Andersen, Davis named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame
FLOWERY BRANCH -- Former Falcons kicker Morten Andersen, who made the field goal to send the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance, and former Georgia running back Terrell Davis were among the 15 finalists named for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2015, the Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.
This is the second time that Andersen has been a finalist. He's the NFL's all-time leading scoring.
Former Falcons tackle Mike Kenn, who played for the team from 1978 to 1994 was named a modern-era semifinalist, but did not make the cut.
Last season, former Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey was the first member from the franchise who played most of his career with Atlanta enshrined into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Kenn was taken with the 13th overall pick in the 1978 draft out of Michigan. He went on to become a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro as he started 251 games at left tackle over his career.
Andersen, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round of the 1982 draft.
He played for the Saints (1982-94), Falcons (1995-2000, 2006-07), New York Giants (2001), Chiefs (2002-03) and Minnesota (2004).
Davis played for the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2001 and helped them win two Super Bowls.
- Morten Andersen ,Kicker –1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings
- Jerome Bettis , Running Back – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tim Brown , Wide Receiver/Kick Returner/Punt Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/ Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Don Coryell ,Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
- Terrell Davis ,Running Back – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
- Tony Dungy ,Coach – 1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-08 Indianapolis Colts
- Kevin Greene , Linebacker/Defensive End – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
- Charles Haley , Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
- Marvin Harrison ,Wide Receiver – 1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts
- Jimmy Johnson ,Coach – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins
- John Lynch,Free Safety –1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
- Orlando Pace,Tackle – 1997-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Chicago Bears
- **Bill Polian ,Contributor – 1978-1982 Kansas City Chiefs, 1984-1992 Buffalo Bills, 1993-94 National Football League, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers, 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts
- Junior Seau ,Linebacker – 1990-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-05 Miami Dolphins, 2006-09 New England Patriots
- Will Shields , Guard – 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
- *Mick Tingelhoff ,Center – 1962-1978 Minnesota Vikings
- Kurt Warner ,Quarterback – 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals
- **Ron Wolf , Contributor – 1963-1974, 1979-1989 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1966 American Football League, 1976-78 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990-91 New York Jets, 1991-2001 Green Bay Packers.
- Although they have been nominees in previous years, this is the first time that Terrell Davis, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Polian, Mick Tingelhoff and Ron Wolf have been finalists.
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About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
