Former New England and Oakland standout Richard Seymour, who played at the University of Georgia, was selected as an modern-era finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Seymour, a seven-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro selection, played for the Patriots from 2001-08 and with the Raiders from 2009-12.
He also was a finalist in 2019.
Seymour played at Georgia from 1997-2000. He was the sixth player selected in the 2001 NFL draft.
The other modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 include seven individuals who are finalists for the first time.
The list consists of two first-year eligible players with safety Troy Polamalu and wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Five others – safety LeRoy Butler, wide receiver Torry Holt, linebackers Sam Mills and Zach Thomas, and defensive tackle Bryant Young – have been previously eligible for the Hall of Fame, but this year marks their first time as finalists.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn has been a strong supporter of Young, who he coached as a player and had on the Falcons’ staff for two seasons (2017-18) before Young left for personal reasons.
The finalist will be considered for election to the Hall of Fame when the Hall’s selection committee meets Feb. 1, the day before the Super Bowl in Miami.
The full committee will elect five modern-era players who must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent from the committee.
The players will join 15 additional enshrinees to form the Class of 2020. A special blue-ribbon panel will meet in early January to elect 10 seniors (players who last played more than 25 years ago), three Contributors (an individual other than a player or coach) and two coaches.
Former Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis is a seniors candidate for selection.
The modern-era player finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall’s selection committee from a list of 122 nominees named in September that was reduced to 25 semifinalists in late November.
The 2020 Modern-Era Player Finalists with their positions, years and teams:
- Steve Atwater, safety – 1989-98 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
- Tony Boselli, offensive tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Isaac Bruce, wide receiver – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers
- LeRoy Butler, safety – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
- Alan Faneca, guard – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
- Torry Holt, wide receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Steve Hutchinson, guard – 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-11 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans
- Edgerrin James, running back – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
- John Lynch, free safety – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
- Sam Mills, linebacker – 1986-94 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
- Troy Polamalu, safety – 2003-14 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Richard Seymour, defensive end/defensive tackle – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-12 Oakland Raiders
- Zach Thomas, linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
- Reggie Wayne, wide Receiver – 2001-14 Indianapolis Colts
- Bryant Young, defensive tackle – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
RICHARD SEYMOUR
HOF Finalist: 2 | Year of Eligibility: 3
Position: Defensive end/defensive tackle
Ht: 6-6, Wt: 317
NFL Career: 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-12 Oakland Raiders
Seasons: 12, Games: 164
College: Georgia
Drafted: 1st Round (6th overall), 2001
Born: Oct. 6, 1979 in Gadsden, South Carolina
Integral member of defense that helped Patriots to six division titles over seven-season span … Patriots teams posted 10 or more wins seven times during his eight seasons with team … Led Patriots in sacks twice (2002, 2008) … Registered a career-high 8 sacks, 2008 … Amassed 57.5 career sacks … Recorded 3 or more sacks in every season but one … In games in which he recorded a sack, teams had a record of 46-8 (.852) … Returned fumble a franchise record 68 yards for TD against Buffalo Bills on Oct. 3, 2004 … Recorded 39 passes defensed, two interceptions in career … Played in four AFC championship games and four Super Bowls including victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX … Selected First-Team All-Pro three consecutive seasons (2003-05); Second-Team All-Pro twice (2006, 2011) … All-AFC five times … Voted to seven Pro Bowls … Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of 2000s.
BRYANT YOUNG
HOF Finalist: 1 | Year of Eligibility: 8
Position: Defensive tackle
Ht: 6-3, Wt: 290
NFL Career: 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
Seasons: 14, Games: 208
College: Notre Dame
Drafted: 1st Round (7th overall), 1994
Born: Jan. 27, 1972 in Chicago Heights, Illinois
Highly touted draft pick earned All-Rookie honors … Amassed 89.5 career sacks … Registered multiple sacks in each of his 14 seasons … Recorded double-digit sack totals in a season twice (11.5 in 1996 and 11.0 in 1999) …Made NFL record-tying two safeties in a season, 1996 … Recovered from broken leg to earn 1999 NFL Comeback Player of the Year after finishing with 42 tackles, three passes defensed, 20 QB pressures and team-leading 11 sacks, 15 tackles for a loss and one safety … Started in two NFC championship games and one Super Bowl … Recorded three tackles, two assisted tackles, and one pass defensed in 49ers’ win over Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX … Won team’s esteemed Len Eshmont Award for inspirational and courageous play eight times … First-Team All-Pro twice (1996, 1998) … Voted to four Pro Bowls … Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
