Oh, what a happy day to be a Hall of Fame enthusiast!
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its 15 Modern Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2026, down from a list of 26.
To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least five years ago:
*Denotes they were a Finalist last year.
**Denotes they are eligible for the first time.
Quarterbacks (2): Philip Rivers did not advance.
**Drew Brees: SDG 2001-05 & NOR 2006-20. After five years in San Diego, Brees ascended to superstar status in New Orleans. Brees led the Saints to their first and only Super Bowl win, was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and was selected to 13 Pro Bowls. He threw for 80,358 Yards and 571 Touchdowns. Ranked #1 on notinhalloffame.com. First Time as a Finalist.
*Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19. Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs. A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns. Ranked #107 on notinhalloffame.com. Second Time as a Finalist.
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
There is no surprise here, as Drew Brees should cruise into the Hall on his first attempt, and Eli Manning was also expected to advance. Manning, who is in his second year of eligibility, likely won’t enter the PFHOF in ’26, but no worries, Giants fans; nobody (except Jim Tyrer, and we know why) was a first ballot Finalist and failed to enter Canton.
The wildcard was Rivers, who returned to the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. Assuming he will not return in 2026, Rivers now views his new year of eligibility as 2031.
Running Backs (1): Fred Taylor did not advance.
**Frank Gore: SFO 2005-14, IND 2015-17, MIA 2018, BUF 2019 & NYJ 2020. Gore was a six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who amassed a whopping 16,000 Rushing Yards (third all-time), 19,985 APY, and 99 Touchdowns. Ranked #19 on notinhalloffame.com. First Time as a Finalist.
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
We thought that Frank Gore’s appearance on the ballot would negatively impact Fred Taylor, and this is precisely what happened. Gore has significantly more yardage than Taylor, and we have a rare occurrence of a multi-time Finalist (Taylor was a Finalist the last two years) failing to get through. As for Gore, he is the ultimate compiler and was never a top-five Running Back (well, maybe once). Gore’s Hall of Fame candidacy fascinates us.
Wide Receivers (3): (Steve Smith Sr. & Hines Ward did not advance)
**Larry Fitzgerald: ARI 2004-20. Fitzgerald had a stellar career, earning 11 Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro selection, and was named the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Twice leading the league in Receptions as well as Touchdown Passes, Fitzgerald had 1,432 Receptions (Second all-time), 17,492 Yards (second all-time), and 121 Touchdowns (sixth all-time). Ranked #2 on notinhalloffame.com. First time as a Finalist.
*Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009. A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003). The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs. Holt has been a multi-time Finalist. Ranked #9 on notinhalloffame.com. Seventh time as a Semi-Finalist.
Reggie Wayne: IND 2001-12. Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro. He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate. He also has 82 Touchdowns. Ranked #23 on notinhalloffame.com. Seventh time as a Finalist (2020-26).
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
The Wide Receiver slot has been log-jammed for years, and the arrival of Larry Fitzgerald (the second lock behind Brees) clearly pushed Steve Smith Sr. aside.
Of note, Holt was among the last seven in the voting last season, ensuring he would be an automatic Finalist, but, as phenomenal as he was, his resume falls below Fitzgerald's. Wayne, who, like Holt, is on his seventh Finalist ballot, also looks to be below Fitzgerald, and with the current process, it is difficult to see two Wide Receivers advancing.
Also, I predicted years ago that Hines Ward would go 20-for-20, meaning he would reach 20 Semi-Finals without advancing to the finals. As Bon Jovi sang in “Living on a Prayer, “Whoa, we’re halfway there.”
Tight Ends (1):
**Jason Witten: 2003-17 & 2019 & LVR 2020. Witten went to a whopping 11 Pro Bowls, with two of those seasons netting him First Team All-Pros. The 2012 Walter Payton Award winner had 13,046 Yards with 74 TDs. Ranked #11 on notinhalloffame.com. First time as a Finalist.
