Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates are among the nine first-year eligible players nominated for the 2024 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Peppers had a dominant 17-year career as a defensive lineman, finishing with 159.5 sacks and earning All-Pro honors three times. Gates, who played college basketball before switching to football, had a 16-year career as a tight end, setting an NFL record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 116.