128 Modern-Era Players nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026

[49erRCCollector]

Modern-Era nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Who do you got?

*-Finalist (final 15) for the Class of 2025. Underline indicates first year of eligibility. (Players must have last played at least five full seasons ago to be eligible for nomination. Therefore, any individual who last played in 2020 is eligible for the first time in 2026.)

QUARTERBACKS (10): Drew Brees, Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, *-Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Philip Rivers, Alex Smith.

RUNNING BACKS (21): Shaun Alexander, Mike Alstott (FB), Tiki Barber, Larry Centers (FB), Jamaal Charles, Corey Dillon, Warrick Dunn, Arian Foster, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Priest Holmes, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Eric Metcalf (also WR/PR/KR), Lorenzo Neal (FB), *-Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.

WIDE RECEIVERS (18): Anquan Boldin, Donald Driver, Larry Fitzgerald, *-Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Brandon Marshall, Derrick Mason, Herman Moore, Muhsin Muhammad, Jordy Nelson, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, *-Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *-Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker, Roddy White.

TIGHT ENDS (6): Vernon Davis, Zach Miller, Greg Olsen, Wesley Walls, Delanie Walker, Jason Witten.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (22): *-Willie Anderson (T), Matt Birk (C), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Ryan Clady (T), David DeCastro (G), *-Jahri Evans (G), Jordan Gross (T), Ryan Kalil (C), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Tom Nalen (C), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Jeff Saturday (C), Josh Sitton (G), Joe Staley (T), Brian Waters (G), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), *-Marshal Yanda (G).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (13): John Abraham (DE also LB), Geno Atkins (DT), Jurrell Casey (DT), Elvis Dumervil (DE), La’Roi Glover (DT/NT), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Jay Ratliff (DE), Simeon Rice (DE), Justin Smith (DE), Ted Washington (NT/DT), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).

LINEBACKERS (14): NaVorro Bowman, Lance Briggs, Tedy Bruschi, Thomas Davis, James Farrior, London Fletcher, James Harrison, A.J. Hawk, *-Luke Kuechly, Clay Matthews III, Dat Nguyen, Takeo Spikes, *-Terrell Suggs, Lee Woodall.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (15): Eric Berry (S), Kam Chancellor (S), Nick Collins (S), DeAngelo Hall (DB), Rodney Harrison (S), James Hasty (CB), Carnell Lake (DB), Allen Rossum (DB), Asante Samuel (CB), Patrick Surtain (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), Adrian Wilson (S), *-Darren Woodson (S).

PUNTERS/KICKERS (7): David Akers (K), Gary Anderson (K), Jason Hanson (K), John Kasay (K), Sean Landeta (P), Shane Lechler (P), *-Adam Vinatieri (K).

SPECIAL TEAMS (2): Josh Cribbs (KR/PR also WR), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).

In addition to 15 Modern-Era Player Finalists, the 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will discuss three Seniors Finalists, a Coach Finalist and a Contributor Finalist as potential members of the Class of 2026. While there is no set number for any class, the selection process bylaws provide that between four and eight new members will be elected.

Finalists must receive at least 80% support from the Selection Committee to join the Class of 2026. The Modern-Era Player Finalists will be trimmed during the annual selection meeting from 15 to 10, then to seven. Committee members then will vote for five of the seven Finalists.

Because they reached the final seven for the Class of 2025, nominees Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri automatically advance to the final 15 for the Class of 2026.

This year’s reduction voting will be completed with oversight from the firm Ernst & Young LLP, a Hall of Fame partner since 2019. EY’s Agreed-Upon Procedures include validating the completeness of the ballots and tabulating the ballots in accordance with the bylaws established by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined next August.

TWO WORDS:

FRANK.

GORE.

[majestik101]

Jake Delhomme, Rich Gannon, and Jeff Garcia.

But not Jim Plunkett, Ken Anderson, or Phil Simms.

Or are they not "Modern Era"?

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by majestik101

Jake Delhomme, Rich Gannon, and Jeff Garcia.

But not Jim Plunkett, Ken Anderson, or Phil Simms.

Or are they not "Modern Era"?

Yes, those would need to be the veteran selections. I am all for Ken Anderson getting in. The other two are a no for me.

Lots of good first timers - Brees, Rivers, Gore, McCoy, Fitzgerald, Witten, DeCastro, Pouncey, Atkins. Almost all offense. I do think these will all find their way in the HOF eventually. My guess is only Brees and Fitzgerald will be first ballot guys.

