The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame has its 15 finalists. Every year, a huge crop of potential Hall of Famers gets culled down to a few. This year, there are some of the most iconic players in NFL history up for the highest honor a football player can ever get.
Only a few NFL Hall of Fame finalists will make it
Based on the current format, one that has been subject to some criticism by the NFL community, only three to five players from this group of 15 can enter the NFL Hall of Fame this year. Here are the finalists:
- Drew Brees
- Luke Kuechly
- Larry Fitzgerald
- Jason Witten
- Jahri Evans
- Frank Gore
- Willie Anderson
- Torry Holt
- Eli Manning
- Terrell Suggs
- Adam Vinatieri
- Reggie Wayne
- Kevin Williams
- Darren Woodson
- Marshall Yanda
Who will make it
Among these, a few stand out as highly probable for the three to five actual NFL Hall of Fame members following the vote. Luke Kuechly had a short career, but he nearly made it last year in his first year on the ballot, so the Carolina Panthers linebacker is a shoo-in.
Drew Brees is second all-time in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He is also a 13-time Pro Bowl QB, so the former New Orleans Saints star is highly likely to be inducted as well. Larry Fitzgerald was the picture of consistency forever, and he’s second all-time in receiving yards. He’s getting in.
Who might not make it
Some of the finalists don’t have strong cases. It’s a little surprising to see Eli Manning here. He has two Super Bowl titles, both times beating the vaunted New England Patriots as huge underdogs. But that’s a team accomplishment, and Manning helped the New York Giants score 38 combined points in those games.
Other than those two playoff runs, Manning was never on a Hall of Fame trajectory, so if he gets in, it will simply be because his team won two Super Bowls. He won’t deserve his spot. Adam Vinatieri is another interesting one. Kickers have to be really good to get in, and while he was, his entrance to the Hall might be challenging.
Frank Gore is highly unlikely to make it this time. In fact, he might be a hard sell at all. Gore was a good NFL running back, but his case hinges largely on longevity. Is it enough to get into the Hall that he played a long time? That is hard for a running back because they get more wear and tear, but does that make him HOF-worthy?
Jason Witten has a ton of receiving yards. He’s 21st all-time as a tight end. He’s second in tight end yards. Similarly to Gore, does he have the highs to convince voters? Out of the above crop, it’s hard to predict the Dallas Cowboys tight end getting in, but it could happen someday.
Those left out
Philip Rivers, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr, Hines Ward, Steve Wisniewski, Lomas Brown, Rodney Harrison, Robert Mathis, Earl Thomas, Richmond Webb, and Vince Wilfork were among the 26 semifinalists. They did not make the cut to the final 15.
Among them, it is a little astonishing that Steve Smith didn’t make the cut. He is eighth all-time in receiving yards. Everyone ahead of him, except for Larry Fitzgerald, is a Hall of Famer. He won the Triple Crown when his team ran more than passed. He should’ve been in the NFL Hall of Fame by now, but he continues to have to wait.
Hines Ward is another interesting name. Otherwise, these players are largely “Hall of Very Good” sort of players. They probably won’t be a finalist anytime soon.
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