5 Former Patriots Most Likely to Make 2025 Hall of Fame Class

On Wednesday, the NFL announced the 167 modern-era players who were nominated for the Pro Football Class of 2025.

A screening committee will cut the pool by two-thirds into 50 final candidates in mid-October. Out of those candidates, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee will cut the list down to 25 later this fall. The Committee then identifies 15 finalists. A minimum of three players and a maximum of five modern-era players are then inducted into football immortality in Canton, Ohio. Those inductees are typically announced just ahead of the Super Bowl in February.

The list includes several players who played for New England, which is understandable given the extensive impact the Patriots have had on the league since the turn of the century. The franchise's success means several Patriot inductees should be on the way once they are eligible for induction. A certain New England quarterback will undoubtedly be selected on his first ballot in 2028.

Beyond the playing field, former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will absolutely be enshrined and owner Robert Kraft has been making a strong push.

There are currently 11 Patriots inducted into the Hall of Fame, we can parse out which are "Patriots" and which merely suited up for the team (or coached) at some point. The 11 members are Nick Buoniconti, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Ty Law, Curtis Martin, Randy Moss, Bill Parcells, Darrelle Revis, Junior Seau, Richard Seymour, and Andre Tippett.

Here are the five Patriots who have the best shot at induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

5. Ben Coates

For Ben Coates' career to be evaluated fairly, it's important to place his career within the context of how tight ends were used during his career. If you try to stack Coates' numbers up against those of Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, or Tony Gonzalez, Coates is going to lose every time.

When he caught 96 passes in 1994, Coates set the record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season. His 1,174 receiving yards that season are the sixth-most of any player before 2000, and he is only two yards shy of the fifth-most.

His place as one of the premier tight ends of his era was evident in his selection to the NFL's 1990's All-Decade Team and three All-Pro and five Prow Bowls during the decade.

Coates spent the first nine of his 10 NFL seasons with the Patriots. He racked up 499 catches for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns in his career. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008.

The longest shot to be selected on this list, Coates' candidacy could fall victim to holding him to the standard of modern tight ends. In the end, he is probably the perfect inductee for the Hall of Pretty Good.