1986 SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

Thank you for your participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project. If you are unaware of what that is, we acted like the PFHOF had its first class in January 1946.

We have completed the years up to 1985.

For “1986,” a Preliminary Vote with nearly 100 players whose playing career ended by 1980. We also follow the structure in which players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, and the top 25 vote-getters were named Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters were asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next week, they will choose five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process every week until we catch up to the current year.

31 votes were cast, with the top 15 advancing.

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals: 

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

We will post the Class of 1986 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project next Saturday.

Thank you to all who contributed. If you want to be part of this project, please let us know!

An All-American at Oregon, where he was the 2020 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Payton Pritchard was selected by the Celtics 29th overall and would see increased playing time coming off the bench in his first five NBA seasons.

A member of the 2024 NBA Championship team, the efficient Guard continues to bring high energy to Boston, and was rewarded with the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2025, leading him to become a starter going into 2025-26.

At first glance, traditional sports and online gaming may seem worlds apart. One takes place in arenas and stadiums, and the other unfolds on digital screens. Yet both share a common heartbeat: the spirit of competition, connection, and the pursuit of mastery. Whether kicking a ball across a field or strategizing in a virtual battle, players everywhere are united by passion, skill, and the timeless thrill of play.

The Drive to Compete

Competition lies at the core of both gaming and sports. Athletes and gamers alike push boundaries, striving to perfect their performance and outsmart opponents. The playing field may differ, but the motivation remains the same: to test limits, to grow stronger, and to experience the rush that comes from a well-earned victory.

In both worlds, success is never handed out easily. Players spend hours practicing techniques, studying strategies, and learning from defeat. The reward is not just in winning, but in the journey and in the endless cycle of improvement that transforms participants into legends of their craft.

Teamwork and Connection

Sports and gaming are both built on relationships. Behind every great team lies trust, communication, and unity. In online gaming, those same dynamics appear in virtual teams where players coordinate across continents to achieve a shared goal. Every successful move, every comeback victory, comes from collaboration and understanding.

This connection extends beyond the game itself. Friendships are formed, communities grow, and bonds strengthen through shared experiences. The roar of a crowd or the buzz of a headset reminds participants that no one plays alone.

Strategy, Skill and Mindset

Both athletes and gamers understand that success depends on more than physical ability or fast reflexes. Strategic thinking plays a huge role. Whether planning formations on the pitch or building tactics in a game, the process requires awareness, timing, and adaptability.

These experiences also teach mental resilience. Learning to handle pressure, stay calm under stress, and recover from setbacks are essential skills shared across both domains. In many ways, gaming and sports both act as training grounds for real-life focus, discipline, and problem-solving.

The Thrill of the Crowd

From football stadiums to live-streaming platforms, the excitement of the audience defines much of the experience. Fans cheer for their favorites, celebrate dramatic wins, and share emotional highs and lows together. Esports, for instance, has mirrored the enthusiasm of traditional sporting events, drawing millions of viewers who follow tournaments just as passionately as they would a championship final.

The rise of global digital platforms has blurred the line between fan and player. Spectators can engage directly, learn from professionals, or even join the action themselves. This interactivity has made gaming one of the most connected entertainment experiences in modern culture.

The Evolution of Play

Both sports and gaming continue to evolve through technology, innovation, and creativity. Athletes use advanced analytics to enhance performance, while gamers rely on cutting-edge systems and global networks to push the limits of digital play. Platforms such as Crazyvegas best AU online casino represent how online environments have expanded to include competitive, social, and strategic experiences that mirror the essence of sport.

As gaming gains recognition as a legitimate form of competition, the overlap between digital and physical play continues to grow. Both inspire people to strive for excellence, celebrate achievement, and embrace fair play. These are key values that transcend generations.

Legends Are Born from Play

At the heart of both gaming and sports lies a universal truth: greatness is born from passion. Whether holding a controller or a ball, players chase the same feeling, which is the moment when preparation meets opportunity, when effort turns into triumph.

Legends, after all, aren’t defined by where they play, but by how they play. From stadium lights to virtual arenas, the drive to compete, connect, and create memorable moments will always unite those who live for the game.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nine former Coaches who have advanced as Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2026.

The Blue Ribbon Committee will meet virtually on November 18 and select one Finalist.

