* Prior to 1970, the process for naming just 15 Finalists was not defined. Beginning in 2007, the process included naming 17 Finalists, a list comprised of 15 Modern-Era candidates and two Senior nominees.
A Contributor category was added to the Selection Process in 2015 bringing the total number of Finalists to 18.
In 2020, the Selection Process was amended to include 15 Modern-Era Finalists, one Coach Finalist, one Contributor Finalist and one Senior Finalist for a total of 18 Finalists.
In 2023, the Selection Process was amended to include 15 Modern-Era Finalists, one Coach/Contributor Finalist and three Senior Finalists for a total of 19 Finalists.
CAPS INDICATE THOSE ELECTED TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Year-by-Year listing of Finalists
| Name | Times as finalist |
Years |
| Bud Adams | 1 | 2020 |
| HERB ADDERLEY | 3 | 1978-1980 |
| TROY AIKMAN | 1 | 2006 |
| Eric Allen | 1 | 2024 |
| GEORGE ALLEN | 4 | 1988, 1998-99, 2002 |
| Jared Allen | 4 | 2021-24 |
| LARRY ALLEN | 1 | 2013 |
| MARCUS ALLEN | 1 | 2003 |
| LANCE ALWORTH | 1 | 1978 |
| MORTEN ANDERSEN | 4 | 2014-17 |
| Ken Anderson | 2 | 1996, 1998 |
| Willie Anderson | 3 | 2022-24 |
| DOUG ATKINS | 6 | 1975, 1977-79, 1981-82 |
| STEVE ATWATER | 3 | 2016, 2019-20 |
| RED BADGRO | 1 | 1981 |
| CHAMP BAILEY | 1 | 2019 |
| RONDÉ BARBER | 3 | 2021-23 |
| LEM BARNEY | 2 | 1991-92 |
| BOBBY BELL | 1 | 1983 |
| RAYMOND BERRY | 1 | 1973 |
| BOBBY BEATHARD | 1 | 2018 |
| ELVIN BETHEA | 1 | 2003 |
| JEROME BETTIS | 5 | 2011-15 |
| FRED BILETNIKOFF | 5 | 1984-88 |
| GEORGE BLANDA | 1 | 1981 |
| MEL BLOUNT | 1 | 1989 |
| TONY BOSELLI | 6 | 2017-22 |
| PAT BOWLEN | 1 | 2019 |
| CLIFF BRANCH | 2 | 2020, 2022 |
| GIL BRANDT | 1 | 2019 |
| TERRY BRADSHAW | 1 | 1989 |
| ROBERT BRAZILE | 1 | 2018 |
| DERRICK BROOKS | 1 | 2014 |
| BOB "THE BOOMER" BROWN | 5 | 1987, 1991-93, 2004 |
| JIM BROWN | 1 | 1971 |
| ROOSEVELT BROWN | 5 | 1971-75 |
| TIM BROWN | 6 | 2010-15 |
| WILLIE BROWN | 1 | 1984 |
| ISAAC BRUCE | 4 | 2017-20 |
| BUCK BUCHANAN | 5 | 1984-85, 1988-1990 |
| NICK BUONICONTI | 1 | 2001 |
| DICK BUTKUS | 1 | 1979 |
| JACK BUTLER | 1 | 2012 |
| LeROY BUTLER | 3 | 2020-22 |
| EARL CAMPBELL | 1 | 1991 |
| TONY CANADEO | 4 | 1971-74 |
| HARRY CARSON | 7 | 2000-06 |
| DAVE CASPER | 3 | 2000-02 |
| HAROLD CARMICHAEL | 1 | 2020 |
| CRIS CARTER | 6 | 2008-2013 |
| JACK CHRISTIANSEN | 1 | 1970 |
| Blanton Collier | 1 | 1987 |
| Charley Conerly | 7 | 1971-72, 1974-76, 1978, 1980 |
| GEORGE CONNOR | 2 | 1974-1975 |
