MACOMB, Ill. – This week, the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame announced the names on the 2025 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 77 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 34 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Among the nominees is Western Illinois University Athletics Hall of Famer, Don Greco '80. Greco was a four-year letterwinner for WIU during the program's NCAA Division II era. In 1979, Greco earned Second Team All-America honors from the Associated Press. Following his senior year he earned First Team honors from the Associated Press. During those two years, Greco was voted All-Mid-Continent Conference. He was chosen as the Leathernecks' Most Valuable Player following the 1980 season.
Greco went on to be drafted 72nd overall by the Detroit Lions in 1981, becoming just the second offensive lineman picked that year in the draft. From 1982-85 he played a total of 45 games for the Lions. In 2000, Greco was inducted into the Western Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame.
"It's an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.7 million people have played college football and only 1,093 players have been inducted," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "The Hall's requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of about 1,500 even eligible individuals. Being in today's elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game, and we look forward to announcing the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class early next year."
The ballot was emailed to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class.
"Having a ballot and a voice in the selection of the College Football Hall of Fame inductees is one of the most cherished NFF member benefits," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Mississippi. "There is no group more knowledgeable or passionate about college football than our membership, and the tradition of the ballot helps us engage them in the lofty responsibility of selecting those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in our sport."
The announcement of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2025, with specific details to be announced in the future. The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 2025, at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort, and they will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2025 season.
Of the 5.7 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869, only 1,093 players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of those who have played the game during the past 154 seasons. From the coaching ranks, 233 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction. Former WIU football coach Darrell Mudra earned that distinction and is enshrined in the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
For more information on the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame 2025 ballot, please click here for more information.
