For any professional athlete, the culmination of a successful career comes with an induction to their respective sports Hall of Fame. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the most revered shrines in sports, and also one of the most difficult to get into.

On Thursday the NFL announced the group of 13 first-year eligible players who will have their chance to get voted into the Hall this year.

New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety John Lynch were among the group of players.

The three join kicker Morten Andersen, offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen, defensive lineman Warren Sapp and 121 other nominees who are eligible for the first time. The list will be brought down to 25 names by November.

Of the main group, 15 finalists from the modern era will be announced in January, with voting taking place on Feb. 2, 2013, which is the day before the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Inductions will take place in August, with four to seven players getting voted in.

Other notable first-time players include center Tom Nalen, wide receiver Keenan McCardell, running back Priest Holmes and defensive end Bryant Young.

The group of people nominated as contributors this year include Patriots owner Robert Kraft, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell, who passed away earlier in the month.

Located in Canton, Ohio, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was opened in 1963 and features 267 members that are selected by a 44-person committee, mostly made up of sportswriters. Hall of Fame rules state that a player can be eligible for voting after having been retired at least five years. The rules also state that Fans may nominate any player, coach or contributor by simply writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame via letter or email.

To enter the Hall of Fame a finalist must receive at least 80 percent support from the Board, with at least four, but no more than seven, candidates being elected annually.

Strahan holds the record for sacks in a season and finished his career with 141.5 career sacks, 794 career tackles, 4 career interceptions, 21 forced fumbles and 2 career touchdowns in 200 games. He also made seven Pro Bowls.

Andersen sits as the all-time leading scorer in the NFL, but it is hard for kickers to get voted into the Hall. The only kickers to be voted in are George Blanda, Lou Groza and Jan Stenerud. Andersen was a member of NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1980s and '90s and made seven Pro Bowls in his career. He played for the Saints, Falcons, Giants, Chiefs, and Vikings.

Last year the class included running back Marshall Faulk, defensive end Richard Dent, NFL Films founder Ed Sabol, tight end Shannon Sharpe and cornerback Deion Sanders.

Following last year's voting, there is a logjam at wide receiver, with players like Chris Carter, Andre Reed and Tim Brown still eligible to get in. Other players left over from last season include running back Jerome Bettis, defensive back Aeneas Williams and defensive end Charles Haley.

Of the new group of nominees, Michael Strahan has the best chance of making it in on his first try. His stats stand out against the other players at his position and he has played in two Super Bowls, winning one with the Giants in 2008.

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