Two former Steelers are on the list of 25 Modern-Era Player Semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Wide receiver Hines Ward and linebacker James Harrison are among the 25 names.
For Ward, it’s the ninth time he’s made the semifinal round. Harrison has been on for three straight years.
Ward played his entire career in Pittsburgh between 1998-2011 and remains the Steelers All-time receiving leader with 1,000 catches for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns.
Harrison spent 14 years in Pittsburgh and is third on the Steelers all-time sack list with 80.5. He’s behind Cam Heyward (85.5) and T.J. Watt (1004).
Harrison also played in Cincinnati and New England during his career.
While Ward was a very good receiver, if he did enough during his career to be enshrined in Canton has been a longtime debate.
Ward is a Super Bowl MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is also a four-time Pro Bowler.
Harrison played a long time and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, a two-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, but his time as a dominant player was shorter than most in the Hall.
The list of 25 names will be cut to 15 in December. Four to eight new members of the Hall of Fame will be announced around the Super Bowl.