Die diesjährige Liste mit den für die Hall of Fame-Nominierten umfasst 113 Namen und ist damit etwas kürzer als im Vorjahr. Mit gutem Grund: Neu sind darauf keine Contributers (Besitzer, Manager, Schiedsrichter, Filmschaffende, Scouts etc.) zu finden. Für diese wurde analog zu den Senior-Kandidaten eine eigene Kategorie geschaffen. Die letzte Woche in Canton präsentierte Liste wird nun in einem ersten Schritt durch die Hall of Fame-Selektoren auf 25 Personen reduziert, in einem zweiten dann auf 15 Namen. Zu diesen 15 Finalisten stossen dann mit Mick Tingelhoff der vom Senior Committee nominierte Spieler sowie die beiden namentlich noch nicht bekannten Kandidaten des Contributer Committees.

Der letzte Schritt des Wahlprozesses findet dann am Vorabend der Super Bowl statt, diesesmal am 31. Januar 2015. An diesem Tag werden die 46 Mitglieder des Board of Selectors an ihrer Tagung in Phoenix, Arizona, vier bis 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 dann wie üblich im Rahmen der grossen Gala «NFL Honors», die am Vorabend der Super Bowl stattfindet, präsentiert. Die formelle Aufnahme findet dann Anfang August 2015 statt.

15 der Nominierten sind zum ersten Mal wählbar. Darunter sind mit Quarterback Kurt Warner, Tackle Orlando Pace, Linebacker Junior Seau oder Cornerback Ty Law einige Spieler, denen eine Wahl im ersten Anlauf zuzutrauen ist. Allerdings ist davon auszugehen, dass es nicht alle diese Spieler im ersten Anlauf schaffen werden, zumal die Konkurrenz wie immer recht stark ist. So ist etwa vielen Beobachtern nicht verständlich, warum etwa Defensive End Charles Haley, der als einziger Spieler in der NFL-Geschichte fünf Super Bowl-Siege feiern konnte, noch immer auf die Wahl in die Ruhmeshalle warten muss. Gleiches gilt für einen Receiver wie Tim Brown, wobei die Elektoren in den letzten Jahren den Stau bei den Receivern mit der Wahl von Cris Carter und Andre Reed abbauen konnten. Neben 99 Spielern sind auch 14 Coaches nominiert, wobei vier von ihnen die Super Bowl einmal (Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren, Dick Vermeil), zwei sogar zweimal (Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson) gewinnen konnten.

Die Nominierten

Quarterbacks
Randall Cunningham – Nevada-Las Vegas – 1985-1995 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 Baltimore Ravens
Rich Gannon – Delaware – 1987-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993 Washington Redskins, 1995-1998 Kansas City Chiefs, 1999-2004 Oakland Raiders
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
Jerome Bettis – Notre Dame – 1993-1995 Los Angeles Rams/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
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
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
Tim Brown (KR) – Notre Dame – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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
Troy Holt – North Carolina State – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
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

Offensive Linemen
Willie Anderson (T) – Auburn – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Tony Boselli (T) – Southern California – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
Jeff Bostic (C) – Clemson – 1980-1993 Washington Redskins
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
Jim Fralic (G/T) – Pittsburgh – 1985-1992 Atlanta Falcons, 1993 Detroit Lions
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) – 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
Will Shields (G) – Nebraska – 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
Tra Thomas (T) – Florida State – 1998-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Steve Wisniewski (G) – Penn State – 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Defensive Linemen
Bubba Baker (DE) – Colorado State – 1978-1982 Detroit Lions, 1983-1986 St. Louis Cardinals, 1987 Cleveland Browns, 1988 Minnesota Vikings, 1989-1990 Cleveland Browns
Jerome Brown (DT) – Miami (FL) – 1987-1991 Philadelphia Eagles
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
Jevon Kearse (DE) – 1999-2003 Tennessee Titans, 2004-2007 Philadelphia Eagles, 2008-2009 Tennessee Titans
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
Steve McMichael (NT/DT) – Texas – 1980 New England Patriots, 1981-1993 Chicago Bears, 1994 Green Bay Packers
Fred Smerlas (NT/DT) – Boston College – 1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991–1992 New England Patriots
Greg Townsend (DE) – 1983-1993 Los Angeles Raiders, 1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997 Oakland Raiders
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
Tedy Bruschi – Arizona – 1996-2008 New England Patriots
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
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
Junior Seau – Southern California – 1990-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-2005 Miami Dolphins, 2006-2009 New England Patriots
Chris Spielmann – Ohio State – 1988-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-1997 Buffalo Bills, 1999 Cleveland Browns
Darryl Talley – West Virginia – 1983-1994 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996 Minnesota Vikings
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
Thomas Everett (S) – Baylor – 1987-1991 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1992-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1994-1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rodney Harrison (S) – Western Illinois – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-2008 New England Patriots
Ty Law (CB) – 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
Terry McDaniel (CB) – Tennessee – 1988-1997 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 1998 Seattle Seahawks
Tim McDonald (S) – Southern California – 1987-1992 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, 1993-1999 San Francisco 49ers
Frank Minnifield (CB) – Louisville – 1983 Chicago Blitz (USFL), Arizona Wranglers (USFL), 1984-1992 Cleveland Browns
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
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
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 – 1974-1977 Houston Oilers, 1978-1993 Washington Redskins (1993 als 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)
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 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)

Nominiert durch das Senior Committee
Mick Tingelhoff (C) – Nebraska – 1962-1978 Minnesota Vikings

Nominiert durch das Contributer Committee
noch offen