Joe Thomas, Ronde Barber Named 2023 HOF Semifinalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 28 modern-era semifinalists for the 2023 Hall of Fame class on Tuesday, and two of the nominees include analysts Joe Thomas and Ronde Barber of The 33rd Team.

Thomas is a finalist in his first year of eligibility, while Barber was a finalist for the 2022 class.

That’s a first ballot goatee https://t.co/ZcbCRcMcgX

— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) November 22, 2022

Barber was an All-Pro cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the defensive centerpiece for the team's Super Bowl XXXVII title run. He spent 16 years in the NFL, all with the Buccaneers, and earned five All-Pro nominations. Barber also earned All-Decade team honors and was named to the league's All-2000s team.

Thomas played for the Cleveland Browns for 11 seasons, earning All-Pro honors in eight of them. He started all 167 games he played, was named to 10 Pro Bowls, and earned All-Decade team honors. Thomas achieved all of these accolades while playing in an NFL-record 10,363 consecutive snaps, earning the title of NFL Ironman.

If Thomas and Barber are inducted into the 2023 class, they'll give The 33rd Team six Hall of Fame Members. They would join Bill Parcells, Bill Polian, Bill Cowher and Rod Woodson.