Brett Favre makes Hall of Fame's cut to 25

Brett Favre is one step closer to enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame announced Tuesday night that Favre is one of 25 semifinalist for its class of 2016.

Favre is one of two semifinalists with ties to the Green Bay Packers — the other is Kevin Greene, their outside linebackers coach from 2009-13 who is also No. 3 on the NFL’s all-time sacks list.

Favre also is one of three semifinalists in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. The others are receiver Terrell Owens and guard Alan Faneca.

Two others are semifinalists for the first time: tackle Tony Boselli and linebacker Sam Mills.

Packers to give thanks for Favre

The most recent vote by the Hall of Fame’s selectors committee reduced the list of candidates from 108 to 25. The selectors will vote again in January to reduce the list to 15 finalists, and then on the day before the Super Bowl the selectors meet in person in San Francisco to determine the ’16 class.

The list of 25 modern day semifinalists includes three coaches: Tony Dungy, Jimmy Johnson and Don Coryell.

By position, the other semifinalists are:

• Two quarterbacks: Favre and Kurt Warner;
• Four receivers: Owens, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison;
• Three running backs: Roger Craig, Edgerrin James and Terrell Davis;
• Six offensive lineman: Boselli, Faneca, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Kevin Mawae and Orlando Pace;
• One defensive end/linebacker: Greene;
• Two linebackers: Karl Mecklenburg and Sam Mills;
• One cornerback: Ty Law;
• Two safeties: Steve Atwater and John Lynch;
• One kicker: Morten Andersen.

When the selectors reduce the list to 15 modern-day finalists, they also will consider three other finalists: former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., who is the nominee from the contributors committee, and quarterback Ken Stabler and guard Dick Stanfel, who were nominated by the seniors committee. All three automatically qualify for an up or down vote, with 80 percent approval of the selectors needed for induction into the Hall.

With the modern era finalists, the selectors in their meeting in San Francisco will reduce the list to 10 and then five. The final five then will be subject to an up or down vote.

pdougher@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @PeteDougherty.