The NFL just announced the nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, and there are several Colts players who received the honor. Among the 167 nominees, 16 are first-time honorees; overall, the list consists of 94 offensive players, 56 defensive players, and 17 special teams players.
A screening committee will take the number of nominees down to 50, announcing that decision in October. From there, the full 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee will choose 25 semifinalists; another vote will further reduce the list to 15. Finally, the new class will be chosen at the annual meeting before of Super Bowl LVIX. Under the Hall of Fame bylaws, a small handful of players can be inducted into the new class: just three, four, or five total. To be eligible, a player must have played their last game at least five seasons ago, so someone who last played in 2019 is eligible for the first time in 2025.
Notable nominees from around the AFC South include Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor and wide receiver Jimmy Smith, and Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. Among the Colts, eight players were nominated, including three legends.
Adam Vinatieri
ADAM VINATIERI. 51 YARDS. FOR THE WIN. #DENvsIND pic.twitter.com/9x7xjko7EO
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2019
Vinatieri, widely considered one of the best kickers in NFL history, is a first-time nominee. The NFL's all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) and a three-time first-team AP All-Pro, Vinatieri played for the Colts from 2006 - 2019.
Throughout his 24-year career, Vinatieri had 29 game-winning kicks, including in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII.
If chosen, Vinatieri will join Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the only kickers in the Hall of Fame.
Robert Mathis
Mathis has been nominated to the Hall of Fame for the third time; last year, he was a semi-finalist. He is the all-time NFL leader in forced fumbles (52) and strip-sacks (47), was named All-Pro twice, and played five times in the Pro Bowl.
Over the 14 years Mathis spent in the NFL, he spent it entirely in Indianapolis. After retiring, he continued his career with the Colts, joining the coaching staff as a pass rush consultant. He was previously inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
Reggie Wayne
RT if you believe that Miami Hurricane Reggie Wayne should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/GupMzxsKDV
— GO ‘CANES! (@83_87_89_91_01) February 5, 2022
Like Mathis, Wayne has been nominated before. After retiring, Wayne has been nominated in each of the five years he has been eligible. He spent his entire NFL career with the Colts, and in the regular season alone, amassed a whopping 14,345 yards and 82 touchdowns. In the post-season, he's similarly impressive; he measures up in the top 10 of all time for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
Only 14 players in NFL history have 1,000 receptions, as Wayne does, and he is one of just 12 players to have over 14,000 receiving yards. After retiring, Wayne continued his career with the Colts as a wide receivers coach.
Other Colts Nominated
Five other Colts received nominations as well. They are:
- Jeff Saturday
- Antoine Bethea
- Bob Sanders
- Pat McAfee
- Mike Vanderjagt