Get your debate caps on, football fans, because the Pro Football Hall of Fame has released its list of modern era semifinalists for the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
And boy, does the selection committee have their work cut out for them this year. No one should envy the debates and choices they will have to make.
The list of semifinalists was revealed on Tuesday morning following the conclusion of Week 12 in this 2025 NFL season on NFL Network’s flagship morning show, Good Morning Football. And you’ve been warned: this list of players is going to make a lot of millennials feel extremely old.
Your Class of 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Semifinalists:@ProFootballHOF pic.twitter.com/c1CwRBeTjG
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) November 25, 2025
There are several guys who are in their first year of eligibility that would seem to be shoo-ins for this class. Those would be players that retired following the 2020 campaign, allowing for five full seasons before they can hit the ballot.
However, nothing can be assumed in these crowded HOF debates. There are usually over 100 modern-era candidates picked from among players whose careers ended within the last quarter-century.
That is then whittled down to 25 semifinalists (the list seen here), and then further to 15 finalists. That list is then worked down to 10, and then seven or eight, at which point the committee votes for their top five. All finalists who receive a vote of 80 percent or more will be elected. Modern-era classes have varied from four to eight players in recent years.
Even with tough selection process, the 2026 HOF class has a few surefire inductees
Among those first-ballot hopefuls is New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, who is second all-time in passing yards, completions, touchdowns, and probably a lot more. He’s a Super Bowl champion, a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and a 13-time Pro Bowler. He led the league in passing a record seven times. There’s no question he’s a first-ballot guy.
Another sure thing for induction on his first year of eligibility is Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald. He had nine seasons of 1,000+ yards and five with 100+ receptions. Like Brees, he finished his career in second in a lot of all-time categories, such as receptions and receiving yards. He was also sixth all-time in receiving TDs.
Other first-ballot guys that seem like locks to go in on their first try are: Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who had 11 Pro Bowl selections and finished fourth all-time in receptions despite his position, and San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore, who finished his career with 16,000 rushing yards, third-most in NFL history.
After that, there are a couple of former Defensive Player of the Year guys, namely Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, who did not make it in their first year in 2025 but should definitely be in on their second.
Other notable names include Eli Manning, who is one of the hottest HOF debate topics perhaps ever and is on his second attempt, Philip Rivers, who is on his first ballot but may be squeezed out by those other elite first-ballot guys, and running back Fred Taylor, who was a finalist for last year’s class.
They will also have to figure out the receiver logjam. Fitzgerald is in for sure, but behind him, Hines Ward, Torry, Reggie Wayne, and Steve Smith Sr. (The latter three of whom were all finalists in 2025) have all been waiting various amounts of time and surely deserve induction at some point.
Here is the full list of 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern Era Semifinalists, with the team they played the most games with in brackets.
(* indicates player was a finalist in 2025; ** indicates a first-ballot player):
- Willie Anderson, OT (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Drew Brees, QB (New Orleans Saints)**
- Lomas Brown, OT (Detroit Lions)
- Jahri Evans, OG (New Orleans Saints)*
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR (Arizona Cardinals)**
- Frank Gore, RB (San Francisco 49ers)**
- Rodney Harrison, S (San Diego Chargers)
- Torry Holt, WR, (St. Louis Rams)*
- Luke Kuechly, LB (Carolina Panthers)*
- Eli Manning, QB (New York Giants)*
- Robert Mathis, Edge (Indianapolis Colts)
- Philip Rivers, QB (San Diego Chargers)**
- Steve Smith Sr., WR (Carolina Panthers)*
- Terrell Suggs, Edge (Baltimore Ravens)*
- Fred Taylor, RB (Jacksonville Jaguars)*
- Earl Thomas, S (Seattle Seahawks)
- Adam Vinatieri, K (Indianapolis Colts)*
- Hines Ward, WR (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Reggie Wayne, WR (Indianapolis Colts)*
- Richmond Webb, OT (Miami Dolphins)
- Vince Wilfork, DT (New England Patriots)
- Kevin Williams, DT (Minnesota Vikings)
- Steve Wisniewski, OG (Oakland Raiders)
- Jason Witten, TE (Dallas Cowboys)**
- Darren Woodson, S (Dallas Cowboys)*
- Marshal Yanda, OG (Baltimore Ravens)*
Among such a loaded class, only so many deserving candidates can get in. The NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be announced at the annual NFL Honors event in February.