ZACHARY — Zachary native and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams is among five contributor candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Williams, who played for the Washington Commanders when they were still known as the Redskins, is the first Black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl. 

Williams attended Chaneyville High School in Zachary before playing at Grambling State University. He was drafted in 1978 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Williams later coached at Pointe Coupee Central High School and Northeast High School in the 1990s, as well as at Grambling in the late '90s, early '00s and early 2010s.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, late Bears owner Virginia McCaskey, longtime NFL player, scout and personnel executive John Wooten and former Canton Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay were also named on the list released Wednesday. 

Members of the Hall's contributor subcommittee made their selections from an original field of 42 nominees. The subcommittee will select one candidate to be considered when the Hall's selection committee determines a new class of enshrinees in early 2027.

The final list of candidates will include one contributor, one coach and 13 players. The group will be reduced to 10 and then seven candidates, with all 15 in the same category.