🔥 HOT NEWS: Once the heartbeat of the Legion of Boom, Earl Thomas now stands on the brink of Canton glory as a Hall of Fame semifinalist ⚡. DH
Seattle Seahawks legend Earl Thomas was announced as one of 26 modern era candidates to reach the semifinal stage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 on Tuesday.
The selection committee will next trim down the list to 15 finalists, who will be voted on before the Super Bowl in February.
Thomas, a first-round pick by the Seahawks in 2010, was one of the leaders of Seattle’s famed Legion of Boom defense that helped lead the franchise to its first and only Super Bowl win following the 2013 season.
A native of Orange, Tex., Thomas spent nine of his 10 pro seasons in Seattle. He was a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, earning both honors in each season from 2011-14.
Thomas finished third in NFC Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2013 when he had a career highs of 105 tackles and five interceptions. He also had nine passes defended and two forced fumbles that season.
The University of Texas product racked up 664 tackles, 28 interceptions, 67 passes defended, 11 tackles for loss, 10 forced fumbles and three defensive touchdowns in his nine seasons with the Seahawks. He has the third-most passes defended and sixth-most interceptions in franchise history.
Thomas spent the 2019 season with the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore released him in August 2020 for “conduct that adversely affected” the team following an on-field fight during practice with teammate Chuck Clark.
Thomas has not officially retired, but he has not been on an NFL roster since the Ravens released him.
Thomas was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. He was also one of six first-year eligible players to be named a Hall of Fame semifinalist last year.
Thomas joins a list of semifinalists that includes quarterbacks Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning; wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Tory Holt and Steve Smith Sr.; tight end Jason Witten; offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Marshall Yanda; linebackers Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs; safety Darren Woodson; and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Holt, Anderson, Kuechly and Vinatieri have all guaranteed themselves spots as finalists due to reaching the final seven in last year’s voting.
Former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren was announced as one of nine coaching semifinalists for the Hall of Fame earlier this month.
