Pittsburgh Steelers legends Hines Ward and James Harrison are modern-era semifinalists for the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, it announced on Wednesday.
There are only 25 semifinalists on the list, and Ward and Harrison will have a chance to be finalists when the list is cut down to 15 in December.
The final vote will occur in February. As a result, the final class will come from the categories of contributor, senior’s committee, and the modern-era. Former Steelers scouting executive Art Rooney Jr. is a semifinalist in the contributor category.
Harrison was part of the legendary 2000s defenses that helped the Steelers win two straight Super Bowls. Known as “Deebo,” Harrison dominated the AFC North for years after the Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent.
In his third year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame, Harrison was a four-time All-Pro selection and retired as the franchise’s leader in sacks. Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt have since usurped that. Harrison won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers during his storied 14-year career with the team. The Korean-born Ward excelled as a blocker and receiver, earning the Super Bowl XL MVP and three All-Pro nods.
