 2009 Denver Broncos
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
Lawyer Milloy (S) – Washington – 1996-2002 New England Patriots, 2003-2005 Buffalo Bills, 2006-2008 Atlanta Falcons, 2009-2010 Seattle Seahawks
Darren Sharper (S) – William & Mary – 1997-2004 Green Bay Packers, 2005-2008 Minnesota Vikings, 2009-2010 New Orelans Saints
Shawn Springs (CB) – Ohio State – 1997-2003 Seattle Seahawks, 2004-2008 Washington Redskins, 2009 New England Patriots
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
Darren Woodson (S) – Arizona State – 1992-2004 Dallas Cowboys

Special Teams-Spieler
Ethan Albright (LS) – North Carolina – 1995 Miami Dolphins, 1996-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-2009 Washington Redskins, 2010 San Diego Chargers
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
John Carney (K) – Notre Dame – 1988-1989 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990 Los Angeles Rams, 1990-2000 San Diego Chargers, 2001-2006 New Orleans Saints, 2007 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008 New York Giants, 2009-2010 New Orleans Saints
Jason Elam (K) – Hawaii – 1993-2007 Denver Broncos, 2008-2009 Atlanta Falcons
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
Brian Mitchell (RB) – Louisiana-Lafayette – 1990-1999 Washington Redskins, 2000-2002 Philadelphia Eagles, 2003 New York Giants
Steve Tasker (WR) – Dodge City CC (KS), Northwestern – 1985-1986 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills

Coaches
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)
Tony Dungy – Minnesota – 1981-1988 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1989-1991 Kansas City Chiefs, 1992-1995 Minnesota Vikings, 1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (HC), 2002-2008 Indianapolis Colts (HC)
Tom Flores – Pacific – 1971 Buffalo Bills, 1972-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1979-1987 HC), 1992-1994 Seattle Seahawks
Mike Holmgren – Southern California – 1986-1991 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-1998 Green Bay Packers (HC), 1999-2008 Seattle Seahawks (HC)
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)
Buddy Parker – Centenary College (LA) – 1945-1949 Chicago Cardinals (1949 HC), 1951-1956 Detroit Lions (HC), 1957-1964 Pittsburgh Steelers (HC)
Richie Petitbon – Tulane – 1974-1977 Houston Oilers, 1978-1993 Washington Redskins (1993 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)
Pete Rodriguez – Western State College – 1983-1984 Michigan Panthers (USFL), 1985 Denver Gold (USFL), 1987 Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL), 1988-1989 Los Angeles Raiders, 1990-1993 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-1997 Washington Redskins, 1998-2003 Seattle Seahawks, 2004-2006 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009 New York Sentinels (UFL)
Lou Saban – Indiana – 1960-1961 New England Patriots (HC), 1962-1965 Buffalo Bills (HC), 1967-1971 Denver Broncos (HC), 1972-1976 Buffalo Bills (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 Destroyers (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)

Nominiert durch das Senior Committee
Ken Stabler (QB) – Alabama – 1970-1979 Oakland Raiders, 1980-1981 Houston Oilers, 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints
Dick Stanfel (G) – San Francisco – 1952-1955 Detroit Lions, 1956-1958 Washington Redskins

Nominiert durch das Contributor Committee
Eddie DeBartolo (Besitzer) – Notre Dame – 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers