The Patriots team Hall of Fame began the 2022 selection process on Wednesday. The nomination committee met and selected nine individuals (seven players, two coaches) for potential induction this year. Those nine will be narrowed down to three by a fan vote, and then one will be selected to be inducted this summer.

Who is up for induction? Let’s take a look at the potential class…

DE Julius Adams

Years with Patriots: 1971-1985, 1987

Drafted in the first round in 1971, Adams played his entire 16-year NFL career in New England. He was a crucial part of two of the Patriots’ most dominant pre-dynasty teams, playing a starring role in both 1976 and 1985. When Adams retired in 1987, his 206 games were the most ever played for the Patriots. He’s currently tied for third with Matthew Slater, behind Tom Brady and Bruce Armstrong.

Although the majority of his career took place before sacks became an official stat, he unofficially got to the quarterback 80.5 times for the Patriots per Pro Football Reference. Including the PFR numbers, he has the second-most sacks in team history, behind only Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Andre Tippett.

Coach Chuck Fairbanks

Years with Patriots: 1973-1978

Fairbanks came from the college ranks, where he led Oklahoma to back-to-back Sugar Bowl wins before joining the Patriots in 1973. In what was his only NFL head coaching job, Fairbanks led the Patriots to a 46-39 record in six seasons. In 1976, he guided the team to its first post-merger playoff berth. He left the team to return to college football amid controversy at the end of the 1978 season.

K John Smith

Years with Patriots: 1974-1983

Smith had never played football before moving to the US from England, but that didn’t stop the former soccer player from trying out for the Patriots in 1973. After a year in the Atlantic Coast Football League, which served as a minor league for the NFL at the time, he joined the Patriots, and spent 10 seasons as the team’s kicker. He led the NFL in scoring twice in 1979 and 1980, and retired as the second-highest scoring player in Patriots history behind Gino Cappelletti.

During his career, Smith was on the field for two of the Patriots’ most iconic moments of the 20th century. In 1980, he was lining up for a game-winning field goal attempt on Monday Night Football when Howard Cosell announced the murder of musician John Lennon. Two years later, Smith was the beneficiary of a clear kicking surface in the Snowplow Game. Both games were against the Miami Dolphins.

Coach Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells, Head Coach for the New England Patriots during the American Football Conference East game against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 18, 1994 at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, Buffalo, New York, United States. The Patriots won the game 41-17. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images)

Years with Patriots: 1980, 1993-1996

The ‘Tuna’ era in New England actually began in 1980, when Parcells spent a single season as the Patriots’ linebackers coach. He’d return to leave his mark in 1993, coming out of a two-year retirement to become the team’s head coach. In four seasons in New England Parcells went 32-32, but did lead the team to its second Super Bowl appearance in his final season 1996.

Parcells’ inclusion in the Patriots Hall of Fame has been a point of contention in recent years. The success of the mid-90’s teams he coached may have saved the franchise from being relocated. At the same time, he didn’t exactly leave on the best terms, and his accomplishments have since been dwarfed by those of his protégé, Bill Belichick.

S Lawyer Milloy

FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Safety Lawyer Milloy #36 of the New England Patriots calls out a defensive audible during the NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 22, 2002 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 41-38 in overtime. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Years with Patriots: 1996-2002

As a rookie, Milloy played in 16 games and started 10, recording 84 tackles and two picks en route to the team’s appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. He’d go on to be an All-Pro in 1998 and 1999, then two years later captained the Patriots’ first championship defense in 2001.

In all, Milloy played 112 games for the Patriots during which he recorded 19 interceptions, 23 pass deflections and seven forced fumbles. He was released prior to the 2003 season.

LB Mike Vrabel

GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 19: Mike Vrabel #50 of the New England Patriots gets ready on the line of scrimmage during the game against the Green Bay Packers on November 19, 2006 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Patriots defeated the Packers 35-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Years with Patriots: 2001-2008

Signed by the Patriots as a free agent heading into the 2001 season, Vrabel played a crucial role on three Super Bowl-winning defenses. No Patriots player recorded more sacks than Vrabel from 2001-2008, and his 48 QB takedowns rank seventh in team history. In 2007, Vrabel had a career year with 12.5 sacks – which is still tied for the most by a single Patriots player in the Bill Belichick era. He was named an All-Pro that season.

During his time in New England, the Patriots also had a package that featured him as a tight end on the goal line. Of the 13 passes thrown Vrabel’s way during his time in New England, he caught 10 – all for touchdowns. Two of those came in Super Bowls.

DT Vince Wilfork

FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 14: Vince Wilfork #75 of the New England Patriots reacts after he sacked Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos in the second half during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Years with Patriots: 2004-2014

‘Big Vince’ is the only player besides Tom Brady to have a ring from both of the Patriots’ Super Bowl trilogies. A first round pick in 2004, he was the anchor for a number of successful Patriots defenses. Over 11 seasons, he played 148 games for the Patriots – the second-most by a defensive lineman behind Julius Adams – and was named to four All-Pro teams.

Although Wilfork is mainly thought of as a run stopper, he was surprisingly athletic. That allowed him to be a three-down player at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds. His 26 career pass breakups rank 21st in Patriots history, and he also had three interceptions.

G Logan Mankins

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 20: Logan Mankins #70 of the New England Patriots against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium on September 20, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Years with Patriots: 2005-2013

Drafted in the first round in 2005, Mankins became a sturdy presence on the Patriots’ offensive line for nine seasons. He missed just 14 games in his entire Patriots career, which included playing the entire 2011 season on a torn ACL. During his time with the Patriots, Mankins was named a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowlers. He’s also a member of the NFL’s 2010’s All-Decade Team.

Mankins’ career spanned the decade-long title drought in the middle of the Brady/Belichick era, so he never won a ring in New England. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2014 season. The pick the Patriots received in return was used on future Super Bowl hero Trey Flowers.

WR Wes Welker

FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 10: Wes Welker #83 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball off of a punt against the Houston Texans during the game at Gillette Stadium on December 10, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Years with Patriots: 2007-2012

The Patriots traded for Welker prior to the 2007 season. He arrived as a projected return specialist who would offer wide receiver depth. Instead, he became one of the most dominant receivers in the league. From 2007-2012, Welker caught 672 passes, nearly 100 more than the next closest player in the NFL in that span. He’s still the Patriots’ all-time reader in receptions and ranks third in yards. His tenure in New England helped revolutionize the slot receiver position league-wide.