Former Falcons Abraham, Dunn and Samuel advance in Hall of Fame process
Three former Falcons and two local players were among the 52 modern-era players who advanced in the voting process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
Defensive end/linebacker John Abraham, running back Warrick Dunn and cornerback Asante Samuel advanced along with wide receiver Hines Ward, who played at Forest Park and Georgia, and defensive end Robert Mathis, who played at McNair High and Alabama A&M.
For the Hall of Fame in the modern-era, candidate last could have appeared in a professional football game in the 2020 season.
Abraham terrorized quarterbacks for 15 seasons and had 133.5 sacks.
Jared Allen, who was among the Class of 2025 inductees, mentioned Abraham and Terrell Suggs as the next players at the position likely to receive a gold jacket and be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, the site of the Hall of Fame.
“John Abraham was a stud,” Allen told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in August in Canton. “Suggs was a phenomenal player. He 100% deserves to be in. Then guys like Abraham. Abraham was before his time; he was a monster setting the tone. … I would say Suggs and Abraham for sure, from the edge standpoint.”
Dunn was selected 12th overall in the 1997 NFL draft by the Buccaneers, and he went on to capture the Associated Press offensive rookie of the year trophy. Dunn played six seasons in Tampa (1997-2001, 2008) and six seasons with the Falcons. Dunn is the only player in NFL history to record 7,500 yards from scrimmage with two franchises.
Samuel, who played 2012-13 for the Falcons, has taken to social media to state his case for enshrinement.
In 31 fewer regular-season games, Samuel intercepted only two fewer passes than Deion Sanders (53-51). He also picked off seven passes in the playoffs, where Sanders had five — meaning each had 58 career picks, counting the postseason. Finally, both players own two Super Bowl rings.
Samuel, who played at Central Florida, also played for New England (2003-07) and Philadelphia (2008-11).
The modern-era screening committee, which was created a year ago, made the reduction from the original list of 77 offensive players, 42 defensive players and nine special teams players.
Five other former Falcons — wide receiver Roddy White, running back Steven Jackson, returner/running back/wide receiver Eric Metcalf, cornerback DeAngelo Hall and cornerback/returner Allen Rossum — did not advance.
Several players from the state also did not advance: running back Jamal Lewis (Douglass), center Jeff Saturday (Shamrock), defensive end Jay Ratliff (Lowndes), defensive tackle Geno Atkins (UGA), linebacker Thomas Davis (Randolph-Clay, UGA), linebacker Takeo Spikes (Washington County), safety Eric Berry (Creekside High) and kicker John Kasay (Clarke Central/UGA).
In the next step of the process, each member of the Hall of Fame’s full 50-person selection committee will review the list and cast a vote for the 25 nominees each believes should advance to the semifinal stage.
The names of the 25 semifinalists (plus ties, if any, for the 25th position) will be announced in about five weeks.
Because they reached the final list of seven modern-era players under consideration for the Class of 2025 but were not elected, Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri automatically advance to the final 15 this election cycle.
Reduction votes also are occurring in the seniors, coach and contributor categories.
On Tuesday, the Hall of Fame released the list of 12 coach candidates still under consideration, which included former Falcons coach Dan Reeves and former offensive line coach Alex Gibbs.
Later this week, the seniors and contributor categories will be announced.
Eventually, 20 finalists will be presented at the selection committee’s annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl LX: 15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach and one contributor.
Although there is no set number of enshrinees for any class, the Hall of Fame’s selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined next August in Canton.
Here’s the list of the 52 modern-era players (*final 15)
QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, *Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.
RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), *Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, *Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, *Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne.
TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen, Jason Witten.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): *Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), *Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), *Marshal Yanda (G).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).
LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison, *Luke Kuechly, *Terrell Suggs.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), *Darren Woodson (S).
PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), *Adam Vinatieri (K).
SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).
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.