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
Jason Witten is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. There is no doubt of that, and thankfully, he does not have to worry about Antonio Gates, who entered last year. If he does not enter this year, Rob Gronkowski is on the horizon and will jump over (and should) Witten. Witten will eventually enter Canton, but the current structure does him no favors in 2026.
Offensive Lineman (3): (Lomas Brown, Richmond Webb, and Steve Wisniewski did not advance)
*Willie Anderson (T): CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008. Anderson was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy. Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous three years. Ranked #101 on notinhalloffame.com. Fifth time as a Finalist (2021-26).
*Jahri Evans (G): NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017. Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four. He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints. Ranked #29 on notinhalloffame.com. Third time as a Finalist (2021-26).
*Marshal Yanda (G): BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros. Ranked #4 on notinhalloffame.com. Second time as a Finalist (2025-26).
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
I said when we looked at the Semi-Finalists that I would be thrilled if Wisniewski, Brown, and/or Webb got into that room to be discussed as a PFHOF Finalist, but I doubted that I would be delighted. That is precisely what transpired, and for Wiz, this is the end of the modern pool, as he falls into the abyss of the senior pool. Webb has only one year left, and both he and Wiz are Hall of Fame material; there is no doubt about that.
As for the rest, Anderson was guaranteed to be a Finalist based on last year’s top-seven finish, and Yanda and Evans are returnees. Anderson appears to be atop the queue, and Evans and Yanda both debuted in their respective years as a Finalist, so it should be only a matter of time for those two Guards. The O-Line looks to be as jammed as the WR slot.
Defensive Linemen: (1) (Robert Mathis and Vince Wilfork did not advance)
Kevin Williams (DT/DE): MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015. Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota. He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss. Ranked #26 on notinhalloffame.com. First time as a Finalist.
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
This is the biggest surprise for me. It is not that they chose Kevin Williams; that should have happened long ago. It is that they remembered him at all, after forgetting his existence over the first five years of his eligibility, and here he is, making his first Semi and Final. He did so by leapfrogging two guys (Robert Mathis and Vince Wilfork), who, with all respect to those two stars, he should have been ahead of to begin with.
Yep, very happy on this one!
Linebackers: (2)
*Luke Kuechly: CAR 2012-19. Kuechly was a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility, as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro. Ranked #3 on notinhalloffame.com. Second time as a Finalist 2025-26.
*Terrell Suggs (Also DE): BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019. Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year. He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits. He was also a significant part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and, as a veteran, he retired after winning a second one with Kansas City. Ranked #10 on notinhalloffame.com. Second time as a Finalist 2025-26.
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
Two Linebackers. Two former Defensive Players of the Year winners. Two players who easily could have entered on their first ballot. Two players face the same struggle as last year based on the current process. The main difference is that Kuechly was a guaranteed Finalist based on finishing in the top seven last year.
Defensive Backs: (1) (Rodney Harrison and Earl Thomas did not advance)
*Darren Woodson (S): DAL 1992-03. Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early '90s, a five-time Pro Bowl, and a three-time First Team All-Pro. He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles. Ranked #65 on notinhalloffame.com. Fourth time as a Semi-Finalist 2015, 2017, & 2019-26.
The Chairman’s gut reaction:
Earl Thomas has the goods to be a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, and it is curious to see him drop off after being a Finalist in his first year of eligibility. With Rodney Harrison also dropping off, this is a good ballot for Woodson, who is the only DB left. We saw the Hall induct Eric Allen late in his eligibility, and Woodson is in his 18th year.
Place Kickers: (1)
*Adam Vinatieri: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19. Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro. He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #88 on notinhalloffame.com. Second time as a Semi-Finalist 2025-26.
Vinatieri was one of the last seven from last year and was grandfathered in as a guaranteed Finalist.
To enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, these candidates must receive 80% of the vote, after it is pared down to seven candidates.
In a separate vote, Senior candidates Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood, Coach candidate Bill Belichick, and Contributor candidate Robert Kraft will also have to receive 80% for enshrinement
The Class of 2026 will be inducted on August 8.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of Finalists.
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