Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates have been chosen as semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2024 in their first year of eligibility. Peppers had a dominant career as a defensive lineman, finishing with 159 1/2 sacks and 10 seasons with double-digit sacks. Gates, who played college basketball before switching to football, became one of the NFL's top tight ends with 955 catches, 11,841 yards, and an NFL record for tight ends with 116 touchdown receptions.