Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
This yr’s four-person class for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame of Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe was the smallest since 2005. However that doubtless will change subsequent yr.
For starters, there are a handful of first-time eligible candidates with sterling résumés, together with Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees and Frank Gore. Within the teaching class, Invoice Belichick can be eligible for the primary time. All 4 have a very good probability to make it into the Corridor as first-time candidates.
Add to {that a} handful of gamers who’ve been knocking on the door as repeat finalists — Torry Holt, Willie Anderson and Reggie Wayne — and it appears doubtless we’ll have greater than 4 candidates make it into Canton in 2026. Anderson, Holt, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly had been among the many ultimate seven modern-era candidates this yr. They mechanically advance to the ultimate 15 for the upcoming course of.
Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe had been inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame on Aug. 2. (Picture by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
To be eligible for the Corridor of Fame, gamers have to be retired for not less than 5 years, whereas the await coaches was diminished from 5 years to 1. Earlier than the 2025 class, voters within the modern-era class minimize the sector from 10 to 5 after which voted on these 5 gamers individually. If a participant acquired 80% of the vote, they had been in, and practically all of them made it as soon as they acquired to that time.
Nonetheless, the Corridor applied stricter guidelines final yr to make sure exclusivity of membership, permitting not less than 4 inductees however not more than eight from the 20 finalists chosen (15 modern-day finalists and a excessive of 5 from seniors, coach and contributors classes).
The 15 modern-day finalists are minimize from 10 to seven. Voters are then requested to vote for 5 of these candidates, with 80% nonetheless the usual and the minimal set at three. If three don’t get 80%, then the highest three vote-getters transfer on. The brand new voting construction has led to a splintering of the vote from the choice committee, making it more durable for gamers to get into the Corridor.
As a member of the 50-person Corridor of Fame choice committee, I’ve had the glory of voting on these candidates yearly. It’s at all times a grueling course of that includes lengthy, difficult debates that result in deserving candidates finally donning gold jackets.
Right here’s a primary take a look at among the high candidates for the upcoming class.
Good shot
Head coach Invoice Belichick
Main the New England Patriots, Belichick constructed the best dynasty in NFL historical past, profitable an NFL-record six Tremendous Bowls as a head coach. He additionally received two titles as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants and helped to develop the best participant in league historical past in quarterback Tom Brady. In Belichick’s 24 seasons in New England, the Patriots received 17 AFC East titles, made 13 appearances within the AFC Championship Recreation and went to 9 Tremendous Bowls. Open the doorways to Canton.
QB Drew Brees
Drew Brees ranks second all time in passing yards and passing touchdowns, behind Tom Brady. (Picture by Cooper Neill/Getty Pictures)
The Purdue product led the New Orleans Saints to a victory in Tremendous Bowl XLIV, taking residence MVP honors. A 13-time Professional Bowler, Brees led the league in passing seven instances. He ranks second all time in passing yards (80,358) and second in passing touchdowns (571). Looks as if a no brainer.
WR Larry Fitzgerald
Solely Jerry Rice has extra receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492) than Fitzgerald. That’s fairly good firm. Fitzgerald was a whole receiver who additionally took pleasure in run blocking and served as a mannequin participant for the Arizona Cardinals’ franchise. He deserves a gold jacket.
RB Frank Gore
Gore completed because the No. 3 rusher in NFL historical past with 16,000 dashing yards over 16 NFL seasons. A five-time Professional Bowler, Gore rushed for greater than 1,000 yards 9 instances and helped to steer the San Francisco 49ers to the Tremendous Bowl after the 2012 season.
WR Torry Holt
A six-time finalist and one of many cornerstones of the Rams’ “Biggest Present on Turf,” Holt completed with 920 profession receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns in 11 NFL seasons. A part of a logjam at receiver through the years, Holt has been affected person and deserves to take that subsequent step into Canton.
Puncher’s probability
OT Willie Anderson
Thought of among the best proper tackles throughout his time within the league, Anderson is a five-time finalist at a place that has proved arduous to maneuver ahead within the course of. However his candidacy has gained steam and he completed within the high seven final yr, giving him an opportunity to be within the combine for 2026.
And Jahri Evans
One other gifted lineman who was a finalist for the second time in his third yr of eligibility. A six-time Professional Bowler and five-time All-Professional, Evans served as an anchor up entrance for some of the dominant offenses of his period, led by Drew Brees.
