Associated Press Jul 12 2023 6:41pm ET2 minute counter
CANTON, Ohio — Two-time Super Bowl coaches Tom Coughlin and Mike Shanahan, along with team owners Robert Kraft and Virginia McCaskey, were among 60 semifinalists announced Wednesday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024.
The hall’s 12-member senior committee reduced the list of nominated players to 31. Each semifinalist played their last game in professional football no later than 1998.
Regardless, the hall’s 12-member coaching/contributors committee narrowed the list of nominated candidates down to 29 semi-finalists.
Unlike in February, when cornerback Darrelle Revis and offensive lineman Joe Thomas were selected for induction into the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, none of the 31 players appear to be barred from induction.
Coughlin coached the New York Giants from 2004 to 2015, guiding them to Super Bowl victories over the New England Patriots after the 2007 and 2011 seasons.
Shanahan led the Denver Broncos to Super Bowl titles after the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Overall, he had a 178-144 record with three teams, including a 46-10 record from 1996-98, an NFL record for three-year wins.
McCaskey, who turned 100 on January 5, became the principal owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983 following the death of her father, Hall of Famer George Halas.
Kraft has owned the New England Patriots since 1994. His teams have won six Super Bowls, all with coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
The respective selection committees will now review the candidates and vote to select 12 finalists from each group. The results of these votes will be announced on July 27th.
Members of the Trainers/Contributors Committee will meet on August 15 to select a candidate for the final exam for next year’s Hall of Fame course.
The Seniors Committee meets on August 22 and may select up to three candidates for final consideration.
Revis, Thomas, Ronde Barber, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware and Don Coryell will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on August 3rd.