Two Steelers Named 2024 Hall Of Fame Semi-Finalists

It was announced that two former Pittsburgh Steelers stars are on the shortlist to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.  Wide receiver Hines Ward and outside linebacker James Harrison were among the 25 modern-era players who may become a part of the Hall of Fame.

Ward and Harrison were on the list before, and the fans still have to wait to see if they'll make the next cut when the list gets shortened to 15 names. Fans can also bet on who will get into the Hall of Fame using crypto betting sites, with different odds for each player.

Hines Ward

Hines Ward was a third-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, and he remained on the Steelers for 14 seasons until he retired in 2012. Ward ranks 14th in league history with an even 1,000 receptions, 27th with 12,083 receiving yards, and 19th with 85 receiving touchdowns.

He's a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Super Bowl Champion, and even took home Super Bowl XL MVP honors. In September 2019, Ward began his coaching career and was hired by the New York Jets as a full-time offensive assistant.

James Harrison

James Harrison was an undrafted addition to the Steelers in the spring of 2002 and became one of the best defenders of his era. He ranks 20th all-time in career tackles for loss in the NFL and 18th in forced fumbles.

Harris is also a two-time All-Pro selection, five-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl Champion, and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year from his 16-year career with the Steelers, Bengals, and Patriots. Harrison retired in 2018 after 15 NFL seasons. Harrison played Apocalypse on Heels and appeared on the SWAT in Season 2, playing a minor but memorable character.

What's next in the Selection Process?

The semi-finalist list will be trimmed down further in the next step of the NFL Hall of Fame selection process.  It should include 15 modern-era players who will be the finalists. The list is then increased to 19 finalists, including the recommended Nominees of the Hall of Fame's Coach/Contributor Committee, Buddy Parker and its Seniors Committee, Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael, and Art Powell.

The Committee will select the Class of 2024 before the Super Bowl is held in Las Vegas. The event is scheduled for February 8th, 2024. There's no limit to how many players can be introduced each year, but somewhere between four and nine players are usually selected.

This step in the selection process for the Class of 2024 was completed with oversight from Ernst & Young LLP, a Hall partner since 2019.  EY's Agreed-Upon Procedures for this stage of the process included validating the completeness of the ballots and tabulating the ballots by the bylaws established by the Hall of Fame's Board of Trustees.

What are the Odds? 

Hines Ward and James Harrison were on the semi-finalist list before and didn't make the cut. For Ward, this is the 8th year on the list; for Harrison, it's the second. It's a great lineup this year, and it's never easy to predict which player will make it to the Hall of Fame because many deserve it.

At the same time, it's difficult to find patterns in what qualities the Committee is looking for when admitting new players to the Hall of Fame. This means that online gambling establishments set up odds for each player, but don't mean that much.

How Are Players Selected for The NFL Hall of Fame?

Anyone can nominate a player for the NFL Hall of Fame simply by writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The only restriction is for the player to be retired for at least five years at the time of writing. The Committee will consider every nominee that meets this criteria.

There are four tiers of the selection process, with the list getting shorter after every tier. Once the list is reduced to the final 19 players, the Committee will study their biographies, and each finalist will be individually discussed at the annual meeting of the Selection Committee.

To be elected, a Finalist must receive a minimum of 80% of the vote. All ballots are collected and counted by an accounting firm. No vote totals are announced – only the winners of the various reduction ballots are revealed to the Selectors and the Hall's representatives.

Hall of Fame and Teams

Teams are always proud of their stars entering the NFL Hall of Fame, but it's important to note that the players are selected on their own merit regardless of the team's results.  This can lead to the players being introduced even though the teams they played for didn't achieve noticeable results.

However, in most cases, what was a great year for players was also an excellent year for the team.  Both Hines Ward and James Harrison played huge roles in the Steelers' success during their era, and the fans are excited about their chances of becoming enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame

Pittsburgh Steelers already have their share of the greats enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. We'll go over just a few of the biggest names.

Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw, born September 2nd, 1948, was the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Steelers' success in the 1970s.  He won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV) with the Steelers and earned two Super Bowl MVP awards.  Bradshaw retired in 1983 and continued his career as a sports analyst, actor, and country singer.

Franco Harris

Franco Harris, born on March 7th, 1950, was a star running back for the Steelers from 1972 to 1983. Harris played a key role in winning four Super Bowls for the Steelers. A nine-time Pro Bowler, he retired as the NFL's third all-time leading rusher. After retiring, Harris founded several charitable organizations. He passed away in 2022.

Lynn Swann

Lynn Curtis Swann, born on March 7th, 1952, was a dynamic wide receiver for the Steelers from 1974 to 1982.  Swann was known for his acrobatics on the field and played a crucial role in the Steelers' Super Bowl victories. He was named Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl X. Swann served as the Athletic Director at the University of Southern California and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

John Stallworth

John Stallworth, born on July 15th, 1952, was a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 to 1987.  He played a crucial role in the team's four Super Bowl victories. A four-time Pro Bowler, Stallworth accumulated over 8,700 receiving yards and 63 touchdowns during his illustrious career. Stallworth's iconic moments include a touchdown in Super Bowl XIV.  After retiring, Stallworth founded a successful construction company.

To Sum Up

Hines Ward and James Harrison are semi-finalists for being introduced to the NFL Hall of Fame 2024.  Both players were Pittsburgh Steeler legends and were on the shortlist before. New members will be announced just before the Super Bowl.

The process for selecting Hall of Fame members is based on the performance of each individual player and not their teams, and it's comprehensive and carefully monitored.