5 closer to joining Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027

CANTON, Ohio (WOIO) - Five former NFL coaches are now closer to joining the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027.

On Thursday, the Hall of Fame announced that the members of the Coach Subcommittee narrowed down their list from 14 nominees to five for the Coach category.

Former Cleveland Browns coach Bill Belichick is among the nominees selected.

Belichick spent part of his NFL coaching career in Cleveland, coaching the Browns from 1991 to 1995, the Hall of Fame said. In 2000, Belichick became the New England Patriots’ head coach, where he led the team to six Super Bowl titles.

In his 48 years as an NFL coach, Belichick had a career record of 333-178, including playoffs; he ended his coaching career in 2023.

Nominee Tom Coughlin served as a head coach in the NFL for 20 years, working with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants. Coughlin led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles as head coach and also won a title as the team’s assistant coach, the Hall of Fame said.

Former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren was also one of the five selected for the Coach category, the Hall of Fame said. Holmgren won a ring in two Super Bowl trips with the Packers and appeared in another Super Bowl with the Seahawks.

Dan Reeves served as the head coach for the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons from 1981 to 2003. The nominee led the Broncos three times to the Super Bowl and appeared in one with the Falcons, the Hall of Fame said.

Nominee Mike Shanahan led the Denver Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles as the team’s head coach from 1995 to 2008, the Hall of Fame said. Shanahan was also a head coach for the Los Angeles Raiders and the Washington Redskins.

On Nov. 17, the Coach Subcommittee will meet again to discuss the coaches selected and choose one candidate to present to the full Selection Committee for consideration when ballots are cast for the new class of enshrinees, the Hall of Fame said.

As reduction voting is taking place for the Players and Contributor categories this week, the Hall of Fame announced the five nominees who have advanced in the Contributor category on Wednesday.

The Hall of Fame named Ralph Hay, Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, Doug Williams and John Wooten as those who have advanced in the Contributor category.

Fifteen finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting in 2027: 13 modern-era players, one coach and one contributor.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2027 Class will be announced at “NFL Honors” in Los Angeles in February and then will be enshrined in Canton in August.