JACKSONVILLE – Tom Coughlin again remains a Hall of Fame possibility.
Coughlin, the Jaguars' first head coach and a two-time Super Bowl champion as head coach of the New York Giants, is among five former NFL head coaches who have advanced in the process for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2027.
The Hall of Fame announced the five possibilities – Bill Belichick, Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan – Thursday. All five reached multiple Super Bowls as head coaches.
The Hall's "Coach Subcommittee" selected the five from 14 nominees, with the subcommittee scheduled to discuss the five individuals virtually on November 17. The subcommittee will select one candidate to present to the full Selection Committee for consideration for the 2027 Hall class.
All five reached this stage of the selection process last year, with Belichick chosen as the candidate from the category for possible election with the Class of 2026. The last head coach elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was Don Coryell with the Class of 2023.
Here are brief bios on the five nominees from the Hall:
- Bill Belichick: NFL coach from 1975-2023 with head coaching jobs with the Cleveland Browns (1991-95) and New England Patriots (2000-2023). Career record: 333-178 (including playoffs) with six Super Bowl titles as a head coach and two others as an assistant.
- Tom Coughlin: Spent 20 years as an NFL head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2002) and New York Giants (2004-2015). Including playoffs, posted a 182-157 record and led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles. Also won a title with Giants as an assistant coach.
- Mike Holmgren: Head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98 and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999-2008; won a Super Bowl ring in two Super Bowl trips with the Packers and appeared in another Super Bowl as head coach of the Seahawks. Career record: 174-122 (including postseason). Also won two Super Bowls as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.
- Dan Reeves: Head coach of the Denver Broncos (1981-1992), New York Giants (1993-96) and Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003). Career record: 201-174-2 (including postseason). Led Broncos (three times) and Falcons (once) to the Super Bowl. Won a title as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys.
- Mike Shanahan: Head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders (1988-89), Denver Broncos (1995-2008) and Washington Redskins (2010-13). Won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos while compiling a 178-144 career record (including playoffs). Also won a title with the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant coach.
According to the Hall's release, reduction voting also is occurring in the Players and Contributor categories. On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame announced the names of the five contributors who have advanced in the process: Ralph Hay, Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, Doug Williams and John Wooten.
Eventually, 15 Finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee's annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl LXI: 13 Modern-Era Players, one Coach and one Contributor.
While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the Hall of Fame's selection process bylaws stipulate that between three and seven new members will be selected.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2027 will be announced at "NFL Honors" in Los Angeles in February and enshrined next August in Canton, Ohio.
