Pro Football Hall of Fame limits the list of contributors to 25 for the class of 2025

Next step: Vote reduction for nine semi-finalists

Twenty-five candidates in the Contributor category have moved one step closer to election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, presented by Visual Edge IT.

The Hall’s Blue-Ribbon Committee compiled an original list of 47 nominees for these 25 individuals: KS “Bud” Adams, Roone Arledge, Chris Berman, Howard Cosell, Otho Davis, John Facenda, Mike Giddings, Ralph Hay, Frank” Bucko” Kilroy, Don Klosterman, Eddie Kotal, Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, Rich McKay, John McVay, Art Modell, Lee Remmel, Eddie Robinson, Art Rooney Jr., Jerry Seeman, Seymour Siwoff, Amy Trask, Jim Tunney, Doug Williams and John Houten.

The Hall of Fame bylaws stipulate that committee members vote for 20 individuals at this stage of the selection process, but the bylaws also allow for additional candidates to advance in the event of a tie vote for the 20th position.

Each member of the Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee will cast an additional vote later this month to further narrow the list – this time to nine (9) semifinalists. The results will be announced in about two weeks.

Earlier this year, the Hall of Fame revised its bylaws, starting with the Class of 2025. Among the changes: a split of the Coach/Contributor category, which had been combined for the past few election cycles. Both categories now send nominees through their respective Blue-Ribbon committees before candidates are considered by the full selection committee. The Blue-Ribbon Committees consist of nine (9) persons: seven (7) who are also members of the full Selection Committee and two (2) others who have full voting rights for this subcommittee only.

Through a series of reduction votes over several weeks, the Blue-Ribbon Committee will select one (1) finalist for the Class of 2025. There is no waiting period (mandatory retirement) for contributor candidates to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame .

Below are brief biographies of the 25 candidates remaining in the Contributor category to be considered as members of the Class of 2025.

• KS “Bud” Adams: During his 54 years as founder, owner, chairman of the board, president and CEO of the Titans/Oilers franchise, Adams was a pivotal figure in the NFL.
• Roone Arledge: Television industry executive and producer whose creativity, leadership and technical innovations revolutionized the presentation of both news and sports.
• Chris Berman: One of America’s most respected, popular and, in many ways, best-loved sportscasters.
• Howard Cosell: Cosell was a member of ABC’s original “Monday Night Football” broadcast team, working with football legends Don Meredith and Frank Gifford from 1970 to 1983.
• Otho Davis: Was associate athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts in 1971 and head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973-1995.
• John Facenda: Facenda began his career at NFL Films in 1965 until his death in 1984 at age 71, narrating numerous films and weekly highlights packages.
• Mike Giddings: Former player, coach and scout who founded the NFL talent evaluation and analysis company called Proscout.
• Ralph Hay: Owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918-1922 and hosted the NFL’s founding meeting at his car dealership in downtown Canton.
• Frank “Bucko” Kilroy: Worked in player personnel and scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He served as Patriots general manager from 1979 to 1982 and as vice president from 1983 to 1993.
• Don Klosterman: Built successful teams in three leagues (Chargers, Chiefs and Oilers in the AFL; Colts and Rams of the NFL; and the LA Express in the USFL).
• Eddie Kotal: Scout for the Los Angeles Rams from 1947-1961 and was one of the first to scout black colleges and universities.
• Robert Kraft: Owner, chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots from 1994 to present.
• Virginia McCaskey: Owner of the Chicago Bears from 1983 to present.
• Rich McKay: general manager, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1994-2003; general manager, Atlanta Falcons, 2003-2008; president/CEO, Atlanta Falcons, 2008 to present.
• John McVay: Joined the 49ers in 1979 as the team’s director of player personnel and spent 21 seasons there, ultimately overseeing five Super Bowl-winning seasons as vice president/director of football operations.
• Art Modell: Owner of the Cleveland Browns from 1961-1995 and Baltimore Ravens from 1996-2011.
• Lee Remmel: Sportswriter and columnist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette for 29 years, Green Bay Packers public relations director from 1974-2004 and Packers historian from 2004-2007.
• Eddie Robinson: Credited with sending dozens of players to the NFL as a coach at HBCU Grambling State.
• Art Rooney Jr.: with the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1961; from 1964 to 1986 he worked in the Steelers scouting department. Currently vice president of Steelers and member of the board of directors.
• Jerry Seeman: Worked as a linesman, head linesman, umpire and umpire in a career that spanned 1975-2000.
• Seymour Siwoff: Owner and president of Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the NFL, from 1952-2019.
• Amy Trask: CEO of the Oakland Raiders from 1997-2013.
• Jim Tunney: NFL official from 1960-1991. Worked as a field judge from 1960 to 1967 and as a referee from 1968 to 1991.
• Doug Williams: Career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978-82) and Washington Redskins (1986-89) included a historic moment as the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl (XXII) with an MVP performance; credited with creating opportunities for future black athletes.
• John Wooten: Director of professional scouting for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975-1991. Created player development programs for the NFL in 1991. Vice President/Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 and Assistant Director, Pro/College Scouting for the Baltimore Ravens until his retirement in 2002.