Committee size: Reduces panel from 50 Selectors to 28. Their voting status (25 voting, 3 nonvoting participants) will be determined on an annual basis.
Committee structure: Changes from a geographically based model with one selector per NFL club, 17 at-large selectors and one Pro Football Writers of America representative to 27 at-large selectors and one PFWA representative.
Player eligibility: Changes from separate Modern-Era Players and Seniors categories — with players moving to the Seniors category after 25 years of retirement — to a single pool for all eligible players following the mandatory five-year retirement period.
Contributor eligibility: Expands from individuals who “contributed to the game outside of playing or coaching” to consideration of a candidate’s full football résumé that may include playing, coaching and other contributions to the sport.
Candidates considered at annual meeting: Changes from 15 Modern-Era Players, three Seniors, one Coach and one Contributor to 13 Players plus one Coach and one Contributor with the Coach and Contributor determined by the respective subcommittees.
Seniors on final ballot: Eliminates the previous maximum of three Seniors, with all eligible Players now considered together in a single pool regardless of how long they have been retired.
Carryover candidates: Eliminates provision allowing candidates who reached the final seven to return automatically as Finalists the following year.
