Tom Coughlin, who led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles as head coach, has moved one step closer to Canton.
On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced nine Semifinalists in the Coach category for possible election as part of the Class of 2026. They are: Coughlin, Bill Belichick, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, and Mike Shanahan.
Belichick one two Super Bowls as the Giants' defensive coordinator before going on to win six as head coach of the Patriots. Reeves was a head coach for 23 consecutive seasons, including four with the Giants.
The Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee will now discuss the nine Semifinalists at length when it meets virtually Nov. 18. It will then select one Finalist to present to the full Selection Committee for its consideration when it casts ballots for a new class of enshrinees in early 2026.
Coughlin, Holmgren, Knox, Reeves, Schottenheimer, Seifert, and Shanahan all reached this point in the selection process last year, with Holmgren ultimately chosen as the Finalist for the Class of 2025.
Reduction votes also are occurring in the categories for Modern-Era Players, Seniors, and Contributors.
The Modern-Era Player category has recently been reduced to 52, a list that includes two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning.
Two Giants legends – quarterback Charlie Conerly and linebacker Carl Banks – have made the final 34 in the Seniors category.
Eventually, 20 Finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee's annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl LX: 15 Modern-Era Players, three Seniors, one Coach and one Contributor.
While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the Hall of Fame's selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.
The Class of 2026 will be announced at "NFL Honors" in San Francisco in February and enshrined in August in Canton.