Former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison has reached the next step of his path toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall announced Wednesday night that Harrison is officially a modern-era finalist for induction in 2024. He and 14 others will undergo one final round of voting to see who gets a gold jacket and a bust in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Harrison played 15 seasons in the National Football League, the final six of which came with the Patriots. He had already established himself as an elite strong safety with the San Diego Chargers, earning a First Team All-Pro selection in 1998.
But Harrison took his career to new heights in New England, where he earned his second First Team All-Pro nod and won consecutive Super Bowl championships in 2003 and 2004. An immediate cornerstone of a dominating Patriots defense, Harrison played a key role in complementing an emerging Tom Brady en route to establishing the NFL’s newest dynasty.
Meanwhile, another Patriots great needs to keep waiting for his chance to go to Canton. Former Patriots and Texans nose tackle Vince Wilfork was not named a finalist for 2024, after being named a semifinalist.
![wilfork](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/09/GettyImages-137565802.jpg)
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Vince Wilfork #75 of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 20-23. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Wilfork played 13 NFL seasons, 11 with the Patriots. He bookended his Patriots career with Super Bowl championships, in 2004 and 2014, and played in two others.
A dominating force at the nose tackle position, Wilfork heavily impacted games without having to rack up counting stats. He constantly required attention from multiple blockers and often beat them with his rare athleticism and agility for a 325-pound defender. He was also remarkably durable, missing more than three games just once in his 13 NFL seasons.
Wilfork was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame after being voted in by fans. Harrison became a Patriots Hall of Famer in 2019, and has long had a case to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He may not finally be inducted in 2024, but his breakthrough to the finals is a strong sign that he’ll eventually get in.
Read below for a quick look at the rest of the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists. Three defensive linemen did what Wilfork could not and made it past the semifinals. The official inductees for 2024 will be announced in a ceremony on Feb. 8.