The NFL released the list of modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 on Thursday. A total of 102 have made it onto the list including 91 players and 11 coaches.
There are four first-time candidates on the list: tight end Tony Gonzalez, linebacker London Fletcher, cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Ed Reed.
Ed Reed (20) of the Baltimore Ravens gestures during the second half of the 47th Super Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana. /VCG Photo
During his prime, the Baltimore Ravens safety was often called a "ball hawk" and still holds the NFL record for the two longest interception returns (106 yards in 2004 and 107 yards in 2008). He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, played in nine Pro Bowls was an eight-time All-Pro.
Gonzalez, a 14-time Pro Bowler, is the league's record holder for total receiving yards (15,127) and only missed two games during his 17-year career. Since the 2000 season, Gonzalez made 1,145 receptions and only fumbled once. The former Kansas City Chiefs tight end was also a 10-time All-Pro selection.
Cornerback Champ Bailey (24) of the Denver Broncos reacts in the first quarter of the 48th Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. /VCG Photo
Bailey played in 12 Pro Bowls during his career, which is a record for cornerbacks. He made the longest interception return in a postseason game without scoring (100 yards) during a game against the New England Patriots on January 14, 2006. Bailey also became the youngest player to intercept three passes in a game at the age of 21.
Fletcher played in four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro selection. He is one of only five players in NFL history to play over 250 consecutive games, and make 215 consecutive starts.
London Fletcher (59) of the Buffalo Bills tries to fire up the crowd after Buffalo's first touchdown against the Washington Redskins on October 19, 2003, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. /VCG Photo
The 102-member list will be stripped down to 25 in November and carry the names of the final 15 in January 2019. On February 2, 2019, the 15 modern-era finalists will join the newly named senior finalist, Johnny Robinson, and the contributor finalists, Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt, in front of the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee who will decide the members of the new class in their annual "Selection Saturday" meeting one day before the 53rd Super Bowl.
The 15 modern-era finalists will be downsized to 10 and then to five before facing a vote from the committee. Similar to the voting process of the senior finalist and the contributor finalists, the votes will include only "Yes" and "No," while one needs at least 80 percent of "Yes" votes to enter the 2019 Class.
(Top picture: Tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on October 4, 2004, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. /VCG Photo)