Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, tight end Jason Witten, and running back Frank Gore have all reached the semifinal stage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
The five first-time candidates are among 26 modern-era players who advanced in voting conducted by the Hall’s 50-member selection committee for the Class of 2026.
The list will next be cut to 15 finalists, with the final vote held before the Super Bowl in February.
Four players secured automatic return bids to the semifinal stage after reaching the final seven in the 2025 class: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri.
Other returning semifinalists include Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs, and Darren Woodson.
Two additional players—offensive lineman Lomas Brown and defensive lineman Kevin Williams—reached the semifinal stage for the first time. The remaining semifinalists are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork, and Robert Mathis.
Beyond the modern-era finalists, the selection committee will also consider three seniors, one coach, and one contributor for inclusion in the Class of 2026. Under the Hall’s current format, between four and eight new members will ultimately be elected. Last year’s class included only four inductees, the smallest in two decades.
Among this year’s newcomers, Brees and Fitzgerald headline the group.
Brees ranks second all-time behind Tom Brady with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes. After spending his first five seasons with the Chargers, he revitalized his career in New Orleans beginning in 2006, helping lift a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. He delivered the Saints’ first Super Bowl title following the 2009 season, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Over his career, Brees earned 13 Pro Bowl selections, was the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, was a 2006 All-Pro, and made four second-team All-Pro squads.
Fitzgerald spent all 17 seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted third overall in 2004. His 1,432 receptions and 17,492 receiving yards rank second only to Jerry Rice. He topped 1,000 receiving yards nine times—tied for the fourth-most in NFL history—and led Arizona to its lone Super Bowl appearance after the 2008 season, setting postseason records with 546 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches.
Rivers, who played the majority of his career with the Chargers, ranks seventh all-time with 63,440 passing yards. He made eight Pro Bowls and won the 2013 AP Comeback Player of the Year award.
Witten, one of the most productive tight ends in league history, recorded 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards, both second-most among tight ends. He was a two-time All-Pro and earned second-team All-Pro honors twice.
Gore ranks third all-time with 16,000 rushing yards, posting nine 1,000-yard seasons and earning five Pro Bowl selections.
Kuechly’s career, though shorter than most, was among the most dominant of his era. A 2012 first-round pick by Carolina, he was a five-time All-Pro, a seven-time Pro Bowler, and the 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Over eight seasons, he led all NFL linebackers in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18), and passes defended (66).
Vinatieri, widely viewed as one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, delivered game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl victories of the New England Patriots’ dynasty. His legendary 45-yard kick in the snow to force overtime in the “Tuck Rule” game became a defining playoff moment. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in points (2,673) and field goals (599), as well as postseason field goals (56) and points (238), over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis.
Holt, a centerpiece of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” helped lead the team to a Super Bowl title as a rookie in 1999 and another appearance two years later. He led the league in receiving yards in 2000 and in receptions and receiving yards in 2003. He finished his career with 920 catches, 13,382 yards, and 74 touchdowns.
Anderson, a 1996 first-round pick by Cincinnati, was one of the premier right tackles of his era. He spent nearly his entire career with the Bengals and earned three straight All-Pro selections from 2004 to 2006.
