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, T – 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, T – 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, T – 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, G/T – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26)
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.
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.
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