:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52586391/460765084.0.jpeg)
Fifteen modern era players have been named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Among them is former Jets center Kevin Mawae.
BREAKING NEWS: Class of 2017 Modern-Era Finalists announced! #PFHOF17 pic.twitter.com/FQJnt7KVHM
— Pro Football HOF (@ProFootballHOF) January 4, 2017
What an honor, humbling...blessed! @ProFootballHOF congrats to all the other finalists @Seahawks @nyjets @Titans
— Kevin Mawae (@KevinMawae) January 4, 2017
Congrats Kevin, LT, Jason, Alan and Ty! https://t.co/0E5QWGF2zv
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 4, 2017
Four more candidates, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Alan Faneca, and Ty Law played with the Jets. Mawae is the only guy whose Hall of Fame case is built on his Jets career, though. Tomlinson is a Charger. Taylor is Dolphin. Faneca is a Steeler, and Law is a Patriots. These guys are Jets in the same sense Ronnie Lott, Art Monk, Brett Favre, and Ed Reed were.
The Jets signed Mawae as a free agent from Seattle in 1998. He played with the team through 2005 and made the Pro Bowl in six of those eight seasons. Twice was he a first team All Pro player.
The Jets let Mawae go after 2005, and he finished his career with the Titans.
The voting will take place the day before the Super Bowl.