Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

starting new topic here to post news in the coming months, right up to the announcement of the class of 2027 during NFL Honors Show, Thurs Feb 11th

and from today...

5 Coach Nominees advance for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2027 (Hall announcement today)

Group to meet Nov. 17 to choose 1 Candidate for possible election

Five former head coaches in the National Football League, each of whom reached multiple Super Bowls, comprise the list of individuals who have advanced in the process for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027.

Members of the Coach Subcommittee made their selections from a list that originally included 14 nominees. The subcommittee will discuss the five individuals at length when it meets virtually Nov. 17 to select one Candidate to present to the full Selection Committee for its consideration when it casts ballots for the new class of enshrinees in early 2027.

The five individuals still under consideration in the Coach category this year are Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan.

All five reached this stage of the selection process last year, with Belichick ultimately chosen as the Candidate from the category for possible election with the Class of 2026. Holmgren advanced to the annual selection meeting in 2020 and 2025. The last Coach elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was Don Coryell with the Class of 2023.

We all know who it will be, yet its also a chance for Holmgren to probably be the next in line, though if Tomlin were to stay out for 2027 -- though doubtful -- he could be the next first year eligible to correct the mistake of Belichick missing out. It would be bizarre, but with both in, the process could move better forward.

I feel Tomlin will coach however, and the Cowboys or Bucs would be good destinations but JJ in Dallas will have to give him some rope, which he will never do. Could Tomlin end up in Washington, GB, Carolina, NYJ or somewhere else?

If Tomlin comes back to coaching, could Reeves get elected next and join Levy and Grant as inductees without a SB?

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Thu Nov 05, 2026 2:44 pm We all know who it will be, yet its also a chance for Holmgren to probably be the next in line, though if Tomlin were to stay out for 2027 -- though doubtful -- he could be the next first year eligible to correct the mistake of Belichick missing out. It would be bizarre, but with both in, the process could move better forward.

I feel Tomlin will coach however, and the Cowboys or Bucs would be good destinations but JJ in Dallas will have to give him some rope, which he will never do. Could Tomlin end up in Washington, GB, Carolina, NYJ or somewhere else?

If Tomlin comes back to coaching, could Reeves get elected next and join Levy and Grant as inductees without a SB?

a few possible reasons why holmgren might not make the hall

• Not enough rings: He went to three Super Bowls but only won one, giving him less championship weight than other multi-ring coaches.
• The "Favre Factor": His peak success is often credited to having Brett Favre in his prime, raising questions about whether his system or his Hall of Fame quarterback drove that success.
• Lower career win numbers: His 161 regular-season wins and .592 winning percentage trail behind many coaching peers, leaving him stuck in a crowded backlog of candidates.
Browns Front-Office Mismanagement: Critics and some analysts argue that Holmgren’s time as team president of the Cleveland Browns from 2010 to 2012 failed to yield a turnaround or playoff contention, leading to accusations of organizational mismanagement during that era.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Thu Nov 05, 2026 2:44 pm We all know who it will be, yet its also a chance for Holmgren to probably be the next in line, though if Tomlin were to stay out for 2027 -- though doubtful -- he could be the next first year eligible to correct the mistake of Belichick missing out. It would be bizarre, but with both in, the process could move better forward.

I feel Tomlin will coach however, and the Cowboys or Bucs would be good destinations but JJ in Dallas will have to give him some rope, which he will never do. Could Tomlin end up in Washington, GB, Carolina, NYJ or somewhere else?

If Tomlin comes back to coaching, could Reeves get elected next and join Levy and Grant as inductees without a SB?

I see four names there that all likely get in before Reeves (and it may take more than four years) and by then we will have other coaches like Andy Reid on ballot-I simply do not see easy path for any HC without SB