Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Jared Allen and Calvin Johnson are first-year eligible players to make the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2021.
Joining them are four players who previously have been eligible, but never made the semifinals: Eric Allen, Willie Anderson, Cornelius Bennett and Rodney Harrison.
Zach Thomas, the Miami Dolphins starting inside linebacker for 12 of his 13 seasons in the NFL, was also among the group of 25 announced Tuesday that includes Ronde Barber, Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Alan Faneca, Torry Holt, John Lynch, Clay Matthews, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Steve Tasker, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Patrick Willis, Darren Woodson and Bryant Young.