Three former Pittsburgh Steelers are among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
That list includes guard Alan Faneca, linebacker Kevin Greene and Tony Dungy, a former safety and Steelers assistant coach, although Faneca likely has the best chance of the three of finding his way to Canton one day.
Faneca was a Steelers first-round draft pick out of LSU in 1998 and played 10 of his 13 NFL seasons with the Steelers where he became one of the franchise’s best offensive linemen in history.
The Steelers were a dominant running team for most of the Bill Cowher era thanks largely in part for being able to run behind Faneca. On the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, Faneca made nine Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro six times, and made the All-Decade Team of the 2000’s. He also was voted to the Steelers’ All-Time Team in 2007.
Faneca was as durable as he was productive, missing just two starts in 10 seasons. He was the anchor for an offense that helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL.
While I don’t know if I can make a case for him being a first ballot Hall of Famer, Faneca will get in in the next couple of years.
Greene was one of the NFL’s best at getting to the quarterback from 1985 to ’97 for four teams. He finished his career with 160 sacks, third on the career list when he retired, and made the 1990’s All-Decade Team.
He is no stranger to being a finalist as he has made it this far a few times now. Greene played 15 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Steelers for from 1993-95 and is a fringe candidate at best.
Dungy won the 2007 Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts, the first black coach to win the NFL championship. He played for the Steelers in 1977 and 1978 and joined Chuck Noll’s staff as secondary coach in 1981, eventually becoming defensive coordinator under Noll.
The other finalist are: quarterback Brett Favre, wide receiver Terrell Owens, kicker Morten Anderson, safeties John Lynch and Steve Atwater, coach Don Coryell, running backs Edgerrin James and Terrell Davis, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, tackles Orlando Pace and Joe Jacoby and quarterback Kurt Warner.
Favre and Owens are in their first year of eligibility.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum of 80 percent of the votes. A maximum of eight inductees are allowed per year.
The 2016 class will be elected and announced Feb. 6, the day before Super Bowl 50.
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