Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb, who spent parts of their careers as quarterbacks of the Vikings, were among 94 players and coaches announced Wednesday night as Modern-Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2017.
Cunningham played three seasons for the Vikings (1997-99), highlighted by his leadership of Minnesota's historic 556-point, 15-win season.
McNabb, who ended his career in Minnesota in 2011, was among several players in their first year of eligibility. The group also included running back LaDainian Tomlinson, receiver Hines Ward and defensive end Jason Taylor.
The breakdown of the 94 nominees included 45 offensive players, 32 defensive players, six special teams players and 11 coaches. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will reduce the list to 25 semifinalists in November and to 15 finalists in January.
The 48-member committee will review 18 finalists (the 15 will be joined by Senior Finalist Kenny Easley and 2017 Contributor Finalists Jerry Jones and Paul Tagliabue) on the eve of Super Bowl LI in Houston.
The committee will choose between four and eight new members.
The Class of 2017 will be announced during the "NFL Honors" nationally broadcast award show on Feb. 4 and formally enshrined next August.
MODERN-ERA NOMINEES FOR THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017
*Finalist in 2016; Underline indicates first year of eligibility (Players and coaches must have last played coached at least five full seasons to be eligible for nomination. Therefore, any individual who last played or coached in 2011 are eligible for the first time in 2017).
BY POSITION
QUARTERBACKS (7)
Drew Bledsoe, Randall Cunningham, Doug Flutie, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Phil Simms, *Kurt Warner
RUNNING BACKS (13)
Shaun Alexander, Ottis Anderson, Tiki Barber, Larry Centers, Roger Craig, *Terrell Davis, Eddie George, *Edgerrin James, Daryl Johnston, Eric Metcalf (also WR/PR/KR), LaDainian Tomlinson, Herschel Walker (also KR), Ricky Watters
WIDE RECEIVERS (10)
Isaac Bruce, Henry Ellard (also PR), Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason (also KR/PR), *Terrell Owens, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Hines Ward
TIGHT END (1)
Mark Bavaro
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (14)
Tony Boselli (T), Ray Donaldson (C), *Alan Faneca (G), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), *Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), Olin Kreutz (C), Jim Lachey (T), Kevin Mawae (C/G), Tom Nalen (C), Nate Newton (G), Steve Wisniewski (G)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5)
Leslie O'Neal (DE), Simeon Rice (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT), Jason Taylor (DE), Bryant Young (DT)
LINEBACKERS (11)
Carl Banks, Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, Seth Joyner, Levon Kirkland, Clay Matthews Jr., Willie McGinest (also DE), Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Joey Porter, Zach Thomas
DEFENSIVE BACKS (16)
Eric Allen (CB), *Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Brian Dawkins (SS), Rodney Harrison (S), Ty Law (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), *John Lynch (S), Frank Minnifield (CB), Bob Sanders (SS), Darren Sharper (FS), Dennis Smith (SS), Troy Vincent (S), Everson Walls (CB), Darren Woodson (S)
KICKERS/PUNTER (4)
*Morten Andersen (K), Gary Anderson (K), Sean Landeta (P), Nick Lowery (K)
SPECIAL TEAMS (2)
Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Steve Tasker (ST also WR)
COACHES (11)
*Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil
