Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas again a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Ex-Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the fourth time, the Hall announced Wednesday night.

Thomas spent 12 seasons as the Dolphins’ middle linebacker starting in 1997.

He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and made All-Pro five times. He also was chosen for the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

Thomas, 49, was chosen in the fifth round, 154th overall, out of Texas Tech and made 1,734 tackles in his career, including one season in Dallas.

The other finalists include Suncoast High's Devin Hester and the University of Miami's Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson.

The Seniors category finalists are Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley, along with Coach/Contributor Finalist Don Coryell.

The Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 will be announced Feb. 9 during the NFL Honors telecast from Phoenix on NFL Network, NBC and Peacock.

This year's finalists:

• Jared Allen, Defensive End — 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

• Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

• Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety — 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Dwight Freeney, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker — 2002-12 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions

• Devin Hester,Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver — 2006-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens

• Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

• Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver — 2003-14 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans

• Albert Lewis, Cornerback — 1983-93 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

• Darrelle Revis, Cornerback — 2007-12 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs

• Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle — 2007-17 Cleveland Browns

• Zach Thomas, Linebacker — 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys

• DeMarcus Ware,Linebacker/Defensive End — 2005-13 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos

• Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver —2001-14 Indianapolis Colts

• Patrick Willis, Linebacker —2007-14 San Francisco 49ers

• Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas named finalist for Hall of Fame