Guard Alan Faneca is one of 15 Modern-Era Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021, while Bill Nunn is a Contributor Finalist for the Class of 2021.

Faneca, a finalist for the sixth time, was the Steelers first-round draft pick in 1998 and played 10 seasons for the black and gold, and 13 overall in the NFL. He was a member of the Super Bowl XL Championship team and was selected to nine Pro Bowls. Faneca was a six-time All-Pro selection and was named to the Steelers All-Time Team in 2007 and the NFL 2000's All-Decade Team. He is also a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor, inducted in 2018.

"His ability to play that position, dominate at that position, but be athletic enough to move around and travel from the standpoint of pulling as an offensive lineman was rare," said Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis. "Usually when you do it, it doesn't end in success. When Alan pulled, we had a tremendous amount of success with our ability to pull."

Nunn, who served in multiple roles in the Steelers scouting department beginning in 1967 in a part-time role, and then from 1969-2014, was selected as the Contributor Finalist for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in August.

"I am beyond thrilled to hear Bill Nunn has been selected a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor," said Steelers President Art Rooney II at the time of the announcement. "Bill's contributions to the Steelers were extraordinary over the 46 years he was part of the organization. He was a special person who was a close friend and mentor before his passing in 2014. His lessons and stories are still evident in our everyday work.

"I look forward to hopefully celebrating his induction at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His legacy and career deserve to be recognized with the greatest individual honor in football, and we are excited he was chosen by the Contributor Committee as a finalist."

Nunn joined the Steelers organization in the scouting department in 1968 after a career in the newspaper business, including a sports writer, editor, and then managing editor of The Pittsburgh Courier. Starting in 1950 he selected the newspaper's annual Black College All-American Team, developing relationships that benefited in his scouting career.

Nunn, a member of the Inaugural Class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame and a 2018 Hall of Honor selection, helped the team find talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities that other teams weren't as familiar with, including L.C. Greenwood from Arkansas AM&N, Mel Blount from Southern, Frank Lewis from Grambling State, Dwight White from Texas A&M-Commerce, Ernie Holmes from Texas Southern, Joe Gilliam from Tennessee State, John Stallworth from Alabama A&M, and Donnie Shell from South Carolina State.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will meet virtually on Jan. 19 to vote for the Class of 2021. They can elect up to five Modern-Era Players, who must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent for election. Three others, including Nunn, Tom Flores, and Drew Pearson, are finalists in the Contributor, Coach and Senior categories for the Class of 2021. Voting on each will be held individually, in conjunction with the meeting to decide the Modern-Era Player Finalists.

The Class of 2021 will be introduced during the NFL Honors show the night before Super Bowl LV. The Class of 2021 will be enshrined along with the Class of 2020 in August, because of changes last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Class of 2020 includes former Steelers Troy Polamalu and Donnie Shell and Coach Bill Cowher.

Steelers Hall of Fame Finalist Bios:

ALAN FANECA
Faneca missed just one game in career and earned starting role in sixth game of rookie season. He helped pave way for 1,000-yard rushing season by Jerome Bettis to earn All-Rookie acclaim. Faneca was a key leader of Steelers team that captured four division titles, including three in four-year span. He helped Steelers post 10-plus wins five times, including regular-season records of 13-3 (2001) and 15-1 (2004). A veteran leader, he was integral to Jets playoff run to reach AFC championship in 2009. He was named All-Pro (first team) six times (2001-02, 2004-07) and second team in 2003 and 2008 and All-AFC seven consecutive seasons, 2001-07 with nine consecutive Pro Bowls selections. He started 14 career playoff games, including at left guard in four AFC Championship Games and Super Bowl XL. A dominating run blocker, he led way for teams that finished among the NFL's top 10 in rushing 11 times in 13 seasons and blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers and five 3,000-yard passers. Faneca was named to NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

BILL NUNN
Legendary journalist and NFL Scout Bill Nunn entered the newspaper business as a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Courier, where he later rose to sports editor and managing editor. After elevating the Courier's Black College All-American team to new heights, Nunn joined the Pittsburgh Steelers' scouting staff part time in 1967 and then full time in 1969. A true innovator, he constructed a bridge between the Steelers and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Six Super Bowl rings later, Nunn is among the most legendary NFL scouts of all time.
Honors/Awards:
- Black College Football Hall of Fame – Inaugural Class (2010) (The other members of the 10-person inaugural class include five current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Buck Buchanan, Deacon Jones, Willie Lanier, Walter Payton and Jerry Rice.)
- Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame – Inaugural Class (2011) (13 members of the 16-member inaugural class are also members of the Pro Football HOF)
- Chuck Cooper Award, given to an individual who has contributed to the city's black community.
- Namesake of the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship created by the NFL in January 2015 to expose interested former players to a career in professional scouting.
- Ranked #47 on the League's list of #NFL100 Greatest Game Changers
- Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor: Class of 2018