Manning is considered the top candidate for the honor. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has released its list of finalists for the sports' top recognition, and it reads like a "who's who of football" in the modern era.

The list was pared down from 130 nominees to 25 semifinalists who were announced in November. From there, 15 finalists have been chosen to compete for the Hall of Fame induction. For the finalists to be elected, they must receive approval votes from at least 80 percent of the panel.

The roster of finalists includes Jared Allen, Ronde Barber, Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Alan Faneca, Torry Holt, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Clay Matthews Jr., Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Zach Thomas, Reggie Wayne, and Charles Woodson. 

Leading the pack, and broadly considered the shoo-in for induction, is Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Broncos Nation is pretty excited to see The Sheriff up for the honor, particularly after the team's abysmal season this year. They could use a win of some sort.

Also ranked highly in the running is Charles Woodson, who played defensive back for the Raiders and Packers during his career.

Both Manning and Woodson are first-time nominees, joining other first-timers: Calvin Johnson, Jared Allen, Ronde Barber, and Clay Matthews, Jr.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is John Lynch, who is a Hall of Fame finalist for the eighth time (of his nine years of eligibility). 

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee will choose the new class on January 19. While the committee generally decides on the inductees the night before the Superbowl in the host city, COVID-19 has changed that tradition. This year, the panel will do the selection via video conference. 

While there is no set number of players that will be selected into the Hall of Fame each year, the 48-person selection committee is generally tasked with naming four to eight individuals a year. The Class of 2021 will be enshrined August 8, 2021, in Canton, Ohio.

Fans can also vote for their favorite finalist on the Pro Football Hall of Fame website. Not only will their vote help decide the selected Hall of Famers, but it also enters them into drawings for several prizes. 

Who do you think will be inducted this year? Let us know in the comments!