Larry Grantham and Art Powell, two original New York Titans, are among the 60 individuals who the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced have advanced to the next stage of the voting process for the Hall's Class of 2025 in the Seniors category.
Grantham, who died at 78 in 2017, was one of the early pillars of the Jets franchise and one of the defensive stars of the Super Bowl III team. The linebacker played all 13 of his pro seasons from 1960-72 as the franchise's indomitable No. 60. He was named an AFL All-Pro first-teamer and an AFL All-Star five times each, and was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2011.
Powell, who died at 78 in 2015, had better numbers for his three Titans seasons than did Don Maynard, Powell's WR mate and a Pro Football Hall of Famer From 1960-62, Powell had 204 receptions for 3,178 yards and 27 touchdowns to Maynard's 171-2,935-22. Both were the franchise's first 1,000-yard receivers in 1960 and both duplicated that feat together in '62. Powell, who started his pro career with Philadelphia in 1959, finished it with stays at Oakland, Buffalo and Minnesota.
Each member of the Seniors Screening Committee, a new entity created this year to add additional input around the overall selection process, cast a ballot for 50 individuals from a list of 182 nominees consisting of 100 offensive players, 77 defensive players and five special teamers.
DE Mark Gastineau, the Jets career record-holder for sacks and the one-time NFL single-season record holder with 22 sacks in 1984, did not advance from the 182-nominee list in this next stage of the Seniors voting process. Neither did QB Boomer Esiason nor K Nick Lowery, each of whom played three seasons for the Jets in the Nineties.
The separate nine-person Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee will make additional reductions in increments over the next several weeks. In late fall, this committee will select three Seniors as Finalists for possible election with the Class of 2025 presented by Visual Edge IT.
Players must have last played at least 25 full seasons ago, last appearing in a professional football game now later than the 1999 season, to be eligible for nomination by the Seniors Screening Committee. The new Class will be selected in the days before Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans and will be enshrined in Canton, OH, next August.