| DON CORYELL | 7 | 2010, 2015-17, 2019-20, 2023 |
| JIM COVERT | 1 | 2020 |
| BILL COWHER | 1 | 2020 |
| Roger Craig | 2 | 2010, 2020 |
| LOU CREEKMUR | 2 | 1980, 1996 |
| LARRY CSONKA | 2 | 1986-87 |
| CURLEY CULP | 1 | 2013 |
| AL DAVIS | 7 | 1986-1992 |
| TERRELL DAVIS | 3 | 2015-17 |
| WILLIE DAVIS | 6 | 1976-1981 |
| BRIAN DAWKINS | 2 | 2017-18 |
| DERMONTTI DAWSON | 4 | 2009-2012 |
| LEN DAWSON | 3 | 1982, 1986-87 |
| EDWARD DEBARTOLO JR. | 4 | 2012-16 |
| FRED DEAN | 2 | 2007-08 |
| RICHARD DENT | 7 | 2004-05, 2007-2011 |
| JOE DeLAMIELLEURE | 1 | 2003 |
| ERIC DICKERSON | 1 | 1999 |
| DAN DIERDORF | 5 | 1990, 1992, 1994-96 |
| BOBBY DILLON | 1 | 2020 |
| LaVern Dilweg | 1 | 2020 |
| MIKE DITKA | 2 | 1981, 1988 |
| CHRIS DOLEMAN | 2 | 2011-12 |
| TONY DORSETT | 1 | 1994 |
| TONY DUNGY | 3 | 2014-16 |
| KENNY EASLEY | 1 | 2017 |
| CARL ELLER | 13 | 1985, 1989, 1991-2000, 2004 |
| JOHN ELWAY | 1 | 2004 |
| Ox Emerson | 1 | 2020 |
| Jahri Evans | 1 | 2024 |
| WEEB EWBANK | 3 | 1976-78 |
| ALAN FANECA | 6 | 2016-21 |
| MARSHALL FAULK | 1 | 2011 |
| BRETT FAVRE | 1 | 2016 |
| TOM FEARS | 1 | 1970 |
| Beattie Feathers | 1 | 1970 |
| JIM FINKS | 1 | 1995 |
| RAY FLAHERTY | 1 | 1976 |
| TOM FLORES | 3 | 2019-21 |
| LEN FORD | 5 | 1971, 1973-76 |
| BENNY FRIEDMAN | 1 | 2005 |
| Dwight Freeney | 2 | 2023-24 |
| DAN FOUTS | 1 | 1993 |
| Willie Galimore | 1 | 1992 |
| Antonio Gates | 1 | 2024 |
| FRANK GATSKI | 2 | 1976, 1985 |
| BILL GEORGE | 2 | 1972, 1974 |
| JOE GIBBS | 1 | 1996 |
| FRANK GIFFORD | 6 | 1971-72, 1974-77 |
| SID GILLMAN | 2 | 1982, 1983 |
| Marshall Goldberg | 2 | 1979, 2008 |
| TONY GONZALEZ | 1 | 2019 |
| Randy Gradishar | 4 | 2003, 2008, 2020, 2024 |
| BUD GRANT | 4 | 1988-89, 1992, 1994 |
| DARRELL GREEN | 1 | 2008 |
| JOE GREENE | 1 | 1987 |
| KEVIN GREENE | 5 | 2012-16 |
| L.C. Greenwood | 6 | 1991, 1995-96, 2002, 2005-06 |
| FORREST GREGG | 1 | 1977 |
| Rosey Grier | 1 | 1973 |
| BOB GRIESE | 5 | 1986-1990 |
| RUSS GRIMM | 6 | 2005-2010 |
| LOU GROZA | 2 | 1973, 1974 |
| RAY GUY | 8 | 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2007-08, 2014 |
| CHARLES HALEY | 6 | 2010-15 |
| JACK HAM | 1 | 1988 |
| DAN HAMPTON | 2 | 2001-02 |
| CHRIS HANBURGER | 1 | 2011 |
| JOHN HANNAH | 1 | 1991 |
| CLIFF HARRIS | 2 | 2004, 2020 |
| FRANCO HARRIS | 1 | 1990 |
| MARVIN HARRISON | 3 | 2014-16 |
| Rodney Harrison | 1 | 2024 |
| Ole Haugsrud | 1 | 1973 |
| Ralph Hay | 1 | 2020 |
| BOB HAYES | 2 | 2004, 2009 |
| Lester Hayes | 4 | 2001-2004 |
