The Class of 2004 will be announced the day before the Super Bowl.

CANTON, Ohio (AP) – John Elway and Barry Sanders, both in their first year of eligibility, head the list of 25 semifinalists for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2004.

The semifinalists, announced Wednesday, were chosen by the Hall’s board of selectors from the announced list of 67 nominees.

The list will be reduced by a mail ballot to 13 modern-era candidates.

That list will increase to 15 finalists with the addition of two candidates recommended by the Hall’s senior committee.

Those nominees are tackle Bob Brown (Philadelphia Eagles 1964-68, Los Angeles Rams 1969-70 and Oakland Raiders 1971-73) and Bob Hayes, a wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys (1965-74) and San Francisco 49ers (1975).

The 15 finalists will be

announced in mid-January, with the new class elected

the day before the Super Bowl in Houston.

Harry Carson and George Young are automatic finalists for 2004 because of their

high finish in last year’s voting.

Also nominated were wide receivers Cliff Branch, Art Monk and Steve Tasker, who is also listed as a special teams player; quarterback Ken Stabler; defensive ends Richard Dent, Carl Eller, L.C. Greenwood, Claude Humphrey and Jim Marshall; linebacker Randy Gradishar; guards Russ Grimm and Bob Kuechenberg; safeties Cliff Harris and Donnie Shell;

cornerbacks Lester Hayes and Roger Wehrli; tackles Rayfield Wright and Gary Zimmerman; punter Ray Guy; and team owners Art Modell (Browns, Ravens) and Ralph Wilson Jr. (Bills).