A total of 26 candidates in the Modern-Era Players category have reached the Semifinalist stage for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 presented by Visual Edge IT.
The list includes five players in their first year of eligibility, two players not in their first year of eligibility who have reached this stage in the process for the first time and 19 players who were Semifinalists for the Class of 2025.
Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri -- among that group of 19 -- automatically reached this stage in voting for the Class of 2026 by virtue of finishing in the top seven for election last year. That provision was added to the Hall of Fame's selection process bylaws beginning with the Class of 2025.
Players making the cut to Semifinalist in their first year of eligibility are Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Philip Rivers and Jason Witten. Each played his last professional football game in the 2020 season.
The two players not in their first year of eligibility who reached the Semifinalist stage for the first time are offensive linemen Lomas Brown, who retired following the 2002 season; and defensive lineman Kevin Williams, whose career ended following the 2015 season.
Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Modern-Era Player Semifinalists
The following is the list of Modern-Era Players who have reached the Semifinalist stage for the Class of 2026, including their positions, years and teams. Also listed are the number of times and years the candidate has been named a Semifinalist since this reduction vote was added to the Hall's selection process bylaws in 2004. (NOTE: The bylaws state the number of Semifinalists shall be 25 -- or a larger number if voting results in a tie for the 25th position, which occurred this election cycle.)
- Willie Anderson, OT -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 -- 2021-26)
- Drew Brees, QB -- 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Lomas Brown, OT -- 1985-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-98 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 Cleveland Browns, 2000-01 New York Giants, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Jahri Evans, G -- 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2023-26)
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR -- 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Frank Gore, RB -- 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Rodney Harrison, S -- 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2021, 2023-26)
- Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 12 -- 2015-2026)
- Luke Kuechly, LB -- 2012-19 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
- Eli Manning, QB -- 2004-2019 New York Giants | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
- Robert Mathis, DE/LB -- 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2022-26)
- Philip Rivers, QB -- 2004-2019 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, 2020 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Steve Smith Sr., WR -- 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2022-26)
- Terrell Suggs, LB/DE -- 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
- Fred Taylor, RB -- 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 -- 2020-26)
- Earl Thomas, DB -- 2010-18 Seattle Seahawks, 2019 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
- Adam Vinatieri, PK -- 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
- Hines Ward, WR -- 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 -- 2017-2026)
- Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 -- 2020-26)
- Richmond Webb, OT -- 1990-2000 Miami Dolphins, 2001-02 Cincinnati Bengals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
- Vince Wilfork, DT-- 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2022-26)
- Kevin Williams, DT -- 2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Steve Wisniewski, G -- 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2014, 2025-26)
- Jason Witten, TE -- 2003-2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2026)
- Darren Woodson, S -- 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 10 -- 2015, 2017, 2019-2026)
- Marshal Yanda, OL -- 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2025-26)
Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Modern-Era Player Semifinalists breakdown by positions
OFFENSE (17)
- Quarterback (3): Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.
- Running back (2): Frank Gore, Fred Taylor.
- Wide receiver (5): Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne.
- Tight end (1): Jason Witten.
- Offensive line (6): Willie Anderson, Lomas Brown, Jahri Evans, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Marshal Yanda.
DEFENSE (8)
- Defensive back (3): Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Darren Woodson.
- Linebacker (2): Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs (also DE).
- Defensive line (3): Robert Mathis (also LB), Vince Wilfork, Kevin Williams.
SPECIAL TEAMS (1)
- Place kicker (1): Adam Vinatieri.
What's next in the selection process?
The list of Modern-Era Player Semifinalists, which was announced live this morning on NFL Network’s "Good Morning Football," initially began as a group of 128 nominees announced in September.
A screening committee that includes several enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed that number to 52 (50 plus ties) in October. The full Selection Committee cast the ballots to determine the Semifinalists, and its next step will be another vote to cut the list to 15 Finalists late this year.
Reduction voting also has occurred in the Coach, Contributor and Seniors categories. The results of those ballots -- selection of Finalists for the Class of 2026 -- will be announced Dec. 3. In all, 20 Finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee's annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl LX: the 15 Modern-Era Players plus three Seniors, one Coach and one Contributor.
While there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Hall of Fame's selection process bylaws currently stipulate that between four and eight new members shall be selected.
This year's voting will be completed with oversight from the firm Ernst & Young LLP, a Hall 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 announced at "NFL Honors" in San Francisco in February and enshrined in August in Canton.
