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Steelers G Alan Faneca Finalist for Hall of Fame Class of 2021

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Steelers great Alan Faneca has been named a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for the Class of 2021.

It’s the sixth consecutive year that Faneca has been a finalist. The 15 finalists were chosen from a pool of 25 semifinalists. The final vote on the Class of 2021 will be made on the Saturday before the Super Bowl.

Faneca played guard for the Steelers from 1998-2007 after being selected by the team in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of LSU. Faneca was one of the most dominant offensive linemen of his era, and was chosen to participate in nine Pro Bowls and was an eight-time All-Pro. He is a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team and won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers.

Faneca was among six Steelers players nominated in the class. Wide receiver Hines Ward was a semifinalist, but did not make the cut to finalist. Kicker Gary Anderson, nose tackle Casey Hampton, tight end Heath Miller and outside linebacker Joey Porter did not advance to the second round of the process, as the 130 nominees were trimmed to 25 semifinalists.

Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Tony Boselli is the only other offensive lineman nominated as a finalist.

Former Steelers scout Bill Nunn was already selected as the contributor finalist in the Class of 2021.
The Steelers have three members in the Hall of Fame Class of 2020: safeties Troy Polamalu and Donnie Shell and former head coach Bill Cowher. The enshrinement of that class has been delayed until August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Class of 2020 will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 7, 2021, while the Class of 2021 will be celebrated on Aug. 8, 2021.

The most recent Steelers to be inducted were late linebacker Kevin Greene and defensive back and assistant coach Tony Dungy in 2016.