Weeks ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 162 Preliminary Senior Candidates for the Class of 2026, which they then reduced to 52. The step after was a reduction to 32, and now, a week before the announcement of the Modern Semi-Finalists, we have the nine men who are the official Senior Semi-Finalists for the class of 2026.
The Semi-Finalists are:
Ken Anderson: Quarterback, CIN 1971-86. Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981, and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns. He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and, historically, led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl. Anderson was a Modern Finalist in 1996 and 1998. Ranked #8 on notinhalloffame.com.
Roger Craig: Running Back, SFO 1983-90, RAI 1991 & MIN 1992-93. The first player to accumulate 1,000 Yards Rushing and Receiving, Craig won three Super Bowls, was the Offensive Player of the Year, earned four Pro Bowls, and was a First Team All-Pro. From Scrimmage, he had 73 Touchdowns and 13,100 Yards. Craig was a Modern Finalist in 2010 and a Senior Finalist in 2020. Ranked #15 on notinhalloffame.com.
Henry Ellard: Wide Receiver, RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NWE 1998. Ellard compiled 13,777 Yards and 65 Touchdowns in a career that included leading the NFL in Receiving Yards. He is also a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro. Ellard has never been a Finalist. Ranked #64 on notinhalloffame.com.
L.C. Greenwood: Defensive End, PIT 1969-81. Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls. A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks, and was a six-time modern Finalist (1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005 & 2006). Ranked #5 on notinhalloffame.com.
Joe Jacoby: Offensive Lineman, WAS 1981-93. A famed member of the Hogs, Jacoby was part of all three of Washington’s Super Bowl wins and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro. Jacoby is a three-time Finalist (2016, 2017 & 2018). Ranked #33 on notinhalloffame.com.
Eddie Meador: RAM 1959-70. Meador is one of the most prolific Defensive Backs in RMS history and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro. He amassed a franchise record of 46 Interceptions. Meador has never been a Finalist. Ranked #68 on notinhalloffame.com.
Stanley Morgan: NWE 1977-89 & IND 1990. A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Stanley Morgan compiled 72 Touchdowns with 10,716 Receiving Yards. He was also a three-time leader in Yards per Reception. Morgan has never been a Finalist. Ranked #266 on notinhalloffame.com.
Steve Tasker: HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97. Tasker went to four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection. He has never been a Finalist. Ranked #144 on notinhalloffame.com.
Otis Taylor: KAN 1965-75. Taylor won two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl with Kansas City, who had 60 TDs and 7,467 Yards From Scrimmage. He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro. Taylor has never been a Finalist. Ranked #32 on notinhalloffame.com.
The group of 32 who did not make it as Semi-Finalists were Dick Anderson (DB), Carl Banks (LB), Maxie Baughan (LB), Bobby Boyd (DB), Charlie Conerly (QB), Isaac Curtis (WR), Lavvie Dilweg (E), Chuck Foreman (RB), Roman Gabriel (QB), Larry Grantham (LB), Cecil Isbel (RB), Harold Jackson (WR), Lee Roy Jordan (LB), Mike Kenn (OL), Bob Kuechenberg (OL), Albert Lewis (DB), Jim Marshall (DL), Clay Matthews Jr. (LB), Tommy Nobis (LB), Lemar Parrish (DB), Art Powell (SE), Jim Tyrer (OL), Everson Alls (DB), Al Wistert (OL), & Paul “Tank” Younger (FB).
Of note, Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer were Finalists last year and were unable to break the Semis this year. Also, all players who played before 1959 were cut.
We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the candidates who have reached this stage.
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