Seymour, Boselli headline 2022 Hall of Fame class

The 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Thursday at the NFL Honors award show.

The group, which didn't feature any former players in the first year of eligibility, includes Richard Seymour, Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Bryant Young, and Sam Mills.

Cliff Branch (seniors category), Dick Vermeil (coaching category), and Art McNally (contributors category) also join the list.

Richard Seymour

Defensive lineman, New England Patriots-Oakland Raiders, 2001-12

Seymour was a key member in the Patriots' first three titles of the Bill Belichick era. His versatility and dominance on the defensive line allowed him to play at a high level regardless of the system. Seymour earned five Pro Bowl berths with the Patriots before adding two more All-Star nods to his resume over four seasons with the Raiders. Seymour retired with 57.5 sacks and was selected to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team.

Tony Boselli

Offensive tackle, Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995-2001

Boselli's career didn't last long, but he performed at an extremely high level during most of his pro years. The former second overall pick, who was chosen for the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team, made the Pro Bowl in five of the six seasons in which he played more than 10 games. Boselli made 90 starts at left tackle throughout his career.

LeRoy Butler

Safety, Green Bay Packers, 1990-2001

Butler's time has finally come. The Packers legend, who was the first player in NFL history to amass at least 20 career interceptions and sacks, had been a finalist for the Hall of Fame in each of the last three years. A key member of Green Bay's Super Bowl XXXI-winning team, Butler retired with four Pro Bowl and four All-Pro nods.

Sam Mills

Linebacker, New Orleans Saints-Carolina Panthers, 1986-1997

Mills finally got the call after being a finalist the last three years. The Saints legend was an undrafted free agent but retired as a five-time Pro Bowler after helping make New Orleans' defense one of the NFL's best. In his prime, Mills was a key member of the Saints' acclaimed "Dome Patrol" defensive unit. He retired with 1,265 tackles.

Bryant Young

Defensive lineman, San Francisco 49ers, 1994-2007

Young had only been a finalist only twice in 10 years of eligibility, but his career was nothing short of spectacular. The former first-round pick, who was a member of the NFL's 1990s All-Decade team, earned four Pro Bowl berths and retired with 89.5 sacks. The 1999 Comeback Player of the Year also helped San Francisco win Super Bowl XXIX.

Cliff Branch (seniors category)

Wide receiver, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1972-86

Branch was one of the most dangerous deep-ball threats of his era, and his big-play potential made him a key member of the Raiders in winning their three Super Bowl titles from 1976-83. The former fourth-round pick twice led the league in touchdown catches, and he retired with a whopping 17.3 yards per reception to go along with four Pro Bowl and three first-team All-Pro nods.

Dick Vermeil (coaching category)

Head coach, Philadelphia Eagles-St. Louis Rams-Kansas City Chiefs, 1976-82/1997-2005

After a solid short stint in college football at UCLA, Vermeil took his knowledge to the NFL and significantly impacted all three teams he coached throughout his career. Overall, he posted a 120-109 regular-season record and guided the Eagles and Rams to a Super Bowl appearance, lifting the Lombardi Trophy with the latter.

Art McNally (contributors category)

McNally is considered "The Father of Modern Officiating" for a reason. He served as an NFL official for nine years (1959-67) before becoming a supervisor of officials, which he held until retiring for the first time in 1991. McNally is credited with bringing technology to NFL officiating, introducing an instant replay system to the league in the '80s.