3 Patriots Legends Are Even Closer to NFL Hall of Fame Selection Now

As the season continues to get away from the New England Patriots, wins are of less importance to this team. Instead, the primary focus is on development -- both on and off the field -- as this group hopes to take the next step in the coming years with Drake Maye under center.

The wealth of championship history and elite play from the Patriots' organization during the 2000s gives the young players on this squad plenty of sources of inspiration to turn to. And the latest news involving three Patriots legends is a reminder to those in New England of the heights they should aspire to reach.

It was announced on Wednesday that three key Pats figures -- Rodney Harrison, Vince Wilfork, and Adam Vinatieri -- were named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2025 class. They made a select group of only 25, which will be reduced to 15 finalists submitted to the selection committee in December.

This is the fourth time both Harrison and Wilfork, who both won two Super Bowls in New England, have made it to this elusive stage of Hall of Fame voting. The former earned two First-Team All-Pro nods during his playmaking career, while the latter made First Team once and was selected to the NFL's Top 100 three times while active.

For Vinatieri, this was his first time being eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, so the fact he was instantly a semifinalist shows enormous respect for the illustrious kicker. Given his reputation as possibly the best there's ever been at his position, Vinatieri is as deserving of this honor as any, and the fact he's a specialist makes him stand out among the crowd.

Each of these Patriots has a strong case to make the cut, but it remains to be seen if the committee chooses any of them to immortalize in Canton.

In other Patriots news: