Colts.com Writer
Two Colts legends took the next step toward Canton on Saturday, as the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced kicker Adam Vinatieri and wide receiver Reggie Wayne among the 15 modern-era finalists for its Class of 2025.
Vinatieri was named a finalist in his first year of eligibility, and will look to join Morten Andersen (Class of 2017) and Jan Stenerud (Class of 1991) as the only true placekickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Wayne has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for all six of his years of eligibility, and despite being one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers in regular season and playoff history, he has not been tapped for a gold jacket yet.
Vinatieri, Wayne and the 13 other modern-era finalists will be considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame ahead of Super Bowl LVIX by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. The selection committee will examine and debate each player’s resume individually, and several votes take place – first whittling the finalists from 15 to 10, then from 10 to seven players. Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee then vote for five of the seven remaining finalists. A player is selected for enshrinement if he receives at least 80 percent of the final vote.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee is comprised of 49 voters: One Pro Football Writers of America representative from each NFL city (two from Los Angeles and two from New York), the current PFWA president and 16 at-large voters, a group that includes other writers and reporters as well as four Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees: Tony Dungy, Dan Fouts, James Lofton and Bill Polian.
Both Vinatieri and Wayne have strong cases to join in Canton several members of those great Colts teams of the 2000s, including quarterback Peyton Manning (Class of 2021), running back Edgerrin James (Class of 2020), wide receiver Marvin Harrison (Class of 2016) and defensive end Dwight Freeney (Class of 2024).
Vinatieri is widely regarded as one of the best kickers – if not the best kicker – in NFL history. No player has scored more points than Vinatieri (2,673), and he was a three-time first-team AP All-Pro in his 24-year career spent with the New England Patriots (1996-2005) and Colts (2006-2019). His clutch kicks in big moments made him a four-time Super Bowl champion, and he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2000s first team and the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
Wayne is one of nine players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions, 14,000 yards and 80 touchdowns, having surpassed those marks over his 211 regular season games with the Colts from 2001-2014. But for as good as Wayne was in the regular season, he shined in football’s biggest moments: His 93 receptions in the postseason are second-most in NFL history and his 1,243 yards are fourth.
Defensive end Robert Mathis, the NFL’s strip-sack king, was not named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Mathis has been a semifinalist in all four of his years of eligibility.
With Richardson not practicing this week, Flacco prepared as if he will start on Sunday against the Giants – though the Colts did not rule out Richardson on Friday, and the 22-year-old could still start in Week 17.
Ryan and Emma Kelly recently held a community baby shower at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center’s Gridiron Hall, providing over 300 expecting parents with essential items and information for before, during and after childbirth.
Taylor rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Taylor rushed for 218 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Colts’ 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.
Taylor rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Based on two games Saturday, the Colts could be eliminated from the playoffs in Week 17 – or they could be playing with a lot on the line in Week 18.
The Colts improved to 7-8 in 2024 with Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans, which for now keeps them in the hunt for an AFC playoff spot.
Taylor ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday as the Colts set a new single-game franchise record with 335 rushing yards.
Despite missing five games, Buckner’s 6.5 sacks rank seventh among defensive tackles this season.
The Colts play the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars in the final three games of the regular season.
The NFL made the scheduling announcement Tuesday. The game had previously been listed with a TBD kickoff date and time.
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