In time, the dynasty-era Patriots will force the Hall’s hand. Rob Gronkowski becomes Hall eligible in 2027. Tom Brady will become a first-ball Hall of Famer a year later. Bill Belichick is another lock, just like Brady. Fringe candidates like Stephen Gostkowski and Julian Edelman will be up for consideration next year.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is inching closer to knocking on the door of a select few and welcoming them to immortality. On Wednesday, the Hall announced that it had reduced its list of prospective candidates for the Class of 2025 to 25 modern-era player semifinalists.