The Hall of Fame Committee has whittled the list of nominees for the Class of 2016 from 108 players to just 25. The list will be further reduced to 15 in January, while the final decisions will be made on January 31st, prior to Super Bowl 50.
The New England Patriots have one player in the final 25 with cornerback Ty Law making the semifinal round for the second time. Law spent a decade with the Patriots from 1995-2004, winning three Super Bowls, playing in four, and earning two All Pro distinctions and four Pro Bowl nods.
Law went on to play five more seasons for the Jets, Chiefs, and Broncos, including earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2005 with the Jets after leading the league in interceptions.
The Patriots great is a long shot due to the depth and quality of other players up for nomination, including first year players in quarterback Brett Favre, wide receiver Terrell Owens, and offensive guard Alan Faneca. Other names for consideration include legendary coaches Don Coryell and Jimmy Johnson, as well as Greatest Show on Turf quarterback Kurt Warner and tackle Orlando Pace.
Buccaneers legend John Lynch, who spent an offseason with the Patriots, is also up for nomination. The full list of semifinalists can be found here.