Law, Seymour named HOF Finalists

Two former New England Patriots were announced as finalists by the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday. Ty Law and Richard Seymour – who both won multiple championships with New England – were two of the 15 Modern-Era Finalists announced by the Hall, which will enshrine a new class of legends on August 3, 2019.

Law played cornerback for the Patriots for nine seasons beginning in 1995. During his time in New England, the University of Michigan product was voted to the Pro Bowl five times and was All-Pro in 1998 and 2003.

Drafted 23rd overall in 1995, Law started at corner for three Patriots' Super Bowls, winning two of them in the early 2000s. One of Law's most iconic moments was his interception return for a touchdown against Kurt Warner and the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Two years later, Law was again a part of a championship defense as the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII over the Carolina Panthers.

Despite missing more than half the year with a foot injury in the 2004-05 season, Law earned his third Super Bowl ring with the Patriots when New England defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

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Law led the team in interceptions four times, en route to 53 career picks. Twice he was the NFL's leading interceptor, including the 1998 season with New England when he picked off nine passes. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

After New England, Law played for five more seasons, splitting time between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets before retiring in 2009 after one final year with the Denver Broncos.

Richard Seymour was an eight-year veteran at defensive end for the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls and playing in a fourth.

Chosen sixth overall by New England back in the 2001 NFL Draft, Seymour immediately began making an impact. The lineman was a Pro-Bowler for five of his first six seasons, earning All-Pro honors three straight times in 2003-2005. In total, Seymour was a Pro Bowler seven times in his 12-year career.

Twice he led New England with eight sacks, including in his final year as a Patriot, 2008. He scored one defensive touchdown in his career, a 68-yard fumble recovery against Buffalo back on Oct. 3, 2004. That score is still the longest on a defensive fumble return in team history.

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Also named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s, Seymour was All-AFC in five seasons and was second team All-Pro twice.

The Patriots traded Seymour to the Oakland Raiders before the beginning of the 2009 season. In return, New England received a 2011 first-round pick, where they selected Nate Solder.

This is Seymour's second year of eligibility and first as a finalist. Law has been a finalist for the last three years and is in his fifth year of eligibility.

If both are elected, Seymour will become the 38th defensive lineman named to the Hall, while Law would join 17 others who have been named Hall of Famers from the cornerback position.

New England has four Hall of Famers currently enshrined in Canton, Ohio. John Hannah, Andre Tippett, Mike Haynes and Nick Buoniconti make up the crew of former Patriots immortalized.

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