Longtime Patriot included among 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists, while another is snubbed again
Longtime Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri is among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, while safety Rodney Harrison did not make the cut.
On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 finalists for the Class of 2025. This list is trimmed from the 25 semifinalists announced in November.
Among the group is kicker Adam Vinatieri, who spent the first 10 years of his 24-year NFL career with the Patriots. Vinatieri retired after the 2019 season at the age of 47 as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,673 points. He also hit some of the biggest kicks in NFL history, including two Super Bowl winners and the game-tying and game-winning kicks in the Snow Bowl against the Raiders in the 2001 divisional round.
This is Vinatieri’s first year of eligibility. He’s trying to become the third modern-era placekicker enshrined in Canton, joining Jan Stenerud (inducted in 1991) and Morten Anderson (2017).
One other former Patriot is among the group – running back Fred Taylor. Taylor spent most of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars but played two seasons in New England before retiring. His 11,695 career rushing rank 17th all-time. This is Taylor’s 10th year on the ballot and second time as a finalist, after last year.
Meanwhile, some notable former Patriots did not make the cut to the next round of voting. That group is highlighted by safety Rodney Harrison and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
Harrison’s Hall of Fame candidacy has been a point of contention for years now. There’s a strong case for him to be in, as arguably the best strong safety of his era. Bill Belichick has campaigned heavily for Harrison in the past.
Despite that Harrison will not get the nod this year. This comes after he reached the finalist round last year for the first time in over a decade of eligibility.
As for Wilfork, this is his fourth year on the ballot. As a defensive tackle Wilfork was a dominant player but by the nature of his position didn’t pile up individual stats. Still, the five-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl Champion has a strong case. As was the case with fellow former Patriots defensive tackle Richard Seymour, the nature of his position may mean he has to wait.
As for the finalists list, that will be narrowed down to the Class of 2025 over the next few weeks through closed committee voting. Up to five players can be selected, with the class announced at NFL Honors in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