| MIKE HAYNES | 3 | 1995-97 |
| TED HENDRICKS | 2 | 1989-1990 |
| Devin Hester | 3 | 2022-24 |
| BILL HEWITT | 2 | 1970-71 |
| GENE HICKERSON | 4 | 1981-83, 2007 |
| WINSTON HILL | 1 | 2020 |
| Mike Holmgren | 1 | 2020 |
| Torry Holt | 5 | 2020-24 |
| PAUL HORNUNG | 12 | 1972-73, 1976, 1978-1986 |
| KEN HOUSTON | 1 | 1986 |
| CHUCK HOWLEY | 1 | 2023 |
| SAM HUFF | 3 | 1977-78, 1982 |
| CLAUDE HUMPHREY | 5 | 2003, 2005-06, 2009, 2014 |
| LAMAR HUNT | 1 | 1972 |
| STEVE HUTCHINSON | 3 | 2018-20 |
| MICHAEL IRVIN | 3 | 2005-07 |
| Cecil Isbell | 1 | 2020 |
| RICKEY JACKSON | 1 | 2010 |
| Joe Jacoby | 3 | 2016-18 |
| EDGERRIN JAMES | 4 | 2016, 2018-20 |
| CALVIN JOHNSON | 1 | 2021 |
| Andre Johnson | 3 | 2022-24 |
| JIMMY JOHNSON (player) | 1 | 1994 |
| JIMMY JOHNSON (coach) | 2 | 2015, 2020 |
| JOHN HENRY JOHNSON | 9 | 1975-1980, 1983, 1986-87 |
| CHARLIE JOINER | 5 | 1992-96 |
| DEACON JONES | 1 | 1980 |
| JERRY JONES | 1 | 2017 |
| STAN JONES | 1 | 1991 |
| WALTER JONES | 1 | 2014 |
| HENRY JORDAN | 4 | 1976, 1984, 1989, 1995 |
| Lee Roy Jordan | 1 | 1988 |
| SONNY JURGENSEN | 3 | 1980, 1982-1983 |
| ALEX KARRAS | 1 | 2020 |
| JIM KELLY | 1 | 2002 |
| LEROY KELLY | 4 | 1982, 1988-89,1994 |
| CORTEZ KENNEDY | 4 | 2009-2012 |
| Frank "Bucko" Kilroy | 1 | 2020 |
| BRUISER KINARD | 2 | 1970, 1971 |
| JOE KLECKO | 1 | 2023 |
| JERRY KRAMER | 11 | 1974-76, 1978-1981, 1984, 1987, 1997, 2018 |
| PAUL KRAUSE | 3 | 1994, 1997-98 |
| Bob Kuechenberg | 8 | 2002-09 |
| JACK LAMBERT | 1 | 1990 |
| TOM LANDRY | 1 | 1990 |
| DICK "NIGHT TRAIN" LANE | 4 | 1971-74 |
| JIM LANGER | 1 | 1987 |
| WILLIE LANIER | 3 | 1984-86 |
| STEVE LARGENT | 1 | 1995 |
| YALE LARY | 6 | 1974-79 |
| DANTE LAVELLI | 6 | 1970-75 |
| TY LAW | 3 | 2017-19 |
| DICK LeBEAU | 1 | 2010 |
| TUFFY LEEMANS | 2 | 1970, 1978 |
| MARV LEVY | 3 | 1999-2001 |
| Verne Lewellen | 1 | 2020 |
| Albert Lewis | 1 | 2023 |
| RAY LEWIS | 1 | 2018 |
| BOB LILLY | 1 | 1980 |
| Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb | 2 | 1970, 1977 |
| FLOYD LITTLE | 1 | 2010 |
| LARRY LITTLE | 4 | 1986-87, 1990, 1993 |
| JAMES LOFTON | 3 | 2000, 2002, 2003 |
| VINCE LOMBARDI | 1 | 1971 |
| HOWIE LONG | 2 | 1999, 2000 |
| RONNIE LOTT | 1 | 2000 |
| JOHN LYNCH | 8 | 2014-21 |
| TOM MACK | 11 | 1986, 1988-89, 1992-99 |
| JOHN MACKEY | 5 | 1979, 1989-1992 |
| JOHN MADDEN | 2 | 1985, 2006 |
| PEYTON MANNING | 1 | 2021 |
| WELLINGTON MARA | 2 | 1992, 1997 |
| GINO MARCHETTI | 1 | 1972 |
| DAN MARINO | 1 | 2005 |
| Jim Marshall | 1 | 2004 |