S Rodney Harrison
A two-time finalist, Harrison surprisingly was not a finalist this yr. He deserves one other look as a result of his stats match up favorably with different high safeties throughout his period. He was a ferocious hitter and versatile participant throughout his 15 NFL seasons. A two-time Tremendous Bowl champion, Harrison totaled 34 interceptions and 30 sacks over his profession. He’s within the Patriots’ Corridor of Fame and the Chargers’ Corridor of Fame.
LB Luke Kuechly
A primary-team or second-team All-Professional in seven of the eight years he performed, Kuechly received the NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months award in 2013 and was a member of the league’s 2010 All-Decade workforce. I’m stunned that he didn’t get in final yr, and he actually needs to be within the operating this time round. Kuechly’s numbers are just like these of Corridor of Fame linebacker Patrick Willis, who was enshrined in his third yr of eligibility.
Kam vinatieri
Thought of essentially the most clutch kicker in NFL historical past, Vinatieri made the ultimate seven in his first yr of eligibility and can be within the operating once more this yr. A four-time Tremendous Bowl champion, Viniatieri is the NFL’s all-time chief in subject purpose makes an attempt (715), subject targets made (599) and factors scored (2,763). But it surely’s simply more durable for kickers to get into the Corridor.
WR Reggie Wayne
A six-time finalist, Wayne has been mired within the glut of receivers working their manner via the difficult course of of constructing it to Canton. Wayne is certainly one of 9 gamers in NFL historical past with not less than 1,000 receptions, 14,000 yards and 80 touchdowns.
TE Jason Witten
Longtime Cowboy Jason Witten ranks fourth all time in receptions — amongst all pass-catchers not simply tight ends. (Picture by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Pictures)
Statistically, Witten measures as much as among the biggest tight ends in league historical past. Solely Tony Gonzalez has greater than Witten’s 1,228 receptions, which ranks No. 4 all time within the NFL. His 13,046 receiving yards are No. 20 within the NFL and second amongst tight ends to Gonzales.
Uphill climb
RB Marshawn Lynch
Whereas Seattle’s “Legion of Growth” protection garnered a lot of the eye nationally, the Seahawks wouldn’t have reached back-to-back Tremendous Bowls with out Lynch serving because the engine of the offense. From 2011 to 2014, Lynch was dominant, totaling 5,357 dashing yards and scoring 56 touchdowns over that point. The five-time Professional Bowler’s 10,419 dashing yards rank simply No. 29 all time, however within the postseason, he is eighth all time with 970 dashing yards.
QB Eli Manning
A two-time Tremendous Bowl champ and Tremendous Bowl MVP, Manning’s efficiency within the postseason is worthy of the Corridor of Fame. The difficulty for voters is how he carried out throughout the common season. Manning completed 117-117 as a starter, together with 9-26 in his ultimate three seasons. His profession 84.1 passer score is No. 60 in NFL historical past. Manning was by no means an All-Professional and went to solely 4 Professional Bowls, so he was by no means thought-about among the many elite QBs throughout his time within the league.
QB Philip Rivers
One of many NFL’s Iron Males, Rivers’ 252 video games performed is second to Brett Favre for quarterbacks in league historical past. Rivers is the all-time passing chief in Chargers historical past and No. 6 in passing yards (63,440) and No. 6 in passing touchdowns (421) in league historical past. Nonetheless, he went 5-7 within the postseason and by no means reached a Tremendous Bowl.
WR Steve Smith
A finalist for the primary time in 2025, Smith received the triple crown in 2005, main the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions. He completed his profession No. 8 in receiving yards and No. 12 in receiving touchdowns. Smith was a dominant participant for the Carolina Panthers throughout a time once they did not have a number of playmakers.
OLB Terrell Suggs
Suggs was a finalist in his first yr of eligibility. His 139 sacks place him No. 8 in NFL historical past. All seven gamers above Suggs on the checklist are Corridor of Famers, in order that bodes effectively for his probabilities of finally moving into Canton.
RB Fred Taylor
Taylor completed his profession with 11,695 dashing yards, No. 17 all time in NFL historical past. The one gamers above him on the checklist not within the Corridor of Fame are Gore, who simply grew to become eligible this yr, and Adrian Peterson.
Others to think about: David DeCastro, Julian Edelman, Todd Gurley, LeSean McCoy, Greg Olsen, Maurkice Pouncey, Earl Thomas, Darren Woodson, Marshal Yanda
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on X at @eric_d_williams.
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