I was surprised at last year's picks, so I don't know anymore, lol.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined next August.

TWO WORDS:

FRANK.

GORE.

The Harold Baines of football

[the mesiah]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

The Harold Baines of football

You crazy ! Don’t disrespect Gore like that .. top 3 rushing leader of all time .. all decade team .. Baines is nowhere near relatable to that in baseball

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

The Harold Baines of football

We already have one of those in the HOF

FLOYD

LITTLE

[2010GBPackers]

Brees
Fitzgerald
Kuechley
Witten
Vinateri

[dlouisb1313]

If I only had to pick one only it'd be Drew Brees.

If possible I'd also add Adam Vinaterri.

[Siberian13]

Drew Brees
Larry Fitzgerald
Jason Witten
Adam Vinateri
And every olineman

Why is Deangelo Hall even on this list?

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Mike Alstott (FB)

Yes please. I have cards to sell.

[packman80]

Brees
Fitzgerald
Kuechley
Willie Anderson
Vinateri

Bill gets in as coach since only have to be retired 1 year now

Senior candidate?

[SethMurphy]

Brees
Manning
Fitzgerald
Holt
Wayne
Anderson
Kuechly
Vinatieri


A lot of the OL names could all be in there and will at some point I'm sure

[packman80]

Originally Posted by SethMurphy

Brees
Manning
Fitzgerald
Holt
Wayne
Anderson
Kuechly
Vinatieri


A lot of the OL names could all be in there and will at some point I'm sure

Can only have a max of five modern era players go in with 3 as a minimum

[Bosoxfan5990]

Adam Vinateri.

[mjekase]

Brees, Fitzgerald and Kuechly.
Vinateri and Witten would be my next two.

[Seahawks fan]

I would be disappointed not to see Fitz, Witten, or Brees get in. After that would be Vinatieri for having to bail out Ugg boy so many times.

Wisniewski should have been in a while ago. 8 All pros, 8 pro bowls, and on the 90s all decade team.

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by Seahawks fan

I would be disappointed not to see Fitz, Witten, or Brees get in. After that would be Vinatieri for having to bail out Ugg boy so many times.

Wisniewski should have been in a while ago. 8 All pros, 8 pro bowls, and on the 90s all decade team.

Brees and Fitz are definitely getting in. Witten may have to wait, but I think he should get in.

[49ersSF]

The finalist should look like this.

QUARTERBACKS : Drew Brees, *-Eli Manning

RUNNING BACKS : Frank Gore

WIDE RECEIVERS : Larry Fitzgerald, *-Steve Smith Sr., *-Reggie Wayne

TIGHT ENDS : Jason Witten.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN : *-Willie Anderson (T), *-Jahri Evans (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN : Kevin Williams (DT).

LINEBACKERS : *-Luke Kuechly, *-Terrell Suggs

DEFENSIVE BACKS : *-Darren Woodson (S).

PUNTERS/KICKERS : *-Adam Vinatieri (K).

[the mesiah]

Originally Posted by 49ersSF

The finalist should look like this.

DEFENSIVE BACKS : *-Darren Woodson (S).

.

[asujbl]

AJ Hawk is awesome

Terrell Suggs was a jerk to me in College

So yeah

[EBCollectibles]

Look at some of these names. HOF keep watering it down. We may see Akili Smith and Josh Rosen's name on their in a few Years.

[49ersSF]

Originally Posted by EBCollectibles

Look at some of these names. HOF keep watering it down. We may see Akili Smith and Josh Rosen's name on their in a few Years.

You do understand that this is just nominations, right?

The NFL Hall of Fame is easily the most difficult Hall of Fame to get into. A guy like Randy Gradishar had to wait 35+ years to get in. He was a 7-time AP, DPOY, leader of one of the most famed defenses, and the all-time tackle leader. The guy averaged 200+ tackles a season. Yet, he had to wait and wait and wait.

There is nothing watered down about it.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by asujbl

AJ Hawk is awesome

Terrell Suggs was a jerk to me in College

So yeah

Did he wear cargo shorts?

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Did he wear cargo shorts?

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Did he wear cargo shorts?

Probably

There was an A&F on Mill Avenue when I was there and that’s when Abercrombie was still super legit

It’s also hot there

So yes… I’m going to say he wore cargo shorts

Flat fronts were cheaper so that’s what us normal students wore