*Denotes First Year of Eligibility.

*Bill Belichick.  With all due respect to this loaded group of candidates, no one can match the resume of Bill Belichick.  Beginning his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, Belichick joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role.  He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he posted a winning record in only one of his six years.  He received another chance as a Head Coach for New England, and the rest was history.  Belichick ushered in the Patriots' dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the most remarkable run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history.  Belichick had a career record of 333-178, a 31-13 playoff record, and also boasts three AP Coach of the Year Awards.  He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

Tom Coughlin:  Coughlin worked his way up the ranks and became the Head Coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.  He was their Head Coach for eight years, bringing them to two AFC Championship Games, the first of which was in the franchise’s second year.  After being fired, he joined the New York Giants, where the stoic leader led the G-Men to two Super Bowl wins (XLII & XLVI).  He retired with an overall record of 170-150 and is already a member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor and Pride of the Jaguars.

Mike Holmgren.  Holmgren won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, first as a Quarterbacks Coach and then as their Offensive Coordinator, and it propelled him to the Head Coaching job at Green Bay in 1992.  He led the Packers to a Super Bowl win at SBXXXI.  Holmgren accepted the Seattle Seahawks coaching job and took them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005.  A member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor, Holmgren had a career record of 161-111.

Chuck Knox:  An Offensive Line Coach with the New York Jets (1963-66) and for Detroit (1967-72), Knox was elevated to the Head Coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 1973, where he won the AP Coach of the Year award in his first season in that role.  He later coached Buffalo (1978-82) and Seattle (1983-91), where he won Coach of the Year Awards for both clubs, and he concluded his career with three years back with the Rams.  He had an overall record of 186-147.

Buddy Parker:  Parker was left off this stage last year after failing to make the Hall as a Finalist in 2024, but he is back where he belongs: in Hall of Fame consideration.  An NFL Champion as a player for the Detroit Lions in 1935, Parker became their Head Coach in 1951, and promptly led them to back-to-back NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953.  He left to helm the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, where he brought them to respectability.  He had a 107-76-9 record.

Dan Reeves.  Reeves won a Super Bowl as an Assistant Coach in Dallas and was hired by Denver as their Head Coach in 1981.  He led the Broncos to three AFC Titles but could not punch their ticket to a Super Bowl win.  After he was let go by Denver, he signed with the Giants and won the 1993 AP Coach of the Year.  Later, he took over as Atlanta’s Head Coach, leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance —a loss to his former team (Denver) —and earning his second Coach of the Year award.  He had an overall record of 190-165-2 and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor.

Marty Schottenheimer.  Working his way through the Giants and Lions as the Linebackers Coach, Schottenheimer landed the Defensive Coordinator job in Cleveland in 1980 and was promoted to their Head Coach in 1984.  He brought Cleveland to the AFC Finals twice but left for Kansas City in 1989 with another (unsuccessful) trip to the AFC Championship Game (1993).  Schottenheimer took some time off and was lured back by Washington, but that lasted only one year.  He returned the following season for the San Diego Chargers, where he twice took them to the playoffs.  He had an overall record of 200-126-1 and is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.

George Seifert.  Seifert joined the San Francisco 49ers as their Defensive Backs Coach in 1980 and was elevated to Defensive Coordinator in 1983.  He won three Super Bowls as an assistant coach, and in 1989 he was again promoted to Head Coach. Here, he led the Niners to two more Super Bowl wins and to five NFC Championship Games overall.  He concluded his career with three years as Carolina’s Head Coach and had an overall record of 114-62.

Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan joined Denver as their Wide Receivers Coach in 1984, and a year later, he began a three-year stint as their Offensive Coordinator, where he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired him to replace Tom Flores.  That did not last long, and he was back in Denver but was let go due to a dispute between Quarterback John Elway and Dan Reeves.  He went to San Francisco, where he won Super Bowl XXIX as the Offensive Coordinator. He returned to Denver in 1995, leading the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl wins (XXXII & XXXIII) during a 14-year run.  He finished his career with three years at Washington, posting an overall record of 170-138.  He is also a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.

The three coaches who were cut were Bill Arnsberger, Alex Gibbs, and Clark Shaugnessy.

We congratulate the candidates who have reached this stage.