The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has five modern-era inductees: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig.

Quick Scoop: Who made the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame?

Here’s the confirmed modern-era class announced during Super Bowl week 2026.

  • Drew Brees, QB – Chargers, Saints (2001–2020)
  • Larry Fitzgerald, WR – Cardinals (2004–2020)
  • Luke Kuechly, LB – Panthers (2012–2019)
  • Adam Vinatieri, K – Patriots, Colts (1996–2019)
  • Roger Craig, RB – 49ers, Raiders, Vikings (1983–1993)

Why this class is such a big deal

  • Brees retired as the NFL’s career leader in passing yards and touchdown passes at the time, and still sits near the top of both all-time lists.
  • Fitzgerald is second all-time in receiving yards, behind only Jerry Rice, cementing his status as one of the greatest wideouts ever.
  • Kuechly was a Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most dominant linebackers of the 2010s before an early retirement.
  • Vinatieri is the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and hit multiple iconic postseason game-winners, including two Super Bowl–clinching kicks.
  • Craig was the first player ever to post 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, a landmark dual-threat feat.

A bit of drama around the vote

Reports noted that high-profile finalists like Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, and Eli Manning did not get enough votes for the 2026 class, which stirred plenty of reaction around the league and among fans. That controversy made the final five selections even more of a talking point on forums and social media, especially with such a star-heavy group getting in quickly while some big names continue to wait.

“This might be the strongest top-to-bottom class in years,” has been a common sentiment in fan discussions, especially with four of the five making it in within their first two years of eligibility.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.