Eli Manning, the two-time Super Bowl champion who famously defeated Tom Brady’s New England Patriots, and Adam Vinatieri, a four-time Super Bowl winner, headline the list of 25 semifinalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Manning and Vinatieri, along with Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Earl Thomas, and Marshal Yanda, are first-year nominees among this elite group vying for a place in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Eli Manning, the legendary quarterback of the New York Giants, is remembered for toppling the Patriots dynasty in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, earning MVP honors in both games. He’s the only quarterback to beat Brady in two NFL title games.

Adam Vinatieri, often regarded as the greatest kicker in NFL history, cemented his legacy with the Patriots, securing Super Bowl victories in XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, and XLI. His accolades include:

• Most career points: 2,673
• Most field goals made: 599
• Longest streak of consecutive field goals: 44
• The only kicker on the prestigious “NFL 100 All-Time Team.”

The list of 25 semifinalists, which began with 167 candidates, will be trimmed to 15 finalists on December 20. In addition to these modern-era players, three senior candidates and one coach will also be considered for induction.

Per Hall of Fame rules, the Class of 2025 will include between four and eight new members, to be announced in February.

Full List of Semifinalists:

• Modern-Era First-Year Candidates: Eli Manning, Adam Vinatieri, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Earl Thomas, Marshal Yanda
• Returning Candidates: Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters, Anquan Boldin, Torry Holt, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Antonio Gates, Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Eric Allen, Rodney Harrison, Darren Woodson, James Harrison, Jared Allen, Robert Mathis, Vince Wilfork