Renowned six-time Super Bowl-winning owner Robert Kraft and three pivotal figures associated with the success of “Monday Night Football” have been nominated among the top 25 candidates in the contributor category for the upcoming 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The announcement made on Wednesday followed a selection process by a Blue Ribbon committee, which narrowed the candidates from an initial pool of 47. In the coming two weeks, this shortlist will be further condensed to just nine candidates, ultimately leading to a single finalist alongside one coaching candidate and three seniors nominees for the selection committee’s review early next year.

To achieve induction into the Hall, one to three of these five finalists must secure a minimum of 80% of the votes from the full committee.

Kraft acquired the New England Patriots in 1994, transforming them into a powerhouse in the NFL. He appointed Bill Belichick as head coach in 2000, and under his leadership, the franchise celebrated six Super Bowl victories spanning the 2001 to 2018 seasons.

Alongside Kraft, other influential figures in the landscape of “Monday Night Football” were also recognized, such as Roone Arledge, the former ABC executive whose production played a crucial role in elevating the NFL’s profile during the 1970s, and the often-controversial announcer Howard Cosell.

Art Modell, former owner of the Cleveland Browns and a key figure on the NFL’s television committee, also received a nomination. Although he significantly contributed to the NFL’s ascent into prime time, his decision to relocate the team to Baltimore in 1996 led to considerable backlash from Cleveland fans.

Additional candidates associated with television include Chris Berman, the longtime ESPN announcer who hosted the network’s influential pregame show and the highly regarded highlight program “NFL Primetime,” as well as John Facenda, whose narrations of memorable films and highlight reels for NFL Films spanned two decades.

Several other individuals involved in NFL ownership are also up for consideration, including Ralph Hay, who owned the Canton Bulldogs and played a role in the formation of the NFL in the early 20th century. Other owners under consideration are Bud Adams, who founded the Houston Oilers; Bears owner Virginia McCaskey; and Art Rooney Jr., a member of the Steelers’ ownership family.

John Wooten, a dedicated scout and executive who later advocated for increased minority head coaches through the Fritz Pollard Alliance, is also among the candidates. Additionally, former Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson, known for guiding numerous Black players to the NFL, made the list, alongside his notable player Doug Williams. Williams made history as the first Black starting quarterback to clinch a Super Bowl title with Washington in the 1987 season and later served in the team’s front office.

Eddie Kotal, a former Rams scout recognized as one of the pioneers in scouting Black colleges, is included in the candidate list as well.

The comprehensive list also features former referees Jerry Seeman and Jim Tunney, ex-Eagles trainer Otho Davis, and former Raiders CEO Amy Trask, who made history as the first woman in that position. Additional nominees include Mike Giddings, who founded the talent evaluation firm Proscout, as well as prominent executives Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Don Klosterman, Rick McKay, and John McVay; former owner of the Elias Sports Bureau Seymour Siwoff; and Lee Remmel, a former sports writer who served as the Packers’ public relations director.