Julius Peppers, Antonio Gates headline finalists for football HOF

First-time nominees Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2024.

Peppers and Gates were announced Wednesday as finalists for their first year of eligibility. They will be joined on the 15-player ballot by receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, five-time finalists.

Seven other players returned as finalists, with Patrick Willis, Andre Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson and Devin Hester all returning at this stage.

Defensive backs Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison, running back Fred Taylor and offensive lineman Jahri Evans reached this stage for the first time after being semifinalists.

The 15 finalists will be narrowed down to 10 and then five at the selection meeting early next year. The five final candidates must receive 80% of the jury's votes to enter the room.

The four previously announced finalists are Buddy Parker in the coaching category and Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and Art Powell in the senior category. They will also be admitted if they obtain the support of at least 80% of voters.

The Class of 2024 will be announced at the NFL Honors Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 8, when the Associated Press 2023 season awards will also be announced.

Both Peppers and Gates were college basketball players before achieving their greatest success in football.

Peppers was one of the most dominant linemen in the league after being selected second overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2002 following a two-sport career at the University of North Carolina.

He had 12 sacks as a rookie and never really slowed down during a 17-year career that included stops in Chicago and Green Bay before ending up with the Panthers again. He was All-Pro in 2004, 2006 and 2010.

Peppers finished his career with 159.5 sacks – fourth-most since they became official in 1982. He had 10 seasons with double-digit sacks; only Hall of Famers Bruce Smith (13) and Reggie White (12) had more.

Gates only played basketball in college before becoming one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He switched to football after being drafted in basketball.

The Chargers took a chance, and it paid off as he became an All-Pro by his second season, in 2004. He was All-Pro again in the next two campaigns and continued to have a 16 years of career for the team.

Gates finished with 955 catches for 11,841 yards and an NFL record for tight ends with 116 touchdown receptions. Only Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten have more catches or receiving yards as a tight end.

The 15 finalists also include three prolific ones, with Johnson, Holt and Wayne all catching more than 900 passes and ranking in the top 20 for career yards.

Allen and Freeney rank in the top 20 all-time in sacks, and they have had four and three first-team All-Pro selections, respectively.

Willis (five), Evans (four), Anderson (three), Woodson (three), Hester (three) and Harrison (two) all enjoyed multiple first-team All-Pro selections.