(AP) — Former Cleveland Browns LB Carl Banks and LB Clay Matthews Jr. are among the 34 players who advanced to the next stage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 in the seniors category.

A blue-ribbon committee reduced the list from 52 nominees from a screening committee of players who had last appeared in a professional football game in the 2000 season.

The committee will cut down the list to nine semifinalists and then three finalists who will advance to voting conducted before the Super Bowl in February. There will also be 15 modern-era finalists, one coach and one contributor for the Class of 2026. Between four and eight new members will be elected in the second year of this current format.

The candidates revealed Thursday also included 2024 finalist Art Powell, who fe

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