JACKSONVILLE – Freddy T took another step closer again.

Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, the leading offensive player in franchise history, was named a modern-era semifinalist for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Wednesday. This is Taylor’s sixth consecutive year as a semifinalist.

Taylor was among the 25 semifinalists announced Wednesday morning.

Taylor, the 9th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, threw for 11,695 yards and 66 touchdowns in 13 NFL seasons. He threw for 11,271 yards and 62 touchdowns in Jacksonville from 1998-2008.

Among the 25 semifinalists named Wednesday were six players who qualified for the first grade:

• Defender Luke Kuechly
• Quarterback Eli Manning
• Edge defender Terrell Suggs
• Security Earl Thomas
• Batsman Vinatieri
• Protect/intervene Marshal Yanda

To be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the person nominated must not have been an active player for five consecutive seasons.

No more than five modern era candidates enter the hall each year.

The next semi-finalists will be divided into 15 modern era finalists. The Class of 2024 will be announced during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.