Pro Football Hall of Fame changes selection process ahead of Class of 2027

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is making major changes to how future classes are selected.

The Hall says its Selection Committee will shrink from 50 members to 28, and the annual selection meeting will return to an in-person format after six years.

The biggest change involves player eligibility. Instead of separating Modern-Era Players and Seniors, all eligible players will now compete in one pool after the required five-year retirement period.

The Hall is also changing how candidates are presented. One person who is not a member of the Selection Committee will make all initial presentations, and selectors will no longer be assigned to specific NFL teams.

The annual meeting will consider 13 Players, one Coach and one Contributor. Separate subcommittees will select the Coach and Contributor candidates.

The Contributor category is also being expanded so a candidate’s entire football résumé can be considered, including playing, coaching and other contributions to the sport.

The Hall says the changes follow a review that began about two-and-a-half years ago and are intended to strengthen the selection process ahead of the Class of 2027 election.