Former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ defensive standouts Tedy Bruschi and Lance Briggs were nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the fourth straight time. Bruschi and Briggs were first nominated for the 2022 class.Â
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced for its 2025 class on Thursday.
Bruschi and Briggs are in the same nomination group as Eli Manning, Marshawn Lynch, Antonio Gates, Adam Vinatieri, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Darren Sproles, Steven Jackson, Eddie George, Donovan McNabb, Terrell Suggs, Chad Johnson, Antonio Cromartie and Rodney Harrison, among several others.Â
Bruschi, a three-time Super Bowl winner, played every season of his 13-year NFL career with the New England Patriots, which drafted the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1996. Bruschi finished his NFL career with 1,074 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 12 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries.Â
People are also reading…
After suffering a mild stroke following the 2005 Pro Bowl, Bruschi returned to the Patriots halfway through the 2005-06 season and was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year; he also received the Best Comeback Athlete ESPY.Â
Bruschi retired in 2008 after the Patriots' Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants in Glendale, and is currently an NFL analyst on ESPN. Bruschi was recently a senior advisor for the UA football coaching staff under former head coach Jedd Fisch.Â
Briggs, who played linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 2003-14, recorded 1,181 tackles, 15 sacks, 16 interceptions and 16 forced fumbles, and was a seven-time Pro Bowler from 2005-11.Â
During the Bears run to the Super Bowl in 2005, Briggs was a first-team All-Pro linebacker. Briggs finished his NFL career earning just over $52.2 million.
Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be announced at a later date.Â
The Pro Football Hall of Fame 2025 class will be enshrined in August in Canton, Ohio.Â
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports