The NFL players' union has narrowed its list to five candidates to succeed the late Gene Upshaw as executive director.

The list includes former NFLPA presidents Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, The Associated Press learned today. Vincent and Armstrong made the most recent cut this week, when the NFLPA pared its list from nine.

A person familiar with the list, but not authorized to reveal the names, said the other three candidates are former union executive and former Bears tackle Jim Covert; ex-NFL player Ben Utt; and attorney DeMaurice Smith.

In a statement, the union confirmed it is down to five finalists but did not release the names.