Doug Williams and Robert Kraft among five Hall of Fame contributor finalists

Five names shortlisted for Canton honor

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, announced five contributor candidates on Wednesday. The list includes Super Bowl winner Doug Williams and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Late Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey is also included alongside executive John Wooten and former team owner Ralph Hay.

A contributor subcommittee selected these five candidates from an original group of 42 nominees. The Hall recently updated its rules for this category. Voters can now look at player and coaching careers alongside off the field achievements.

The top contenders and their careers

Doug Williams became the first Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl. He stepped in after Jay Schroeder suffered an injury and guided Washington on a playoff run, throwing four touchdown passes in a 42-10 win over Denver to earn MVP honors. Selected 17th overall by Tampa Bay in 1978, Williams has spent 13 seasons in Washington front office roles after stints with the Jaguars and Buccaneers.

Robert Kraft has owned the Patriots since 1994, guiding the team to six Super Bowl titles and five other appearances. Virginia McCaskey served as Bears principal owner from 1983 until her death in 2025 at age 102. She was the daughter of team founder George Halas. The Bears won Super Bowl 20 during her tenure and reached another.

John Wooten was a two time Pro Bowl offensive lineman over nine seasons with Cleveland and Washington, winning an NFL title with the Browns. He spent nearly 30 years in scouting and personnel with the Cowboys, Eagles and Ravens. Since 2003, he has led the Fritz Pollard Alliance to expand opportunities for minorities. Ralph Hay owned the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1922 and hosted the formational meeting of the NFL inside his car dealership.

The vote for the 2027 class

The contributor subcommittee will pick just one final candidate from this group of five. That nominee will join one coach and 13 players to complete a 15 candidate group for the 2027 class.

A 25 person selection committee will evaluate the final candidates. They will trim the list to 10 and then to seven candidates. Each voter can select six names, and candidates need 80 percent support to earn entry. The Hall expects this system to produce between three and seven new members each year, with five or six being the most likely outcome.