Former Bears LB Lance Briggs not among Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists

Briggs wasn’t among the 25 modern-era semifinalists announced by the Hall on Tuesday. Neither was former Bears center Olin Kreutz.

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New York Giants v Chicago Bears

Former Bears linebacker Lance Briggs gets the crowd to cheer against the Giants in 2013.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Former Bears linebacker Lance Briggs won’t make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Briggs wasn’t among the 25 modern-era semifinalists announced by the Hall on Tuesday. Neither was former Bears center Olin Kreutz, who, like Briggs, was among the 122 players nominated for the Hall in September.

From 2003 to 2014, Briggs had 16 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, seven fumble recoveries, 16 forced fumbles and 15 sacks. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2005 and made seven Pro Bowl appearances.

Defensive end Simeon Rice, who attended Mount Carmel and Illinois, is a semifinalist for the second time in his career. He played for the Cardinals, Buccaneers, Broncos and Colts from 1996 to 2007.

The other 24 semifinalists are safety Steve Atwater, linebacker Carl Banks, cornerback Ronde Barber, offensive tackle Tony Boselli, receiver Isaac Bruce, safety LeRoy Butler, guard Alan Faneca, receiver Torry Holt, guard Steve Hutchinson, running back Edgerrin James, safety John Lynch, linebacker Clay Matthews, linebacker Sam Mills, safety Troy Polamalu, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, special-teamer Steve Tasker, running back Fred Taylor, linebacker Zach Thomas, receiver Hines Ward, running back Ricky Watters, receiver Reggie Wayne, linebacker Patrick Willis, safety Darren Woodson and defensive tackle Bryant Young.

Teammate Brian Urlacher, the Bears’ most recent Hall of Famer, said during his induction speech in 2018 that he thought Briggs deserved to be enshrined.

‘‘He elevated not only my game but the entire defense; his enthusiasm was contagious,’’ Urlacher said, turning to Briggs in the crowd. ‘‘We’ll be back here in a couple of years for your induction, ‘Big Time.’ ’’

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