Pro Football Hall of Fame announces changes to selection bylaws, shortens waiting time for coaches to one year

Just a few weeks after the Class of 2024 was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the organization is looking to the future. On Friday, the HOF announced changes to the bylaws that will make the nomination process more efficient and make it easier for coaches to be inducted.

Under the new bylaws, the waiting period for coaches to become Hall of Fame candidates has been reduced after retirement. Previously, coaches had to wait five seasons after retiring to be considered.

The Hall of Fame is also streamlining the process for nominations by adding two Screening Committees, one for the modern-era players and one for seniors. The two committees will reduce the list of total nominees to 50 players in each category before the list moves to a vote for the finalists.

Additionally, the Hall of Fame separated the coach and contributor categories. Under the new rules, one coach will be a finalist for each HOF class.

The rest of the voting process, including determining finalists from the list of nominees, will stay the same. The full Selection Committee will vote on semifinalists in November, then finalists in December. Ahead of the Super Bowl, the committee will discuss the finalists, selecting 3-5 modern-era players and 3-5 from a combined seniors, coach and contributor category for induction.

The new coaching rules makes it easier for coaches like Bill Belichick to be quickly enshrined. Belichick, 72, was fired earlier this year after 24 years with the New England Patriots, and has not yet joined another team on the coaching staff. Under the new bylaws, Belichick could be inducted as soon as 2026, if he does not take another coaching job.

Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar, Andre Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers were all inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 3 as part of the Class of 2024.