Three former Steelers players are among the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2009.
Center Dermontti Dawson, linebacker Kevin Greene and cornerback Rod Woodson were selected as semifinalists by the Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors from a list of 133 preliminary nominees.
The three will now have to make it to the next list, which is paired down to 15 by a mail ballot of Hall of Fame votes. The 15 finalists will be announced in early January.
The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced in early January. The Class of 2009 will be announced on Saturday, Jan. 31, the day before Super Bowl XLIII.
The complete list of 25 modern-era semifinalists is as follows:
- Cris Carter,WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
- Roger Craig, RB – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings,
- Terrell Davis,RB – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
- Dermontti Dawson, C – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Richard Dent, DE – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
- Chris Doleman, DE/LB – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
- Kevin Greene, LB/DE – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
- Russ Grimm, G – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
- Ray Guy, P – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
- Charles Haley,DE/LB – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
- Lester Hayes, CB – 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
- Cortez Kennedy, DT – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
- Bob Kuechenberg, G – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
- Randall McDaniel, G – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Art Modell, Owner – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
- John Randle, DT – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks
- Andre Reed, WR – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
- Shannon Sharpe, TE – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
- Bruce Smith, DE – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington Redskins
- Ken Stabler, QB – 1970-79 Oakland Raiders, 1980-81 Houston Oilers, 1982-84 New Orleans Saints
- Paul Tagliabue,Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
- Steve Tasker, Special Teams/WR – 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
- Derrick Thomas, LB – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
- Ralph Wilson, Owner – 1960-current Buffalo Bills
- Rod Woodson, CB/S – 1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders
