The NFL has already announced it's centennial members for the Hall of Fame for the class of 2020 and the modern-era finalists will be announced soon. Before the announcement is made, Tom Brady made a ringing endorsement for the former safety of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Polamalu.

Polamalu was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, the ball-hawking safety had plenty of battles with Brady and the New England Patriots.

Therefore, Brady knows more than most how cerebral Polamalu was at the safety position. When teams faced the Steelers, it was vital to know where Polamalu was going to be at all times.

The USC alum spent 12 seasons with the Steelers before retiring from the NFL in 2014. During his playing career, Polamalu totaled 783 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, 14 forced fumbles, 32 interceptions, and five defensive touchdowns.

While he was in the NFL, Polamalu reinvented the safety position to what it is in today's league. Now, teams are trying to find versatile safeties that can play near the line of scrimmage as Polamalu did.

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With it being five years since his retirement, this is Polamalu's first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. Besides Polamalu, John Lynch and Steve Atwater are safeties who are also itching to hear their name called.

Both Lynch and Atwater have waited quite a few years to be enshrined in Canton. As a matter of fact, this is Lynch's seventh year of eligibility while Atwater is heading into his 12th year of eligibility.

The Hall of Fame committee could choose to induct either Lynch or Atwater before Polamalu. Nevertheless, having Brady's support should bode well for the long-haired safety for the Steelers.