Junior Seau, Kurt Warner headline 2015 NFL Hall of Fame finalists
The late Junior Seau and two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner are among the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists.
Former St. Louis Rams left tackle Orlando Pace is also one of the 15 candidates up for induction into Canton.
Seau was an eight-time first-team All-Pro, and was named to 12 consecutive Pro Bowls as a member of the San Diego Chargers. Known for his ferocious run-stopping ability and skill in coverage, Seau was arguably the best linebacker of the 1990s.
He retired in 2009 for the second time as a member of the New England Patriots.
Tragically, Seau committed suicide on May 2, 2012 at the age of 43.
Warner was the centerpiece of the Greatest Show on Turf-era St. Louis Rams, winning Super Bowl MVP honors in 2000. The 43-year-old was named the league MVP in 1999 and 2001, and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.
In a stint with Arizona, Warner almost led the team to its first Super Bowl win in franchise history, but the Cardinals were upended by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
Pace protected Warner during the Rams' glory years at the turn of the century and is considered by some to be one of the best offensive tackles of his generation. The 39-year-old captured a Super Bowl with the Rams, was a five-time first-team All-Pro selection and was named to the Pro Bowl in seven consecutive years (1999-2005).
The rest of the 2015 class
Morten Andersen played in the most games in NFL history, and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. The Danish-born kicker retired in 2007.
Jerome Bettis, nicknamed "The Bus," was one of the most bruising, powerful running backs of the 1990s and 2000s, and was named to the Pro Bowl six times. Bettis won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers and promptly retired afterwards.
Tim Brown starred for the Oakland Raiders from 1988-2003, and played his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown's explosive playmaking ability made him one of the best receivers the league has ever seen. He retired holding multiple NFL records.
Don Coryell was best known for his contributions to the passing game as head coach of the Chargers. His offense, known as "Air Coryell," gave importance to vertical, downfield routes and was the forefather of the modern passing-oriented NFL of today.
Terrell Davis won NFL MVP honors in 1998, and is one of seven players to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Davis won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos in 1997 and 1998.
Tony Dungy was one of the best defensive minds of his generation, and became the first African-American to win a Super Bowl as a head coach with the Indianapolis Colts. Dungy is largely responsible for the promotion of defensive-oriented coaches in the NFL.
Kevin Greene ranks third all-time on the NFL career sacks list with 160, and was a pass-rushing nightmare throughout the 1980s and '90s. Greene was named to five Pro Bowls over a nine-year span.
Charles Haley was one of the most enigmatic characters in the history of the NFL, but was one of the most successful as well. Haley won five Super Bowls as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, was named to the Pro Bowl five times and recorded 100 career sacks.
Marvin Harrison spent the entirety of his career with the Colts, and formed the greatest quarterback-receiver partnership of all-time alongside Peyton Manning, catching 114 touchdowns from the league's reigning MVP. Harrison won a Super Bowl with the Colts in 2006, and his 143 catches in 2002 stand as the NFL single-season record.
Jimmy Johnson coached the Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993, defeating the Buffalo Bills both times. Johnson sported a 80-64 record for his NFL coaching career.
John Lynch was one of the most fearsome safeties to ever play the game, and mixed his hard-hitting play with an excellent ability to find the ball. Lynch was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.
Bill Polian was the architect of the 1990s Buffalo Bills, helping build the infrastructure for four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Polian also helped build the Peyton Manning-era Colts, winning one Super Bowl as general manager.
Will Shields was one of the most dominant guards of his generation, and was named to the Pro Bowl 12 times in 14 seasons. Shields spent the entirety of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mick Tingelhoff was named as the senior finalist for the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Tingelhoff was named to the Pro Bowl six times as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Ron Wolf is most famous for his stint as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers, winning a Super Bowl in 1996. He was selected as a finalist for the Hall of Fame as a contributor.