Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and linebacker/defensive end Kevin Greene are once again another step closer to making it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as both were among the 26 Class of 2015 semifinalists that were named on Tuesday.
Normally only 25 semifinalists are named at this stage of the process, but a 2-way tie meant that the list grew by one this year. The Selection Committee chose the 26 semifinalists from the previously announced list of 113 preliminary nominees.
The list of 26 semifinalists that was announced on Tuesday will next be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists. That list increases to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee.
Bettis has now been a finalist the last four years in a row and this marks the eighth time that Greene has advanced to the semifinalist stage for potential induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bettis played 10 seasons in Pittsburgh after playing his first 3 seasons in Los Angeles and St. Louis with the Rams. He currently ranks sixth on the all-time rushing yardage list with 13,662 yards.
Greene played 15 seasons in the NFL and 3 in Pittsburgh with Steelers from 1993-1995. He ranks 3rd on the all-time sack leader list with 160 and recorded 35.5 of the sacks while a member of the Steelers.
The other semifinalists are: QB Kurt Warner; RBs Edgerrin James, Terrell Davis and Roger Craig WRs Tim Brown, Isaac Bruce, Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt; OL Orlando Pace, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Kevin Mawae and Will Shields; DBs Steve Atwater, John Lynch, Ty Law, and Darren Woodson; LBs Junior Seau, and Karl Mecklenburg; DEs Charles Haley; K Morten Andersen and Coaches Jimmy Johnson and Don Coryell.