| CURTIS MARTIN | 2 | 2011-12 |
| OLLIE MATSON | 1 | 1972 |
| BRUCE MATTHEWS | 1 | 2007 |
| Clay Matthews Jr. | 1 | 2021 |
| KEVIN MAWAE | 3 | 2017-19 |
| DON MAYNARD | 8 | 1980-87 |
| MIKE McCORMACK | 4 | 1981-84 |
| RANDALL McDANIEL | 2 | 2008-09 |
| TOMMY McDONALD | 2 | 1987, 1998 |
| HUGH McELHENNY | 1 | 1970 |
| Steve McMichael | 1 | 2024 |
| ART McNALLY | 2 | 2020, 2022 |
| SAM MILLS | 3 | 2020-22 |
| BOBBY MITCHELL | 1 | 1983 |
| RON MIX | 1 | 1979 |
| Art Modell | 3 | 2002, 2013, 2020 |
| ART MONK | 8 | 2001-08 |
| JOE MONTANA | 1 | 2000 |
| WARREN MOON | 1 | 2006 |
| LENNY MOORE | 2 | 1974, 1975 |
| Tony Morabito | 1 | 1973 |
| RANDY MOSS | 1 | 2018 |
| MIKE MUNCHAK | 2 | 2000-01 |
| ANTHONY MUÑOZ | 1 | 1998 |
| Clint Murchison | 1 | 2020 |
| GEORGE MUSSO | 1 | 1982 |
| JOE NAMATH | 3 | 1983-85 |
| OZZIE NEWSOME | 3 | 1997-99 |
| RAY NITSCHKE | 1 | 1978 |
| Tommy Nobis | 1 | 2020 |
| CHUCK NOLL | 1 | 1993 |
| BILL NUNN | 1 | 2021 |
| JONATHAN OGDEN | 1 | 2013 |
| MERLIN OLSEN | 1 | 1982 |
| JIM OTTO | 1 | 1980 |
| TERRELL OWENS | 3 | 2016-18 |
| ORLANDO PACE | 2 | 2015-16 |
| ALAN PAGE | 2 | 1987, 1988 |
| BILL PARCELLS | 4 | 2001-02, 2012-13 |
| ACE PARKER | 1 | 1972 |
| Buddy Parker | 2 | 2020, 2024 |
| JIM PARKER | 1 | 1973 |
| WALTER PAYTON | 1 | 1993 |
| DREW PEARSON | 2 | 2020-21 |
| Julius Peppers | 1 | 2024 |
| PETE PIHOS | 1 | 1970 |
| TROY POLAMALU | 1 | 2020 |
| BILL POLIAN | 1 | 2015 |
| FRITZ POLLARD | 1 | 2005 |
| Art Powell | 1 | 2024 |
| JOHN RANDLE | 1 | 2010 |
| ANDRE REED | 8 | 2007-2014 |
| ED REED | 1 | 2019 |
| Dan Reeves | 1 | 2020 |
| MEL RENFRO | 4 | 1993-96 |
| DARRELLE REVIS | 1 | 2023 |
| JERRY RICE | 1 | 2010 |
| LES RICHTER | 1 | 2011 |
| JOHN RIGGINS | 2 | 1991, 1992 |
| KEN RILEY | 1 | 2023 |
| JIM RINGO | 7 | 1975-1981 |
| WILLIE ROAF | 2 | 2011-12 |
| DAVE ROBINSON | 1 | 2013 |
| JOHNNY ROBINSON | 7 | 1980-83, 1985-86, 2019 |
| ANDY ROBUSTELLI | 2 | 1970-71 |
| DAN ROONEY | 3 | 1998-2000 |
| PETE ROZELLE | 8 | 1977, 1979-1985 |
| Lou Rymkus | 1 | 1988 |
| ED SABOL | 1 | 2011 |
| STEVE SABOL | 1 | 2020 |
| BOB ST. CLAIR | 1 | 1990 |
| BARRY SANDERS | 1 | 2004 |
| CHARLIE SANDERS | 1 | 2007 |
| DEION SANDERS | 1 | 2011 |
| WARREN SAPP | 1 | 2013 |
| GALE SAYERS | 1 | 1977 |
| JOE SCHMIDT | 3 | 1971-73 |
| TEX SCHRAMM | 1 | 1991 |
| LEE ROY SELMON | 1 | 1995 |
| SHANNON SHARPE | 3 | 2009-2011 |
| JUNIOR SEAU | 1 | 2015 |
| RICHARD SEYMOUR | 4 | 2019-22 |
| Clark Shaughnessy | 3 | 1970, 1975-76 |
| BILLY SHAW | 1 | 1999 |
