Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headline 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has revealed its 15 modern-era finalists for the 2026 class. Among them are first-year candidates Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten, and Frank Gore. This year’s group also includes returning finalists and newcomers like Kevin Williams, who reached this stage for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. Only Jeff Kent secured enough votes, while three other finalists fell short of the required 75% threshold.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection committee will choose between three and five inductees from the modern-era finalists. Leading the list are Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, both in their first year of eligibility. Brees, second only to Tom Brady in career passing yards (80,358) and touchdown passes (571), remains one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, ranks second all time in receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492).
Jason Witten, another first-year candidate, holds the second-highest totals among tight ends with 1,228 catches and 13,046 yards. Frank Gore, also newly eligible, joins them after a long and productive career. Kevin Williams, a defensive tackle, advanced to the finalist stage for the first time in his sixth year of eligibility. The committee will also evaluate seniors candidates Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood, along with coaching candidate Bill Belichick and contributor Robert Kraft. Four players—Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri—are already guaranteed spots after making the final seven in last year’s voting. In baseball, the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee selected only Jeff Kent for induction in 2026. Three other finalists—Carlos Delgado (56.3%), Don Mattingly (37.5%), and Dale Murphy (37.5%)—failed to reach the 75% vote threshold required. The committee cast its ballots on December 7, 2025. Last year’s Hall of Fame class was the smallest in two decades, with just four inductees.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will announce its 2026 class in the coming months. The final number of inductees will range from three to five, chosen from the 15 modern-era finalists. For baseball, Jeff Kent will be the sole inductee from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, while the three remaining candidates will have to wait for future consideration.
