Die diesjährige Liste mit den für die Hall of Fame-Nominierten umfasst 94 Namen und ist damit etwas kürzer als letztes Jahr, als 108 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 dem vom Senior Commitee nominierten Kenny Easley sowie den vom Contributor Commitee nominierten Jerry Jones und Paul Tagliabue drei weitere Kandidaten für die Ruhmeshalle.
Der letzte Schritt des Wahlprozesses findet dann einen Tag vor der Super Bowl statt, diesesmal am 4. Februar 2017. An diesem Tag werden die 48 Mitglieder des Board of Selectors an ihrer Tagung in Houston, 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 (39 von 48 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 2017 in Canton statt.
Sieben der Nominierten sind zum ersten Mal wählbar. Unter diesen sticht vor allem ein Name hervor: LaDainian Tomlinson. Der Running Back, der neun Saisons für die San Diego Chargers und zwei Saisons für die New York Jets spielte, steht bezüglich erzielten Rushing-Yards an fünfter, bezüglich Rushing-Touchdowns an zweiter Stelle der ewigen Bestenliste. Mit 31 Touchdowns hält er zudem den Rekord für die meisten Touchdowns in einer Saison. Wenn einer der sieben Neulinge für einen Platz in der Ruhmeshalle gesetzt scheint, dann wohl «LT». Ebenfalls erstmals wählbar sind zudem Quarterback Donovan McNabb, Running Back Shaun Alexander, die Wide Receivers Hines Ward und Chad Johnson, Defensive End Jason Taylor sowie Safety Brian Dawkins. Allerdings ist die Konkurrenz wie jedes Jahr nicht ohne, zumal die letztjährigen Finalisten wie Quarterback Kurt Warner, Running Back Terrell Davis, Wide Receiver Terrell Owens, Kicker Morten Andersen oder Head Coach Don Coryell eine harte Konkurrenz darstellen.
Die Nominierten
Quarterbacks
Drew Bledsoe – Washington State – 1993-2001 New England Patriots, 2002-2004 Buffalo Bills, 2005-2006 Dallas Cowboys
Randall Cunningham – Nevada-Las Vegas – 1985-1995 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 Baltimore Ravens
Doug Flutie – Boston College – 1985 New Jersey Generals (USFL), 1986 Chicago Bears, 1987-1989 New England Patriots, 1990-1991 BC Lions (CFL), 1992-1995 Calgary Stampeders (CFL), 1996-1997 Toronto Argonauts (CFL), 1998-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-2004 San Diego Chargers, 2005 New England Patriots
Donovan McNabb – Syracuse – 1999-2009 Philadelphia Eagles, 2010 Washington Redskins, 2011 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
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
Larry Centers (FB) – Stephen F. Austin – 1990-1998 Phoenix Cardinals/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 – Long Beach State, Georgia – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Eddie George – Ohio State – 1996-2003 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans, 2004 Dallas Cowboys
Edgerrin James – Miami (FL) – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-2008 Arzona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
Daryl Johnston (FB) – Syracuse – 1989-1999 Dallas Cowboys
Eric Metcalf (WR/KR/PR) – Texas – 1989-1994 Cleveland Browns, 1995-1996 Atlanta Falcons, 1997 San Diego Chargers, 1998 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 Carolina Panthers, 2011 Washington Redskins, 2002 Green Bay Packers
LaDainian Tomlinson – Texas Christian – 2001-2009 San Diego Chargers, 2010-2011 New York Jets
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
Wide Receivers
Isaac Bruce – Memphis State – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-2009 San Francisco 49ers
Henry Ellard (PR) – Fresno State – 1983-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-1998 Washington Redskins, 1998 New England Patriots
Tory Holt – North Carolina State – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Chad Johnson – Santa Monica College, Oregon State – 2011-2010 Cincinnati Bengals, 2011 New England Patriots, 2014-2015 Montreal Allouettes (CFL)
Derrick Mason (KR/PR) – Michigan State – 1997-2004 Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans, 2005-2010 Baltimore Ravens, 2011 New York Jets, 2011 Houston Texans
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
Hines Ward – Georgia – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tight Ends
Mark Bavaro – Notre Dame – 1985-1990 New York Giants, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993-1994 Philadelphia Eagles
Offensive Linemen
Tony Boselli (T) – Southern California – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
Ray Donaldson (C) – Georgia – 1980-1992 Baltimore Colts/Indianapolis Colts, 1993-1994 Seattle Seahawks, 1995-1996 Dallas Cowboys
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
Mike Kenn (T) – Michigan – 1978-1994 Atlanta Falcons
Olin Kreutz (C) – Washington – 1998-2010 Chicago Bears, 2011 New Orleans Saints
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
Tom Nalen (C) – Boston College – 1994-2007 Denver Broncos
Nate Newton (G) – Florida A&M – 1986-1998 Dallas Cowboys, 1999 Carolina Panthers
Steve Wisniewski (G) – Penn State – 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Defensive Linemen
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
Jason Taylor (DE) – Akron – 1997-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Washington Redskins, 2009 Miami Dolphins, 2010 New York jets, 2011 Miami Dolphins
Bryant Young – Notre Dame – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
Linebackers
Carl Banks – Michigan State – 1984-1992 New York Giants, 1993 Washington Redskins, 1994-1995 Cleveland Browns
Cornelius Bennett – Alabama – 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-1998 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts
Tedy Bruschi – Arizona – 1996-2008 New England Patriots
Seth Joyner – Texas-El Paso – 1986-1993 Philadelphia Eagles, 1994-1996 Arizona Cardinals, 1997 Green Bay Packers, 1998 Denver Broncos
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 (DE) – Southern California – 1994-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2008 Cleveland Browns
Karl Mecklenburg – Augustana (SD), Minnesota – 1983-1994 Denver Broncos
Sam Mills – Montclair State (NJ) – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-1997 Carolina Panthers
Joey Porter – Colorado State – 1999-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2007-2009 Miami Dolphins, 2010-2011 Arizona Cardinals
Zach Thomas – Texas Tech – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
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
Brian Dawkins (S) – Clemson – 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos
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
Frank Minnifield (CB) – Louisville – 1983 Chicago Blitz (USFL), 1984 Arizona Wranglers (USFL), 1984-1992 Cleveland Browns
Bob Sanders (S) – Iowa – 2004-2010 Indianapolis Colts, 2011 San Diego Chargers
Darren Sharper (S) – William & Mary – 1997-2004 Green Bay Packers, 2005-2008 Minnesota Vikings, 2009-2010 New Orelans Saints
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
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
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)
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)
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
Kenny Easley (S) – UCLA – 1981-1987 Seattle Seahawks
Nominiert durch das Contributor Committee
Jerry Jones (Besitzer) – Arkansas – seit 1989 Dallas Cowboys
Paul Tagliabue (Manager) – Georgetown – 1989-2006 NFL-Commissioner
