Former Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, along with former Baltimore safety Ed Reed, are considered near locks to be included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 on Saturday.
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee meeting will be held downtown when the 48-person selection committee meets to elect the newest class the day before Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Former Georgia standouts, Champ Bailey and Richard Seymour are among the 15 modern-era finalists. Bailey will likely be in a battle for a spot theoretically with New England cornerback Ty Law, while Seymour is a first-time finalist and his story will be told before the committee for the first time, while the committee is more intimately familiar with other players of similar or greater stature in the game.
Gonzalez, who was drafted by Kansas City (1997-2008), played for the Falcons from 2009-13. He played in 270 games and was voted to 14 Pro Bowls.
He was a member of the 2012 Falcons team that reached the NFC Championship game.
Bailey, considered the top cornerback of his era, played in 215 games over 15 seasons with Washington (1999-2003) and Denver (2004-13). He was voted to 14 Pro Bowls.
Bailey, after starring at Charlton County, played at Georgia from 1996-98.
Seymour, a 6-foot-6, 317-pound defensive tackle, played for New England (2001-12) and Oakland (2009-12). He played in 164 games over 12 seasons. He was voted to seven Pro Bowls.
He played at Georgia from 1997-2000.
In addition to Gonzalez, Bailey and Seymour, Reed and coach Tom Flores were named finalists for the first time.
Here’s the 2019 modern-era finalists: Steve Atwater, Bailey, Tony Boselli, Isaac Bruce, Don Coryell, Alan Faneca, Flores, Gonzalez, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Law, John Lynch, Kevin Mawae, Reed and Seymour. The senior finalist is Johnny Robinson and contributor finalists are Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent during the annual selection meeting.
The class will be announced Saturday evening.
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