Mike Holmgren, Shaun Alexander among Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists

The newest list of Hall of Fame finalists is out and a few former members of the Seattle Seahawks are on it.

Holmgren coached the Seahawks from 1999 to 2008, leading them to an 86-74 record, six playoff appearances, and an NFC Championship in 2005. He previously won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996 and a return trip to the Super Bowl in 1997. The last head coach nominated to the Hall of Fame was Tony Dungy just this year; Dungy has one Super Bowl win and that was his only appearance, though he’s often credited it with setting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers up for their championship in 2002, one year after he was replaced by Jon Gruden.

But Holmgren has stiff competition this year with Don Coryell (criminally not in the Hall yet), Bill Cowher, and Jimmy Johnson, among others.

Also nominated is former Seattle running back Shaun Alexander. Playing under Holmgren from 2000 to 2007, Alexander was the NFL MVP in 2005 after rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns. But Alexander’s chances will always be hindered by the fact that he didn’t play enough good years (his career rushing total is just 32nd all-time) and that he was aided by Hall of Fame left tackle Walter Jones and potential Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson.

Also nominated again is former Washington State Cougars QB Drew Bledsoe, former Seahawks running back Ricky Watters, former University of Washington center Olin Kreutz, former Seattle center Kevin Mawae, and former Seahawks coaches Chuck Knox (1983-1991) and Tom Flores (1992-1994).

New nominees include LaDainian Tomlinson, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason, Hines Ward, Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Brian Dawkins, and strangely, Bob Sanders, who only played two seasons in his career that had more than six games.