The Pro Football Hall of Fame has pared its list of potential inductees down to 25. And former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is one of three first-time players eligible for induction to make it to the semifinals of the voting process.
Polamalu was joined on the list of 25 semifinalists by former teammates Alan Faneca and Hines Ward.
That trio will be among the 25 players who will then be pared to 15 finalists Jan. 2.
Faneca has made the finals in each of the previous three years and this is his fifth time as a semifinalist. But the nine-time Pro Bowl guard has yet to reach the required number of votes to be inducted.
This is the fourth time as a semifinalist for Ward, the Steelers' all-time leader in receptions with 1,000 and the MVP of the team's Super Bowl XL victory over the Seahawks.
Polamalu was an eight-time Pro Bowl player and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He finished his 12-year career with the Steelers with 32 interceptions, 12 sacks and a number of highlight-reel plays. This is the first year of eligibility for Polamalu, who retired after the 2014 season.
Joining Polamalu as a first-time semifinalist were former Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
BREAKING: 3 first-year eligible players are among the list of 25 Modern-Era Player Semifinalists for the Class of 2020. #PFHOF20
More on the semifinalists: https://t.co/gn5wGtyCVt pic.twitter.com/C1ViE4524c
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) November 26, 2019
The finalists will be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting Feb. 1, 2020, the day before Super Bowl LIV. The Selection Committee will elect five Modern-Era players for the Class of 2020.
There also will be 15 additional people inducted this year as part of the league's Centennial Celebration. They will be determined by a 25-person panel who will review the backlog of deserving seniors, coaches and contributors. That group will be comprised of 10 seniors (a player who has been retired for more than 25 seasons), three contributors (an individual other than a player or coach) and two coaches.
Fans can make their votes on who they think the Hall of Fame voters should induct at www.profootballhof.com/fanvote.