2026 HOF Modern Finalists cut to 15

[Dallas Cowboys]

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/...class-of-2026/

Then there were 15. Who do you guys predict? Remember they can only elect up to 5 modern finalists out of the 15. I think Eli has to wait again.

[the mesiah]

Who I would want to get in

Darren Woodson
Jason witten
Reggie Wayne
Frank gore
Drew Brees


Who I think will get picked

Drew Brees
Fitzgerald
Adam vinateri
Luke Kuechley
Terrell Suggs

[redboxer27]

Originally Posted by the mesiah

Who I would want to get in

Darren Woodson
Jason witten
Reggie Wayne
Frank gore
Drew Brees


Who I think will get picked

Drew Brees
Fitzgerald
Adam vinateri
Luke Kuechley
Terrell Suggs

you forgot eli manning on both your lists

[the mesiah]

Originally Posted by redboxer27

you forgot eli manning on both your lists

Ahhh Joey redz!! Where the hell u been at.?!?

[raiderguy10]

Including the seniors/contributors my guess:

Belichick
Kraft
Roger Craig
Brees
Fitz
Willie Anderson
Holt

Think they'll only elect 7 when they could do 8.

[49erRCCollector]

Fitz/Brees are locks, a bit murky after that.

[Dallas Cowboys]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Fitz/Brees are locks, a bit murky after that.

Thought you would say Gore as well.


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[Bosoxfan5990]

Belichick, Kraft, Vinatieri same ballot would be fun.

[Dallas Cowboys]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Belichick, Kraft, Vinatieri same ballot would be fun.

I believe Belichick and Kraft are locks for first ballot. Not sure how a voter could argue otherwise. As far as Vinatieri, they could have put him in last year. Instead they only elected 4 modern finalists and left an empty slot. I guess they didn’t want a first ballot kicker. I don’t see how they don’t elect him this year. You can’t talk about the history of the NFL in the early 2000s or the early Patriots dynasty with out talking about Adam and several clutch kicks he made.

[raiderguy10]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

I believe Belichick and Kraft are locks for first ballot. Not sure how a voter could argue otherwise. As far as Vinatieri, they could have put him in last year. Instead they only elected 4 modern finalists and left an empty slot. I guess they didn’t want a first ballot kicker. I don’t see how they don’t elect him this year. You can’t talk about the history of the NFL in the early 2000s or the early Patriots dynasty with out talking about Adam and several clutch kicks he made.

The committee won't put three from the same team in at the same time. They're be ridiculed for that decision and have to hear the bias complaints from 31 other teams

[Dallas Cowboys]

Originally Posted by raiderguy10

The committee won't put three from the same team in at the same time. They're be ridiculed for that decision and have to hear the bias complaints from 31 other teams

I don’t think that would be much of a stretch to put all three in. I don’t see how that would be that biased. Bill and Kraft even if you hate them it’s hard to deny first ballot status. So the voters would basically make Adam wait another round?

[raiderguy10]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

I don’t think that would be much of a stretch to put all three in. I don’t see how that would be that biased. Bill and Kraft even if you hate them it’s hard to deny first ballot status. So the voters would basically make Adam wait another round?

I'm not saying Adam won't get in...he will. But I wouldn't be shocked if he waited a few years. There's only two true kickers (Morten Anderson and Jan Stenerud) and one true punter (Ray Guy) in the hall. Vinatieri will be there but it won't be this year will Bill and Kraft getting in.

Just my opinion, but I really don't see any way the committee designates 37-50% of enshrinees to one team

[Archangel1775]

Drew Brees is the only lock. I'd say Fitzgerald but its too weird for receivers and their voting.

[majestik101]

It's astonishing that Ken Anderson is not yet in the HOF

I pick these six. All deserving.

Sorry Bill and Eli, you'll have to wait


Drew Brees
Torry Holt
Reggie Wayne


Ken Anderson
Robert Kraft
Roger Craig

[Dallas Cowboys]

Originally Posted by majestik101

It's astonishing that Ken Anderson is not yet in the HOF

I pick these six. All deserving.

Sorry Bill and Eli, you'll have to wait


Drew Brees
Adam Vinatieri
Reggie Wayne


Ken Anderson
Robert Kraft
Roger Craig

Majestik who’s your other two modern players you think will get in? You just picked three or do you think that’s all they will put in out of those 15?


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[raiderguy10]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

Majestik who’s your other two modern players you think will get in? You just picked three or do you think that’s all they will put in out of those 15?


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4-8 total members can be elected and a minimum of 1 senior/contributor but not more than 3 seniors/contributors can be elected.

So 1-5 finalists can go in. And I wouldn't be shocked at all if at least one spot is empty again with the voting rules

[Dallas Cowboys]

Originally Posted by raiderguy10

4-8 total members can be elected and a minimum of 1 senior/contributor but not more than 3 seniors/contributors can be elected

The senior and contributor is separate. That list of 15 modern era players they can elect up to five.


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[raiderguy10]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

The senior and contributor is separate. That list of 15 modern era players they can elect up to five.


