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Former Seahawks Offensive Lineman Steve Hutchinson Among Semifinalists For Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018

Offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, who spent five seasons in Seattle after the club selected him No. 17 overall in the 2001 NFL Draft, is one of six first-year eligible candidates to make the cut.

Former Seahawks draft picks Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae are among a list of 27 Modern-Era Semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Tuesday evening.

Hutchinson, who spent five seasons in Seattle (2001-05) after the club selected him No. 17 overall in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, is one of six first-year eligible candidates to make the cut, a star-studded group that also includes defensive back Ronde Barber, linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, receiver Randy Moss, and defensive lineman Richard Seymour.

A seven-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler in the NFL and member of the NFL's All-Decade Team Offensive Line for the 2000s, Hutchinson started 169 regular season games, helping his teams to four division titles, one conference title and a Super Bowl XL appearance during the 2005 season with the Seahawks. Alongside former teammate and Hall of Fame left tackle Walter Jones, the pair helped block for running back Shaun Alexander during his NFL MVP season in 2005, when Alexander rushed for a franchise-record 1,880 yards and an NFL record 28 total touchdowns. Hutchinson finished his career having blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in 11 of his 12 NFL seasons.

The Class of 2018's list of semifinalists was reduced from an initial group of 108 nominees that was announced this past September. The 108 included several others with Seahawks ties, such as running backs Ricky Watters and Edgerrin James, tight end Ferrell Edmunds, defensive lineman Keith Millard, and offensive lineman Ray Donaldson along with former head coaches Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox and Tom Flores. On Tuesday, only Hutchinson, Mawae, and James were announced among the group of semifinalists. 

Come January, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will reduce its list of semifinalists to 15 Modern-Era Finalists. The Class of 2018 will then be announced on February 3 during NFL Honors, a two-hour awards show set to air on the eve of the Super Bowl LII.

The Class of 2018 will be officially enshrined into the Hall of Fame next August during a ceremony in Canton, Ohio.

Four players who spent their entire NFL careers with the Seahawks are currently enshrined in Canton: Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, and Kenny Easley, who was elected to the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 as a Senior Finalist earlier this year.

For fans looking to offer their opinion on who should get in, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has opened up a fan voting process for the seventh year in a row where you can select which 15 players you feel should represent as finalists for the Class of 2018.

For reference, here's a look at the complete list of semifinalists:

  • Steve Atwater, S – 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2012-18)
  • Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2016-18)
  • Isaac Bruce, WR – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18)
  • LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 – 2005, 2010-18)
  • Roger Craig, RB – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 – 2009-18)
  • Brian Dawkins, S –  1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2017-18)
  • Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2016-18)
  • Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18)
  • Steve Hutchinson, G – 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Joe Jacoby, T – 1981-1993 Washington Redskins | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2005, 2008, 2013-18)
  • Edgerrin James, RB – 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18)
  • Jimmy Johnson, Coach – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2014-18)
  • Ty Law, CB – 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18)
  • Ray Lewis, LB – 1996-2012 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • John Lynch, FS – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2013-18)
  • Kevin Mawae, C/G – 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2015-18)
  • Karl Mecklenburg, LB – 1983-1994 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2012-18)
  • Randy Moss, WR –  1998-2004, 2010 Minnesota Vikings, 2005-06 Oakland Raiders, 2007-2010 New England Patriots, 2010 Tennessee Titans, 2012 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Leslie O'Neal, DE – 1986, 1988-1995 San Diego Chargers, 1996-1997 St. Louis Rams, 1998-1999 Kansas City Chiefs | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Terrell Owens, WR – 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2016-18)
  • Simeon Rice, DE – 1996-2000 Arizona Cardinals, 2001-06 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007 Denver Broncos, 2007 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Brian Urlacher, LB – 2000-2012 Chicago Bears | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Everson Walls, CB – 1981-89 Dallas Cowboys, 1990-92 New York Giants, 1992-93 Cleveland Browns | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2018)
  • Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2017-18)

Before kickoff of the Wild Card Round, Seahawks Legend Steve Hutchinson raised the 12 Flag at CenturyLink Field.

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