Reggie Wayne is a finalist in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the fourth consecutive year and is eligible for the Gold Jacket alongside former teammate Dwight Freeney.
Wayne and Freeney are among 15 finalists in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2023 Modern Era class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Wednesday night. The 49-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will meet in the coming weeks to determine the 2023 Modern Era Hall of Fame inductees. Once her final five finalists have been chosen, a selection committee must vote for or against each player, with 80% of the votes required to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern Class will be announced at the NFL Honors Awards Show on February 9 at 9:00 PM ET.
This is Wayne’s fourth year as a finalist, but Freeney’s first and first year of qualification.
Wide receiver Andre Johnson, who played for the Colts in 2015, was also named a finalist in the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Freeney and Wayne are expected to join five other Hall of Famers from their Colts football days: General Manager Bill Polian (inducted in 2015) and Head Coach Tony Dungey (inducted in 2016). , wide receiver Marvin Harrison (2016), running back Egeryn James (2020) and quarterback Peyton Manning (2021).
FreeneyLeading the Colts from 2002 to 2012, finishing his career with 125 1/2 sacks, 26th all-time, 3x First Team AP All-Pro (2004, 2005, 2009), 7x Pro Bowler (2003-2005) Freeney was a nightmare using his signature spin move to counter offensive linemen and quarterbacks.
He recorded double-digit sacks in seven seasons and forced four or more fumbles in eight seasons. As a rookie he led his NFL with nine forced fumbles and his 20 tackles, and in 2004 he led the NFL with 16 sacks.
Freeney was also named to the prestigious NFL All-Decade Team in the 2000s.
WayneIn his 14-year career, he has established himself as one of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history. His 1,070 receptions and his 14,345 receptions in his yards both rank 10th all-time. He is one of only his 10 players to have at least 1,000 receptions and 14,000 receiving yards in his career.
But as productive as he was in the regular season, Wayne was dominant in the postseason. , and his 93 postseason receptions ranks fifth all-time.
In the Wild Card round of the 2004 NFL playoffs against the Denver Broncos, Wayne had 221 receiving yards, the fourth-most in a single game in postseason history. , ignited the Colts’ 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears that brought the Lombardi Trophy to Indianapolis.
Wayne was previously named a finalist in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for 2020-2022.
And in February, a selection committee will find out if Freeney and Wayne’s Hall of Fame-worthy careers will be honored with a gold jacket and a permanent place in Canton.