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Don Van Natta Jr., ESPN Senior Writer
Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren was chosen as the coaching finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Tuesday.
In the seniors category, former Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe; Maxie Baughan, a linebacker who was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection in the 1960s for the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams; and Jim Tyrer, the gigantic offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1960s and 1970s, were named finalists.
Tyrer’s selection comes with controversy, as he died in a murder-suicide of his wife in 1980, but senior committee voters and his family members lobbied publicly for his induction.
In the contributors category, as ESPN first reported last month, the finalist is NFL co-founder Ralph Hay, the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1922. He is recognized for organizing the first meeting of teams that formed the American Professional Football Association, the precursor to the NFL.
Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots owner whose teams have won six Super Bowls, was snubbed for the 13th time by the nine voters on the contributors committee.
Holmgren and coach Mike Shanahan were believed to be the two most likely favorites to emerge from the coaches category this year. From 1992 to 1998, Holmgren coached the Packers, leading the team to six playoff appearances, three NFC Central titles and two NFC Championship Games. In two Super Bowls with the Packers, Holmgren led the Packers to a win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans but lost Super Bowl XXXII to the Denver Broncos in San Diego.
As the coach of the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008, he led the franchise to six postseason appearances and an NFC Championship Game. In Super Bowl XL, his Seahawks lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sharpe had a short but productive career for the Packers from 1988-94. His best season came in 1992, when he became the sixth player to win the receiving triple crown, setting an NFL record with 108 catches for 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns. He broke his own record with 112 catches in 1993 and led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in his final season (1994) before a neck injury cut his career short.
Sharpe and Baughan were never finalists during their time in the modern era category.
The five finalists will be voted on early next year by the full committee of 50 Hall of Fame voters. Eighty percent of the votes are needed for induction. Of the five finalists, a maximum of three will be inducted, according to new rules established this year by the Hall’s board of directors, based in Canton, Ohio. If none of the five finalists reaches the 80% threshold, then only the top vote-getter would be elected.
The selection committee will vote separately on 15 finalists from the modern era, with the 2025 inductees being announced during Super Bowl week in New Orleans in February.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com