The five years needed from retirement to eligibility will pass for these all-time great NFL players, who range from an all-time wide receiver in Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald to Super Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. There are some possible first-time ballot Hall of Famers on this list on both sides of the ball.

The long wait finally ended for Eric Allen on a week when the Eagles, the team that drafted him, are playing in the Super Bowl. The former Eagles cornerback, eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame longer than the other 14 modern-era finalists for the 2025 class,

Four new NFL legends are headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former defensive end Jared Allen, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, former cornerback Eric Allen and former San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates all got the call that they will be getting their gold jackets.