Former Packers and, yes, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is one of three first-year eligible nominees in the list of 15 modern-era finalists that will be considered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's selection committee, the Hall announced Thursday night.
"He'll be the first Hall of Famer I've played with," said Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who, like the rest of the world, has assumed first-ballot entry for the record-busting ironman quarterback who played 20 seasons and won three NFL MVP awards and a Super Bowl.
Joining Favre as first-year eligible modern-era finalists are receiver Terrell Owens and offensive lineman Alan Faneca.
Other finalists with ties to the Vikings are kicker Morten Andersen, the league's career scoring leader, whose 25-year career included one year as a Viking (2004); and Tony Dungy, the former Gophers quarterback who later served as Vikings defensive coordinator (1992-95) before becoming the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl in 2007. Both are finalists for the third time.
Other modern-era finalists are safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch, coach Don Coryell, running backs Terrell Davis and Edgerrin James, linebacker Kevin Greene, receiver Marvin Harrison, offensive tackles Joe Jacoby and Orlando Pace and quarterback Kurt Warner.
Those 15 join three other finalists under consideration for the class of 2016. The selection committee will meet Feb. 6 in San Francisco, site of Super Bowl 50.
The senior committee finalists are quarterback Ken Stabler and guard Dick Stanfel. The contributor finalist is former 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.
For Peterson, the memories of playing with the legendary quarterback for two seasons still bring a smile to his face.
