2026 HOF candidates include Larry Fitzgerald and Drew Brees
The first ballot modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 were unveiled Wednesday, including former Chargers teammates Philip Rivers and Drew Brees.
A total of 128 players from the modern era were nominated, including linebacker Thomas Davis, tight ends Jason Witten and Greg Olsen, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and Brees, who went on to win a Super Bowl and achieve prolific production levels as a quarterback with the New Orleans Saints.
Prior to Super Bowl LX in February in Santa Clara, California, at least three of the applicants will be announced as members of the Hall of Fame class.
During the regular season, the Hall of Fame selection committee selects 25 semifinalists from among the nominees.
The class of 3-5, as required by Hall of Fame regulations, is then chosen from a list of seven during an annual selection meeting held during Super Bowl week after a vote to narrow the list to 15 finalists among contemporary candidates.
Candidates that made it to last year’s “final seven” voting automatically advance, leaving just 11 genuine unfilled seats.
There are several quarterbacks who are eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Eli Manning, another Super Bowl winner who was eligible for induction, was traded to the Chargers from the New York Giants in 2004 after Rivers was drafted. In his first year of eligibility, Manning, who was chosen first by the Chargers, was among the top 15 players in the Class of 2025. The Saints were able to sign Brees when the Chargers made a lower offer than he had anticipated when he became a free agent following the 2005 season. Prior to his retirement in 2020, he performed in New Orleans.
In addition to being a 13-time Pro Bowl selection and the MVP of Super Bowl XLIX, Brees retired with over 80,000 passing yards and 571 career touchdown passes.
During his 17 NFL seasons—all but one with the Chargers—Rivers was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times. In 2020, he was a member of the Colts.
With the Giants, Manning defeated seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady to win Super Bowl XLII (2008) and Super Bowl XLVI (2012).
Returning 2025 finalists who were not chosen include former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, wide receivers Torry Holt (Rams), Reggie Wayne (Colts), and Steve Smith Sr. (Panthers, Ravens), offensive tackle Willie Anderson, guards Jahri Evans (Saints) and Mashal Yanda (Ravens), linebackers Luke Kuechly (Panthers) and Terrell Suggs (Ravens, Cardinals), safety Darren Woodson (Cowboys), and kicker Adam Vinatieri (Patriots, Colts).
According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection bylaws, players who finished in the final seven votes the year before automatically advance. In the final 15 for 2026, Anderson, Holt, Kuechly, and Vinatieri start the process this year.
