Raiders News: Charles Woodson Headlines Semifinalists For 2021 Hall Of Fame Class

Raiders legend Charles Woodson has been named as one of the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 in his first year of eligibility.

Woodson is headlining the class alongside the likes of Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson and Jared Allen. The Las Vegas Raiders are well-represented with former players Eric Allen and Richard Seymour also making the list of nominees.

Woodson came into the league with plenty of hype after becoming the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy at Michigan. Fortunately, he wasted no time in fitting the billing as the No. 4 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Raiders’ legend spent his first eight seasons in Oakland, racking up four Pro Bowl nods and first-team All-Pro honors in 1999. However, he would ultimately part ways with the franchise following the 2005 campaign after signing with the Green Bay Packers in free agency.

It is safe to say that Woodson enjoyed a successful stint in Green Bay by making the Pro Bowl four more times and two more All-Pro honors. Of course, his crowning achievements would be winning Super Bowl XLV with the Packers and winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.

Woodson would make his triumphant return to the Raiders as a free agent to put the finishing touches on his illustrious career with another Pro Bowl nod in 2015. He retired tied for fifth in NFL history with 65 interceptions, 33 forced fumbles, and 20 sacks.

Meanwhile, this is the fourth time Seymour has been named as a semifinalist. He was acquired by the Raiders prior to the 2009 campaign and earned Pro Bowl honors twice during his four seasons in Oakland.

Allen finds himself as a semifinalist for the first time. He spent the final stretch of his career with the franchise from 1998 to 2001.

Tom Flores was selected as the Coach Finalist for this year’s class. Flores’ potential bid would be long overdue after winning one Super Bowl as a player and two as head coach of the Raiders.