The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced that it has trimmed its list of 2025 candidates in the Contributor category from 47 to 25. Two Grambling State and HBCU legends are still in the mix: former Tiger head coach Eddie Robinson and his quarterback Doug Williams have both made the cut. Below is a press release courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame explaining the process and the next steps for these HBCU greats on their path to Canton.
Canton, OH – Twenty-five candidates in the Contributor category have moved one step closer to election for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 presented by Visual Edge IT.
The Hall’s Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee trimmed an original list of 47 nominees to these 25 individuals: K.S. “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 Wooten.
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 proceed in the case of any tie votes for the 20th position.
Each Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee member will cast an additional ballot later this month to reduce the list further — this time to nine (9) semifinalists. Results will be announced in about two weeks.
Earlier this year, the Hall of Fame revised its bylaws beginning with the Class of 2025. Among the changes: a split of the Coach/Contributor category, which had been combined over the past few election cycles. Both categories now will send nominees through respective Blue-Ribbon Committees before candidates are considered by the full Selection Committee. The Blue-Ribbon Committees are comprised of nine (9) individuals: seven (7) who also are members of the full Selection Committee and two (2) others who hold full voting rights for this subcommittee only.
Through a sequence 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 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
About Eddie Robinson and Doug Williams
• Eddie Robinson: Credited with sending dozens of players to the NFL as coach at the HBCU Grambling State.
• Doug Williams: Career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978-1982) and Washington Redskins (1986-89) included historic moment as first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl (XXII) with an MVP performance; credited with creating opportunities for future Black and HBCU athletes, Played foe Eddie Robinson at Grambling State.