Drew Brees among first -time eligible for 2026 Hall of Fame

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  • Jeff Legwold7th February 2025, 05:57 AM EN

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      Jeff Legwold is a senior author who covers the Denver Broncos and NFL on ESPN. Jeff has covered broncos for more than 20 years and participated in ESPN in 2013. He also helps with NFL draft coverage, including his annual Top 100 views. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He is also in Hall’s Seniors Committee and was in Hall’s Blue Ribbon Panel, who chose Hall’s Centennial Class. Jeff also covered Steelers, Bills and Oilers/Titans in previous stops before ESPN.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class in 2026 could contain some difficult decisions, as the board of voters balances the extended waiting time for some with the lure from several decorated first -time qualified players.

Quarterback Drew Brees, the wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the tight end Jason Witten, who runs back Frank Gore and Quarterback Philip Rivers will be among the players who will be in their first year with eligibility next year. Everyone played their last NFL seasons in 2020.

And in addition to this Powerhouse list of players, there might be the biggest name of everyone in the coach/contributor categories – Bill Belichick.

With Tom Brady behind center author Belichick the most decorated race in the Super Bowl era. During his tenure with New England Patriots from 2000-2023, the team won six Super Bowls and played in the Nine AFC Championship Games. He sits on No. 3 all the time in coaching victories with 302.

His 31 playoff victories are most early times and he was a three-time coach for the year wins. With the two Super Bowl rings he won as assistant coach for New York Giants, Belichick was part of eight Super Bowl victories.

Brees was the league’s leading leader in passing courtyards and finishes as he retired (since passing Tom Brady) and became second in Touchdown Passports. He was a 13-time pro bowl choice. He landed with New Orleans Saints as a free agent in 2006 because San Diego Chargers thought Brees might have had a career-threatening shoulder injury. Brees led the league in passers -by yards seven times and touchdowns four times.

He has five of the 15,000-yard-passing seasons in the league story. Brady and Patrick Mahomes are the only other players with two or more 5,000-yard passing seasons in their careers. Brees also led the saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title and was selected as the game’s MVP.

Fitzgerald, who played 17 seasons with Arizona Cardinals, is in second place all the time in receptions and receiving yards. He and Jerry Rice are the only players in the NFL story who have caught more than 1,400 passports and achieved more than 16,000 receiving yards. Fitzgerald, who played through many lean seasons in Arizona, played in nine postal season matches.

In Cardinals’ race to the Super Bowl XLII after the 2008 season, Fitzgerald led all players who fall with 30 receptions in 546 yards (a 136.5 meters per final game average).

Witten was an 11-time pro bowl committee in his 17-year-old career, 16 he played for Dallas Cowboys. He is number two among tight ends in receptions in the league story behind the Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Witten missed a game in his career, like a rookie in 2003, and started all 16 games in 13 of his seasons.

Gore, who played his first 10 seasons for San Francisco 49ers before playing a combined six more with Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, is the league’s No. 3 all-time leading Rusher. He is one of three players who have peaked 16,000 careers dangerous yards – Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton are the others.

Rivers, who played 16 seasons of chargers before playing his last season with Colts, is No. 6 all the time in both passing yards and touchdowns.

Defensive tackle Geno Atkins, an eight-time pro bowl selection with Cincinnati Bengals and a member of the whole year in the 2010s; Center Maurkice Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection with Pittsburgh Steelers; The wide receiver Dez Bryant and the tight end Greg Olsen is also in their first year with eligibility next year.

A maximum of five finalists in modern times can be elected for closure each year, and several of the finalists who were not elected to the hall’s class in 2025 will also be among those considered. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, Linebacker Luke Kuechly, Giants Quarterback Eli Manning, all in their first year with eligibility in 2025, is among headliners.

Tackle Willie Anderson, broad recipients Torrry Holt, Steve Smith Sr. And Reggie Wayne, Defensive than Terrell Suggs, who drove back Fred Taylor, Safety Darren Woodson, Guard Marshal Yanda and Guard Jahri Evans were among the 15 finalists for the class 2025.