Pro Football Hall of Fame 2026 Nominees
In late September, the NFL announced this year's nominees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are 128 "modern" nominees this year, and it's an unusually strong class of first-year candidates. I've divided the nominees into four groups. The first are players whom I fully support and would vote for enthusiastically. The second are individuals I wouldn't prioritize in the balloting, but would probably go thumbs-up as Finalists, and I wouldn't have a problem with them getting in. The third group is comprised of those for whom I probably wouldn't vote, but I see the appeal of their candidacy. The fourth are people who have no business in the Hall of Fame without buying a ticket.
These are opinions, not predictions.
Group 1: Strong Candidates
Drew Brees, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Philip Rivers, Tiki Barber, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy, Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Jason Witten, Nick Mangold, Logan Mankins, Jeff Saturday, Marshal Yanda, Geno Atkins, Justin Smith, Vince Wilfork, Kevin Williams, Lance Briggs, London Fletcher, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Rodney Harrison, Adam Vinatieri
I deliberately made this a group of 25, the number of candidates who will advance to the Semifinalist stage. This group includes an incredible six first-year nominees (Brees, Rivers, Gore, Fitzgerald, Witten, Atkins). Only five "modern" nominees can get in per year. The strength of this class creates a weird dynamic, so I think Brees and Fitzgerald are the only locks this year.
Group 2: Borderline Candidates
Jamaal Charles, Corey Dillon, Priest Holmes, Marshawn Lynch, Ricky Watters, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith, Hines Ward, Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Olin Kreutz, Tom Nalen, John Abraham, La’Roi Glover, Robert Mathis, Ted Washington, Thomas Davis, James Harrison, Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, Charles Tillman, Darren Woodson, Josh Cribbs
This group also has 25 players. The Screening Committee advances 50 players for consideration as Semifinalists, so my top two tiers represent the players who might move forward in a perfect world. I listed 4 QB, 8 RB, 8 WR, 1 TE, 8 OL, 8 DL, 6 LB, 5 DB, and 2 ST.
I wouldn't fight for any of the guys in this group to get elected, but I certainly wouldn't fight to keep them out.
Group 3: Marginal Candidates
Steve McNair, Shaun Alexander, Warrick Dunn, Arian Foster, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Lorenzo Neal, Fred Taylor, Brandon Marshall, Rod Smith, Wes Welker, Matt Birk, Lomas Brown, David DeCastro, Josh Sitton, Joe Staley, Brian Waters, Richmond Webb, Erik Williams, Steve Wisniewski, Haloti Ngata, Simeon Rice, NaVorro Bowman, Clay Matthews III, Kam Chancellor, Carnell Lake, Asante Samuel, Patrick Surtain, Adrian Wilson, Gary Anderson, Jason Hanson, Brian Mitchell
Thirty-two players in this group. I don't think any of them should get in, but it's possible my mind could change in the future. These are the very good players who, to me, fall just outside the PFHOF.
Group 4: It's An Honor Just to Be Nominated
Jake Delhomme, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, Mike Alstott, Larry Centers, Eddie George, Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis, Eric Metcalf, Donald Driver, Chad Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Herman Moore, Muhsin Muhammad, Jordy Nelson, Roddy White, Vernon Davis, Zach Miller, Greg Olsen, Wesley Walls, Delanie Walker, Ruben Brown, Ryan Clady, Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, Maurkice Pouncey, Jurrell Casey, Elvis Dumervil, Jay Ratliff, Tedy Bruschi, James Farrior, A.J. Hawk, Dat Nguyen, Takeo Spikes, Lee Woodall, Nick Collins, DeAngelo Hall, James Hasty, Allen Rossum, Troy Vincent, David Akers, John Kasay, Sean Landeta, Shane Lechler
Everyone in this group was a good NFL player. Most of them were very good. But none approach a Hall of Fame standard, and in each case, there are eligible candidates at the position who are more deserving. There are even two or three players whose names I remember, but whom I have no memory of as a player, who made zero impression on me and whom I never considered for my annual Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams. There's no real harm in honoring someone with a nomination, but it was weird to see those names on the list.
Their nominations mean that Shane Lechler actually might not be the least qualified guy here. Lechler had high averages, but he was one of the worst punters in history at avoiding touchbacks and big returns. He routinely "led" the NFL in return yards allowed, lowest fair catch percentage, and touchbacks. Big leg, no strategy. He was an above-average punter, but not one of the 10 best punters of this century — and I don't think any of us are rushing to induct Dustin Colquitt or Mike Scifres, both of whom were ten times the punter Lechler was. If Lechler were elected, he truly might be the worst player in Canton, including some of the really old guys whose selections have made it difficult to gauge the floor for a Hall of Famer.
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