Former Vigor High School star Robert Brazile was among the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame welcoming the Class of 2025 at the “NFL Honors” awards program on Thursday night in New Orleans.

“Dr. Doom” didn’t get to hug another Vigor alumnus who was up for enshrinement. For the fourth year in a row, Willie Anderson was left one step short of entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The former Auburn standout was a modern-era finalist for the fourth straight year in the selection process for the Class of 2025. But when the newest Hall of Famers were announced on Thursday night, Anderson was not among them.

The Class of 2025 included Jared Allen, Eric Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe.

The new selection procedure seemed to have a profound affect on the choices. The selection committee had enshrined the maximum of five modern-era candidates per year for 17 consecutive years.

But for the class of 2025, three modern-era candidates made the cut, with Sharpe going in as the only selection from among three veteran candidates, a coach nominee and a contributokr candidate.

RELATED: IS BIAS AGAINST THE RIGHT SIDE KEEPING WILLIE ANDERSON OUT OF THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME?

The other modern-era finalists for the Class of 2025 included Jahri Evans, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Steve Smith, Terrell Suggs, Fred Taylor, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, Darren Woodson and Marshal Yanda.

A player is considered modern era if he has been retired for at least five seasons and was active within the past 25 seasons.

The 15 modern-era finalists advanced from 25 semifinalists, who were selected from a group of 50 who were chosen from the 167 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.

Voting by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee reduced the 15 finalists to 10 candidates and those 10 to seven for last ballot. On that ballot, each voter could pick five for enshrinement, and a candidate needed 80 percent of the votes to make the cut (unless fewer than three reached the threshold. In that case, the top three vote-getters are inducted.)

The 10th pick in the 1996 draft and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team, Anderson became a fixture at right offensive tackle for Cincinnati, starting every Bengals game except for two from 1997 through 2006. From 2003 through 2006, he was on the AFC Pro Bowl team annually, and he made first-team All-Pro in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Anderson blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers and was upfront for two record-setting games by running back Corey Dillon — an NFL rookie record 246 rushing yards against the Tennessee Oilers in 1997 and an NFL record 278 rushing yards versus the Denver Broncos in 2000.

Anderson played in 195 regular-season games and four playoff contests during his 13 NFL seasons.

Sixteen men who played at Alabama high schools and colleges are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The state’s Hall of Famers are Robert Brazile (Vigor), Buck Buchanan (Parker High School in Birmingham), Frank Gatski (Auburn), Kevin Greene (Auburn), John Hannah (Albertville High School, Alabama), Don Hutson (Alabama), Walter Jones (Aliceville High School), Joe Namath (Alabama), Ozzie Newsome (Colbert County High School, Alabama), Terrell Owens (Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City), Ken Stabler (Foley High School, Alabama), John Stallworth (Tuscaloosa, Alabama A&M), Bart Starr (Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama), Dwight Stephenson (Alabama), Derrick Thomas (Alabama) and DeMarcus Ware (Auburn High, Troy).

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.