Gonzalez, Reed, Bailey among 25 Hall of Fame semifinalists
First-year eligible Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed and Champ Bailey are among 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In all, 13 defensive players, nine on offense and three coaches — Jimmy Johnson, Tom Flores and Don Coryell — made the cut.
Making it to the semifinals for the first time, although previously eligible, are Flores and linebacker Zach Thomas.
Already finalists for the hall are contributors Gil Brandt and Pat Bowlen, and senior committee nominee Johnny Robinson.
The 25 modern-day finalists from an original group of 103 will be reduced to 15 on Jan. 3. The selection meeting will be Feb. 2, the day before the Super Bowl, in Atlanta.
Inductions will be on Aug. 3 at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
The semifinalists:
Steve Atwater, safety
Champ Bailey, cornerback
Ronde Barber, cornerback/safety
Tony Boselli, tackle
Isaac Bruce, wide receiver
LeRoy Butler, safety
Don Coryell, coach
Alan Faneca, guard
Tom Flores, coach
Tony Gonzalez, tight end
Torry Holt, wide receiver
Steve Hutchinson, guard
Edgerrin James, running back
Jimmy Johnson, coach
Ty Law, cornerback
John Lynch, safety
Clay Matthews, linebacker
Kevin Mawae, center/guard
Karl Mecklenburg, linebacker
Sam Mills, linebacker
Ed Reed, safety
Richard Seymour, defensive lineman
Zach Thomas, linebacker
Hines Ward, wide receiver
Darren Woodson, safety