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The Selection Committee may elect up to five Modern-Era Players for the Class of 2026; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80% for election. Five others -- Seniors category Finalists Kenny Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood; along with Coach Finalist Bill Belichick and Contributor Finalist Robert Kraft -- also are candidates for the Class of 2026. Voting on these five is conducted separately as its own group distinct from the Modern-Era Players; a minimum of one person and a maximum of three from these combined categories may be elected under the Hall's current bylaws.

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

Majestik who’s your other two modern players you think will get in? You just picked three or do you think that’s all they will put in out of those 15?


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I subbed in Torry Holt instead of Vinatieri. He'll get in but I would rather see Torry Holt get his recognition.

Yes I only picked those. This is a weak class compared to others --

So 6 altogether. I think 1-5 "modern" is the norm, maybe they add an additional

[mike1498]

Have no idea who the committee will pick.

This is who they should pick.

Larry Fitzgerald
Drew Brees
Luke Kuechly
Torry Holt
Terrell Suggs

[Dallas Cowboys]

I’m biased but I’ve felt Witten was first ballot status. I also realize voters could be looking at Gronk and Kelce being more first ballot worthy and making Witten wait. Heck I thought Gates was first ballot and they made him wait.

[mike1498]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

I’m biased but I’ve felt Witten was first ballot status. I also realize voters could be looking at Gronk and Kelce being more first ballot worthy and making Witten wait. Heck I thought Gates was first ballot and they made him wait.

I think this is always a hard comment to make because being "first ballot" has more to do with the talent that is eligible rather than who really "deserves" to be a first ballot.

I think the question instead should be "who would Witten replace this year".

I think
Drew Brees and Fitzgerald are locks.

I personally would take Suggs over Witten since 8th all time in sacks is more impressive to me than 21st all time in receiving yards.

If Kuechly had a longer career I don't really see a scenario where he isn't a lock. He's got a DPOY and 5 All Pros. Witten has 4 All Pros.

I could see Witten over Torry Holt if we go based on All Pros. Torry Holt has just a little more receiving yards than Witten which I'd argue is more impressive for Witten given he is a TE and not a WR. I think the only reason you may take Holt over Witten is solely due to how long Holt has had to wait so far. I could see this one going either way

[Grid]

Originally Posted by mike1498

I personally would take Suggs over Witten since 8th all time in sacks is more impressive to me than 21st all time in receiving yards.

Witten 21st all time when you include everyone else that has ever caught a ball.

Witten 7th All Time for Tight Ends. All 6 in front of him are either in the Hall, or will be First Ballot (Gronk & Kelce)

The 6 in front of him are in the Hall. The 6 behind him are in the Hall. He is also 6th all time for a TE in TDs.

If Gronk and Kelce never existed, Witten would be 1st ballot. But Gonzo and Gates were the best TEs in the 2000s. And Gronk and Kelce were the best in the 2010s when Witten was in there.

[Tea10]

Originally Posted by Grid

Witten 21st all time when you include everyone else that has ever caught a ball.

Witten 7th All Time for Tight Ends. All 6 in front of him are either in the Hall, or will be First Ballot (Gronk & Kelce)

The 6 in front of him are in the Hall. The 6 behind him are in the Hall. He is also 6th all time for a TE in TDs.

If Gronk and Kelce never existed, Witten would be 1st ballot. But Gonzo and Gates were the best TEs in the 2000s. And Gronk and Kelce were the best in the 2010s when Witten was in there.

Jason Witten is 2nd all-time for TE receiving yards

Kelce will pass him with a ~60 yard game this week, but he could retire and not pass Witten possibly. Witten is 6th in receiving TDs for TEs. 100% agree with the end, Gronk/Kelce are/were both just better players, the stats are similar enough, and they also were on dynasties with multiple SB rings.

[Tea10]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

I’m biased but I’ve felt Witten was first ballot status. I also realize voters could be looking at Gronk and Kelce being more first ballot worthy and making Witten wait. Heck I thought Gates was first ballot and they made him wait.

I think that's the issue with the HoF personally. Witten probably should get in, but he's not really 1st ballot and there becomes a backlog of guys getting in with eligibility from what I remember.

I might be biased too. Patriots fan, since I was born. But I think objectively beyond that bias that Gronk is the best TE to ever play the game. Calvin Johnson esque, I'd even say he is the GOAT for TEs regardless of longevity. Point being, it makes it tougher for Witten or Gates to get in when they were the 4th or 5th best TE to play this century, this past decade or two so far. I think it's pretty clear Gronk-Kelce-Tony G are above Gates and Witten.

It's goofy with the HoF because on one hand stats matter a ton. But on the other (and I'd argue this for Witten) there's guy's who stacked up a bunch of pretty good to good seasons but not great to elite, who just stuck around forever and accumulated top 5, top 10 stat lines for totals. Witten is 2nd for all TEs in yards all-time, 6th in TDs. He has the 2x All-pros. But I feel like he was just pretty good or very good for the majority of his career, not excellent. Hall of Very Good line, but no, he definitely deserves to get in.