For the first time since he has been eligible, linebacker Carl Banks today was named one of 25 semifinalists of modern-era players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2020.
Along with defensive tackle Bryant Young and running backs Fred Taylor and Ricky Watters, Banks is one of four first-time semifinalists who were previously eligible for the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame Board passed a resolution this year that suspended the Hall of Fame's selection committee bylaws for the Class of 2020 election cycle only. Intended to honor the NFL's 100th season, the "Centennial Class" will be comprised of 20 members in 2020. The group will include five modern-era players to come from the list announced today in addition to 10 seniors (a player who has been retired for more than 25 seasons), three contributors (an individual other than a player or coach) and two coaches.
Banks, who last played in the 1995, was the third overall selection of the 1984 NFL Draft and played for the Giants through the 1992 season. He was one of the premier run-stoppers of his era, a standout on the teams that won Super Bowls XXI and XXV, a Pro Bowler in 1987 and a member of the NFL 1980's All-Decade Team. Banks played in 126 regular season games and had 36.0 sacks, three interceptions and approximately 500 tackles. Banks is still closely affiliated with the Giants; since 2007, he has been an analyst on the Giants' radio broadcasts.
The modern-era players list will be reduced to 15 finalists, which will be announced on Jan. 2, 2020. The finalists will then be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee during its annual meeting on "Selection Saturday," on Feb. 1, 2020, the day before Super Bowl LIV. The selection committee will elect five modern-era players for the Class of 2020.
Giants legend Carl Banks is a semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2020.
Washington Redskins George Rogers is pursued by New York Giants Carl Banks as he runs with the ball during first quarter NFC championship action at Giants stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Jan. 11, 1987. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
Retired New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks watches warmups before play against the Miami Dolphins Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 in a week 14 NFL Monday Night football game in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Giants won 31 - 24. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Former New York Giants defensive end George Martin, tight end Mark Bavaro (89) and linebacker Carl Banks are honored at half time of an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Former New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks gets inducted into the Ring of Honor at half time of the New York Giants vs Green Bay Packers on Sunday December 4, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (58) chases Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas (34) during Super Bowl XXV January 27, 1991 in Tampa. The Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills before 73,813 fans. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Linebacker Carl Banks (58) of the New York Giants sets for play with a managed nose in 1987. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Linebacker Carl Banks (58) and safety Elvis Patterson of the New York Giants tackles running back Steve Sewell (30) of the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXI January 25, 1987 in Pasadena. The New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39 - 20. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (58) pass rushes during an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs in East Rutherford on November 25, 1984. The Giants defeated the Chiefs 28-27. (AP Photo/Chuck Solomon)
New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (58) circa 1992. Exact location unknown. (AP Photo/Peter Read Miller)
Former New York Giants player Carl Banks speaks during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Former New York Giants linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks talk before a week 2 football game against the Arizona Cardinals on September 14, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Jets quarterback Kyle Mackey is sacked by New York Giants Carl Banks for a six-yard loss in the first quarter of play in East Rutherford, N.J., Aug. 26, 1989. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)
Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas (34) runs upfield as New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (58) runs in pursuit during a Super Bowl XXV NFL game in Tampa, on January 27, 1991. The Giants defeated the Bills 20-19. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New York Giants former player Carl Banks looks on during a ceremony before an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (51) poses for his NFL Pro Line Portrait trading card in East Rutherford on May 1, 1991. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (58) circa 1992. Exact location unknown. (AP Photo/Peter Read Miller)
Former New York Giants player Carl Banks is honored during a halftime ceremony of an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks (58) in action during a 21 - 0 loss to the Chicago Bears in the 1985 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on Jan. 5, 1986 at Soldier Field in Chicago. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Former New York Giants' Carl Banks speaks to the fans during a 25 year anniversary celebration at halftime of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham is sacked by New York Giants Carl Banks as he attempts to pass during third quarter NFL action in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 30, 1985. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 28, 1991 file photo, New York Giants coach Bill Parcells is carried on the shoulders of football players Lawrence Taylor (56) and Carl Banks (58) after defeating the Buffalo Bills 20-19 to win Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Fla. The Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills, 20-19. Parcells has been announced as a nominee for the 2012 class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. Fifty accomplished historical figures, artists, entertainers and innovators, all with Garden State ties, are in the running this year. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, right, is hauled down by the New York Giants Carl Banks in the first quarter at Giants Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 6, 1985, East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants, from left, Lawrence Taylor, Jim Burt, Carl Banks, and Eric Dorsey pause during practice at the Giants training camp in Pleasantville, N.Y. on Monday, August 4, 1987. Linebacker Banks returned Monday to training after having been slowed by a pulled hamstring muscle. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
The determination of the seniors, contributors and coaches will be made by a special 25-person Centennial "Blue-Ribbon" Panel which will review the backlog of those deserving of the honor. The blue-ribbon panel is comprised of Hall of Fame selectors, Pro Football Hall of Famers, media members, football historians and industry experts.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 will be introduced during NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on the eve of Super Bowl LIV at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.
Giants Rewind with Carl Banks
Giants legend Carl Banks' expert analysis as he breaks down the X's and O's from each Giants game.
The following is the list of 2020 modern-era player semifinalists
Steve Atwater, S – 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets (Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2012-2020)
Carl Banks, LB – 1984-1992 New York Giants, 1993 Washington Redskins, 1994-95 Cleveland Browns (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2018-2020)
Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2016-2020)
Isaac Bruce, WR – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2015-2020)
LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2018-2020)
Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2016-2020)
Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2015-2020)
Steve Hutchinson, G – 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2018-2020)
Edgerrin James, RB – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2015-2020)
John Lynch, FS – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2013-2020)
Clay Matthews, LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2012, 2017, 2019-2020)
Sam Mills, LB – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2016, 2019-2020)
Troy Polamalu, S – 2003-2014 Pittsburgh Steelers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
Simeon Rice, DE – 1996-2000 Arizona Cardinals, 2001-06 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007 Denver Broncos, 2007 Indianapolis Colts (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2018, 2020)
Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2018-2020)
Steve Tasker, ST/WR – 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2004, 2008-2010, 2012-13, 2020)
Fred Taylor, RB – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
Zach Thomas, LB – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2019-2020)
Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2017-2020)
Ricky Watters, RB – 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
Patrick Willis, LB – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2020)
Bryant Young, DT – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2020)
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