The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced five Blue-Ribbon Committee finalists for the Class of 2025 on Tuesday.
The three senior players, one coach and one contributor will join the 25 modern-era players still under consideration ahead of the final class announcement the week of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Not among the five is former Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. Instead, the committee chose former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren.
Coughlin won three Super Bowls with the Giants, one as an assistant and two as the head coach, including twice defeating the mighty New England Patriots that were led by future Hall of Famers Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. He finished his career with a 170-150 record as a head coach.
Holmgren won two Super Bowls as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers and then one with Green Bay as head coach. He finished his career with a 161-111 record.
Holmgren’s legacy includes former assistants Andy Reid and Jon Gruden going on to win Super Bowls with other teams after their time in Green Bay.
Coughlin is very early in his Hall of Fame eligibility and was named as one of nine head coaches to be semifinalists. After making it that far, he should have a significant chance at induction next year.
Only those with at least 80 percent of the votes (maximum three finalists) from the five Blue-Ribbon Committee finalists will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. If none receive at least 80 percent, then the highest vote-getter will be inducted.
The finalists include Holmgren, Ralph Hay (contributor category), Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer (senior category).
