The list of nominees for the 2025 class was recently trimmed to 118 total names in multiple categories.
Back in September, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced a list of over 400 individuals nominated to receive the sport’s highest individual honor in 2025. Over the last week, that list was reduced in a first round of cuts, bringing it down to 118 still standing in the race for the famous golden jackets.
Split into four distinct categories — modern-era player, senior player, coach, contributor — a total of 15 men associated with the New England Patriots find themselves on the list.
(M = Modern era, S = Senior, * = offseason member only)
Offensive nominees
TE Ben Coates (M), RB Chuck Foreman (S), WR Torry Holt* (M), G Logan Mankins (M), WR Stanley Morgan (S), QB Jim Plunkett (S), RB Fred Taylor (M), WR Reggie Wayne* (M)
The offensive nominees who advanced to the next round include some of the best players in Patriots history. Ben Coates already is a member of the franchise’s Hall of Fame, while Logan Mankins and Stanley Morgan have strong cases for Hall of Fame consideration given the individual accolades they earned during their playing careers.
Jim Plunkett and Fred Taylor, meanwhile, did not earn their Hall of Fame credentials as members of the Patriots but still spent multiple years with the organization. Chuck Foreman, meanwhile, had a one-year stint in New England at the tail-end of their careers. Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, meanwhile, retired shortly after joining the team as offseason pickups; they never wore a Patriots uniform in an actual game.
Among those not making the cut are several franchise greats such as Gino Cappelletti, Bruce Armstrong and Wes Welker.
Defensive nominees
LB James Harrison (M), S Rodney Harrison (M), DT Vince Wilfork (M)
While former Patriots captains Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest were among the nominees not making it through the latest round of cuts, two other cornerstones of the Patriots’ dynasty did: Rodney Harrison and Vince Wilfork are both still in the race, with the former in particular long overdue when it comes to receiving the honor.
James Harrison, meanwhile, falls into the Chuck Foreman category: he ended his career in New England, playing four games for the team in 2017. His case, like the other Harrison’s, appears to be a strong one.
Special teams nominees
K Nick Lowery (S), K Adam Vinatieri (M)
Adam Vinatieri seems like a safe bet to make it to Canton one day, possibly as early as 2025. A member of the team’s early dynasty, he kicked the game-winning field goals in the organization’s first two Super Bowl wins and is one of the best kickers in league history.
Nick Lowery, on the other hand, wore the then-red, white and blue for the first two of his 268 career games.
Coach/Contributor nominees
Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft
Both Bucko Kilroy and Robert Kraft have been at this point before without either making the Hall of Fame. Both have strong résumés, though, with the former having a successful career as an executive and helping create the Scouting Combine, and the latter being the only NFL owner with six Super Bowl rings.
In subsequent voting rounds, the number of nominees will be reduced further. In total, 15 modern-era players, three seniors as well as one coach and contributor each will make it to the final round. The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will then be announced in advance of Super Bowl LVIX next February.