Pro Football Hall of Fame unveils Class of 2026 finalists

OHIO — Fifteen National Football League standouts have taken one step closer to enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

The hall announced the finalists for the Modern-Era Players Category on Tuesday morning for the Class of 2026. Those selected will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, in August.

Four players advanced automatically to this stage because of reaching the final seven for election with the Class of 2025: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. They are joined by six other finalists from a year ago, four first-year eligible candidates and one player in his sixth year of eligibility who is a finalist for the first time.

The Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LX, and the Class of 2026 will be revealed Feb. 5 during the “NFL Honors” show on NBC, NFL Network, Peacock and NFL+.

Modern-Era Players are: 

• Willie Anderson, Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
• Drew Brees, Quarterback – 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints
• Jahri Evans, Guard – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
• Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver – 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals
• Frank Gore, Running Back – 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets
• Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars 
• Luke Kuechly, Linebacker – 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
• Eli Manning, Quarterback – 2004-2019 New York Giants
• Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End – 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
• Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts
• Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
• Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle – 2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints
• Jason Witten, Tight End – 2003-2017, 2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders
• Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
• Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

Up to five Modern-Era players can be chosen by the Selection Committee, with each receiving a minimum vote of 80% for election.

Five others — Seniors category finalists Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood; along with coach finalist Bill Belichick and contributor finalist Robert Kraft — are also eligible for the Class of 2026, with voting on these candidates conducted separately. A minimum of one person and a maximum of three from the combined categories may be elected according to the current bylaws.

There is no set number for any class of enshrinees, but the current selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members shall be chosen.