Former Steelers guard Alan Faneca nominated for Hall of Fame

Guard Alan Faneca, who made seven of his nine Pro Bowls with the Steelers, joins a strong group of retired players eligible for the first time as candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Among others on the ballot for the first time are quarterback Brett Favre, wide receiver Terrell Owens and safety Lawyer Milloy.

Included among those nominated again are former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, former Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene, a 2015 finalist and former Steelers kicker Gary Anderson.

They are among 108 people under consideration for the Class of 2016 that will be inducted into Canton Aug. 6.

The nominees consist of 93 players and 15 coaches. The modern-era nominees will be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November and, from there, to 15 finalists in January. Those finalists will join the two seniors candidates, Ken Stabler and Dick Stanfel, and the contributor candidate, Ed DeBartolo Jr., for the vote that will take place Feb. 6 in San Francisco, the day before the Super Bowl, when the new class is elected.

The 108 modern-era nominees with first-year candidates in caps and returning 2015 finalists with asterisk:

QUARTERBACKS (6)

Drew Bledsoe, BRETT FAVRE, Steve McNair, Phil Simms, Vinny Testaverde, (ASTERISK)Kurt Warner

RUNNING BACKS (15)

Shaun Alexander, Ottis Anderson, Tiki Barber, Roger Craig, Stephen Davis, (ASTERISK)Terrell Davis, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, Edgerrin James, Daryl Johnston, Jamal Lewis, CLINTON PORTIS, Herschel Walker (also KR), Ricky Watters, BRIAN WESTBROOK

WIDE RECEIVERS (9)

Isaac Bruce, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard (also PR), (ASTERISK)Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, TERRELL OWENS, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith

TIGHT ENDS (2)

Mark Bavaro, Jay Novacek

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (19)

Tony Boselli (T), Jeff Bostic, Jim Covert (T), ALAN FANECA (G), Jay Hilgenberg (c), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull, Joe Jacoby (T), Jon Jansen (T), Mike Kenn (T), Jim Lachey (T), Kevin Mawae (C/G), Mark May (G/T/C), Tom Nalen (c), Nate Newton (G), (ASTERISK)Orlando Pace (T), Chris Samuels (T), Mark Schlereth (G), Steve Wisniewski (G)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6)

Dexter Manley (DE), Charles Mann (DE), Leslie O’Neal (DE), Simeon Rice (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT), Bryant Young (DT)

LINEBACKERS (13)

Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, KEITH BULLUCK, (ASTERISK)Kevin Greene (also DE), Ken Harvey, Levon Kirkland, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest (also DE), Karl Mecklenburg, Matt Millen, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, MIKE VRABEL

DEFENSIVE BACKS (14)

Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Rodney Harrison (S), Ty Law (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), (ASTERISK)John Lynch (S), LAWYER MILLOY (SS), DARREN SHARPER (FS), Shawn Springs (CB), Troy Vincent (CB/S), Everson Walls (CB), Darren Woodson (S)

KICKERS/PUNTER (6)

(ASTERISK)Morten Andersen (K), Gary Anderson (K), JOHN CARNEY (K), Jason Elam (K), Sean Landeta (P), Nick Lowery (K)

SPECIAL TEAMS/POSITION PLAYERS (3)

ETHAN ALBRIGHT (LS), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Steve Tasker (also WR)

COACHES (15)

(ASTERISK)Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, (ASTERISK)Tony Dungy, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, (ASTERISK)Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Pete Rodriguez, Lou Saban, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil

(c)2015 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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