INDIANAPOLIS — A pair of Indianapolis Colts legends have been named finalists to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Reggie Wayne, both members of the Colts Ring of Honor, were announced on Tuesday as two of the 15 modern era finalists to enter the Hall of Fame this year. It is the first year of eligibility for Manning and the second for Wayne.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be revealed during the week leading up to Super Bowl LV in Tampa. The class will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, Aug. 8. The enshrinement ceremony will also include the ceremony for the Class of 2020, postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Colts great running back Edgerrin James is among the members of that class being enshrined.
Manning is widely expected to be enshrined this year. He was picked with the No. 1 overall pick by the Colts in the 1998 NFL Draft out of Tennessee and played 18 seasons for the Colts and the Denver Broncos. He won two Super Bowls, including Super Bowl XLI with the Colts during the 2006 season.
When he retired following the 2015 season, Manning had broken just about every major record by a quarterback in NFL history including career passing touchdowns (539), career passing yards (71,940), single-season passing touchdowns (55), single-season passing yards (5,477), total wins (201, including playoffs), game-winning drives (56), comeback wins (45), game with four-plus touchdown passes (35), 4,000-plus-yard passing seasons (14), consecutive seasons with at least 25 passing touchdowns (13), and Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player awards (5; 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013).
Wayne played 14 seasons for the Colts from 2001 to 2014. He was selected by the Colts with the 30th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft out of Miami. In a franchise record 211 games, Wayne had 1,070 receptions for 14,345 years and 82 touchdowns.
