Rob Gronkowski is a finalist for the Patriots Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Rob Gronkowski is a finalist for the Patriots Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.Jim Davis/Globe Staff/The Boston Globe
FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots announced Wednesday that Rob Gronkowski, Logan Mankins, and Adam Vinatieri are this year’s finalists for the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Gronkowski is a finalist in his first year of eligibility. The tight end, who was a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2010 out of Arizona, played nine seasons in New England and had 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns. A major part of a Patriots team that won three Super Bowls, he capped his playing days with two seasons in Tampa Bay, where he added another championship ring.
Mankins was a first-round pick out of Fresno State in 2005, and played nine seasons with the Patriots. The offensive lineman, who played mostly left guard, was a first- or second-team All-Pro six times with the Patriots and was named to the franchise’s 50th anniversary team. Like Gronkowski, he capped his career with two seasons in Tampa Bay, before retiring at the end of the 2015 campaign. This is the fourth time he has been a finalist for the team Hall of Fame (2022, ’23, ’25).
Vinatieri, considered by many to be the most clutch kicker in NFL history, was with New England for his first 10 NFL seasons. The undrafted free agent delivered high-profile game-winners on several occasions with the Patriots, including two kicks to boost New England to playoff wins in the 2001 postseason, as well as the game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVIII. A three-time All-Pro and four-time Super Bowl champion, he ended his career with the Colts, playing until the age of 47. This year marks his second appearance as a finalist. Vinatieri was a finalist last year but lost out to Julian Edelman.
Finalists were chosen by the Hall of Fame nomination committee, with the winner being determined by a vote at Patriots.com. Voters can cast one ballot per day at Patriots.com/hof now through 11 p.m on April 28. The team will announce the selection later that week.
The annual induction ceremony will take place this summer.
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.