Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson top the list with 15 finalists for the Class of 2021 Hall of Fame

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Four players in their first year of eligibility are among the 15 finalists for the 2021 Class Hall of Fame.

Defender Peyton Manning, defensive end Charles Woodson, receiver Calvin Johnson and defensive end Jared Allen top the list.

Up to five finalists will be selected at the end of January for entry.

The finalists were announced on Tuesday. It is the second time in recent years that four players from their first year of eligibility are finalists in the same year.

The 2021 class entry ceremony is currently scheduled for the week of August 5-9. The 2020 class is scheduled to have a separate ceremony in the same week, as the August event last year was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The four players, with 33 combined Pro Bowl appearances, join defender Ronde Barber, attack Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Alan Faneca, receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, safety John Lynch, defenders. Clay Matthews Jr., Sam Mills and Zach Thomas and defensive end Richard Seymour,

It could be the eighth consecutive year when a player in the first year of eligibility is selected and if three players in the first year are among the five winners, it would be the third time in the last four years when three players in their first year are selected in the same class.

Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez and Ed Reed were included in 2019, and in 2019 Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher were in the 2018 class.

This year marks Lynch for the eighth time as a finalist, sixth for Faneca and fifth for Boselli.

Former coach Tom Flores is already a finalist after being appointed by the coaching committee. Bill Nunn is a finalist as a collaborator, and Drew Pearson is a finalist on the veterans committee. If all three are elected, the 2021 Class could have up to eight members.

Manning, who won five awards for the most valuable players, was selected in 14 Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro home teams, won the Comeback of the Year and Man of the Year awards, is one of the most award-winning players in NFL history. He was a defender for the Denver Broncos when he won the Super Bowl 50 and thus ended his last season in the league.

After 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning signed with the Broncos in 2012 and became one of the most prestigious players to change teams in the free agency era. The Colts had 11 seasons with at least 10 wins with Manning as a passer and won Super Bowl XLI, of which Manning was named the most valuable player.

The defender retired with several season and career records, including 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns in 2013.

Woodson, who went to the Pro Bowl nine times and ended his 18-year career tied (with Ken Riley) for the fifth time in interceptions in NFL history with 65, led the NFL in that category with nine with the Greens. Bay Packers in 2009 and won a Super Bowl ring with the Packers the following season.

The safe-turned corner also forced 33 career hits, had 20 sacks and three 90-season tackles, including 113 with the Oakland Las Vegas Raiders at 38 years old.

Johnson played nine seasons for the Detroit Lions before retiring abruptly after the 2015 season, in which he received 88 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. It had five seasons with at least 1,200 welcoming yards and ranks 31st in that category in league history.

Due to the Lions’ troubles, something he later acknowledged had to do with his decision to retire, Johnson played only two appearances in the postseason and in his first appearance, finished with 211 yards and two touchdowns. hails in what was a 45-28 loss to the 2011 New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card.

Allen, who ranks 12th on the bag list of all time, has played for four teams in his 13-year career and led the NFL in that category in 2007 with 15.5 and in 2011 with 22.

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