| ART SHELL | 2 | 1988,1989 |
| DONNIE SHELL | 2 | 2002, 2020 |
| WILL SHIELDS | 4 | 2012-2015 |
| DON SHULA | 1 | 1997 |
| O.J. SIMPSON | 1 | 1985 |
| MIKE SINGLETARY | 1 | 1998 |
| Seymour Siwoff | 1 | 2020 |
| DUKE SLATER | 3 | 1970, 1971, 2020 |
| JACKIE SLATER | 1 | 2001 |
| BRUCE SMITH | 1 | 2009 |
| EMMITT SMITH | 1 | 2010 |
| JACKIE SMITH | 2 | 1993-94 |
| MAC SPEEDIE | 4 | 1970, 1972, 1983, 2020 |
| ED SPRINKLE | 1 | 2020 |
| KEN STABLER | 4 | 1990, 1991, 2003, 2016 |
| JOHN STALLWORTH | 8 | 1994, 1996-2002 |
| DICK STANFEL | 3 | 1993, 2012, 2016 |
| BART STARR | 1 | 1977 |
| ROGER STAUBACH | 1 | 1985 |
| JAN STENERUD | 1 | 1991 |
| DWIGHT STEPHENSON | 5 | 1993, 1995-98 |
| MICHAEL STRAHAN | 2 | 2013-14 |
| HANK STRAM | 1 | 2003 |
| LYNN SWANN | 14 | 1988-2001 |
| PAUL TAGLIABUE | 5 | 2007-09, 2017, 2020 |
| FRAN TARKENTON | 3 | 1984-86 |
| CHARLEY TAYLOR | 2 | 1983, 1984 |
| Fred Taylor | 1 | 2024 |
| JASON TAYLOR | 1 | 2017 |
| JIM TAYLOR | 4 | 1973-76 |
| LAWRENCE TAYLOR | 1 | 1999 |
| DERRICK THOMAS | 5 | 2005-09 |
| EMMITT THOMAS | 1 | 2008 |
| JOE THOMAS | 1 | 2023 |
| THURMAN THOMAS | 2 | 2006-07 |
| ZACH THOMAS | 4 | 2020-23 |
| MICK TINGELHOFF | 1 | 2015 |
| ANDRE TIPPETT | 2 | 2007-08 |
| Y.A. TITTLE | 2 | 1970-71 |
| LADANIAN TOMLINSON | 1 | 2017 |
| Jim Tyrer | 1 | 1981 |
| JOHNNY UNITAS | 1 | 1979 |
| GENE UPSHAW | 1 | 1987 |
| BRIAN URLACHER | 1 | 2018 |
| NORM VAN BROCKLIN | 2 | 1970, 1971 |
| DICK VERMEIL | 2 | 2020, 2022 |
| DOAK WALKER | 5 | 1972-74, 1976, 1986 |
| Everson Walls | 1 | 2018 |
| BILL WALSH | 2 | 1992, 1993 |
| DeMARCUS WARE | 2 | 2022-23 |
| PAUL WARFIELD | 1 | 1983 |
| KURT WARNER | 3 | 2015-17 |
| Reggie Wayne | 5 | 2020-24 |
| MIKE WEBSTER | 2 | 1996, 1997 |
| ROGER WEHRLI | 2 | 2005, 2007 |
| ARNIE WEINMEISTER | 1 | 1984 |
| RANDY WHITE | 1 | 1994 |
| REGGIE WHITE | 1 | 2006 |
| DAVE WILCOX | 1 | 2000 |
| Patrick Willis | 3 | 2022-24 |
| RALPH WILSON JR. | 3 | 2001, 2003, 2009 |
| AENEAS WILLIAMS | 3 | 2012-14 |
| BILL WILLIS | 1 | 1977 |
| LARRY WILSON | 1 | 1978 |
| KELLEN WINSLOW | 3 | 1993-95 |
| Al Wistert | 1 | 2020 |
| RON WOLF | 1 | 2015 |
| WILLIE WOOD | 10 | 1977-1985, 1989 |
| CHARLES WOODSON | 1 | 2021 |
| Darren Woodson | 2 | 2023-24 |
| ROD WOODSON | 1 | 2009 |
| RAYFIELD WRIGHT | 2 | 2004, 2006 |
| RON YARY | 6 | 1990, 1997-2001 |
| BRYANT YOUNG | 2 | 2020, 2022 |
| GEORGE YOUNG | 4 | 2003-05, 2020 |
| STEVE YOUNG | 1 | 2005 |
| JACK YOUNGBLOOD | 8 | 1990-91, 1996-2001 |
| GARY ZIMMERMAN | 5 | 2003-04, 2006-08 |