Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Clay Matthews is one step closer to Canton.

The Cleveland Browns linebacker great has advanced to the semifinalist round for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.

The list of semifinalists was reduced from an initial list of 94 nominees through a vote of the 48 members of the Hall’s Board of Selectors.

This marks the second time Matthews has advanced to this stage. He made it this far in 2012, but came up short on the next vote to 15.

There’s still a long way to go in the grueling selection process.

The next vote, also done through mail, occurs in January and pares the list to 15. If Matthews makes it through that vote, his candidacy would then move on to the annual selection meeting on the day before Super Bowl 51 in Houston on Feb. 4.

The list of 15 finalists is joined by two nominees from the Hall’s contributors committee and one from the seniors committee. Those nominees for 2017 are former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley.

Out of that finalist field of 18, a minimum of four and maximum of eight nominees will be selected for the 2017 Class. Finalists must receive 80 percent of the vote to gain enshrinement.

Matthews played 16 seasons with the Browns from 1978 through 1993, and finished with three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Clay’s son, Clay III, is a linebacker with the Green Bay Packers. Clay’s brother, Bruce, was elected to the Hall in 2007.

Besides Matthews, the semifinalists announced Wednesday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame are:

Kicker Morten Andersen, safety Steve Atwater, offensive tackle Tony Boselli, receiver Isaac Bruce, coach Don Coryell, running back Roger Craig, running back Terrell Davis, safety Brian Dawkins, guard Alan Faneca, offensive lineman Chris Hinton, receiver Torry Holt, offensive tackle Joe Jacoby, running back Edgerrin James, coach Jimmy Johnson, offensive tackle Mike Kenn, cornerback Ty Law, safety John Lynch, center Kevin Mawae, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, receiver Terrell Owens, defensive end Jason Taylor, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, receiver Hines Ward, quarterback Kurt Warner and safety Darren Woodson.