Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, and Chuck Howley were named finalists for the 2023 Hall of Fame induction

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has taken another step toward finalizing its 2023 induction class. On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame’s senior committee named their three finalists for induction next summer. The trio that made the cut from 12 senior finalists are former Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko, former Bengals cornerback Ken Riley and former Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley. 

Each finalist needs to receive 80% of his vote in order for each induction. The committee will make its final vote in January. The coach/contributor committee will meet on Aug. 23 to select one coach or contributor as a finalist for induction next summer.  

Klecko played 11 seasons for the Jets and was a key figure in the team’s famed “Sack Exchange” of the early 1980s, along with Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam.

Howley made six Pro Bowls during his NFL career and very much deserves a gold jacket. Hopefully he finally gets it.

Riley played his entire 15-year career from 1969-83 at cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals. A quarterback in college at Florida A&M, Riley excelled in the pros after the position switch.