Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, along with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, tight end Jason Witten and running back Frank Gore, reached the semifinal stage in their first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The five newcomers are among the 26 modern-era candidates who advanced to this stage in voting conducted by the full 50-member selection committee for the Class of 2026.
The selection committee will next narrow the list to 15 finalists, who will be voted on before the Super Bowl in February.
Four players secured a spot in the semifinal stage after making the final seven players in the 2025 class, with Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri earning spots.
Other returning semifinalists are Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshall Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.
A total of 26 candidates have reached the semi-finalist stage in the Players of the Modern Era category for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, presented by Visual Arts IT. https://t.co/nWSYaYL4nz pic.twitter.com/Wd1HQ3SOyz
– Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) 25 November 2025
Offensive lineman Lomas Brown and defensive lineman Kevin Williams were the other two candidates who advanced to the semifinal stage for the first time. The other semi-finalists are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis.
In addition to the 15 Modern Era finalists, the selection committee will consider three seniors, one coach and one contributor for the Class of 2026. In the second year of this current format, four to eight new members will be elected.
Only four people were admitted last year, for the smallest class in 20 years.
Brees and Fitzgerald are the top freshman candidates this year.
Brees is second only to Tom Brady in passing with 80,358 yards passing and 571 touchdown passes. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers before signing with the Saints as a free agent in 2006, where his career took off when he helped save the city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
Brees led New Orleans to its first Super Bowl title since the 2009 season, when he defeated Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts to win the game’s MVP. Brees made the Pro Bowl 13 times in his career, winning AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, being All-Pro in 2006, and second-team All-Pro four times.
Fitzgerald spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals after being selected third overall in 2004. His 1,432 catches and 17,492 receiving yards in 17 seasons are second only to Jerry Rice.
Fitzgerald topped 1,000 yards rushing nine times – fourth most all-time – and helped the Cardinals reach their only Super Bowl after the 2008 season. Fitzgerald set single-season records in the postseason with 546 yards receiving and seven TD catches, including a 64-yard score with 2:37 to play in the Super Bowl, before Pittsburgh rallied for a 27–23 victory over Arizona.
Rivers ranks seventh all-time with 63,440 yards passing in his career with the Chargers. He made eight Pro Bowls and won the 2013 AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Witten was one of the greatest tight ends of all time with his 1,228 catches and 13,046 yards ranking second best all-time. Witten was a two-time All-Pro for Dallas and a two-time second-team All-Pro.
Gore is third all-time in rushing with 16,000 yards with nine 1,000-yard seasons and five Pro Bowl honors.
Kuchaly’s career was brief but influential. The first-round pick by Carolina in 2012 was a five-time All-Pro, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and pass defense (66).
Vinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl victories during New England’s dynasty.
He helped launch the run with arguably one of the game’s greatest kicks – a 45-yarder across the ice to force overtime in the “Tuck Rule” game against the Raiders in the 2001 Divisional Round. He kicked the game-winner in OT to win that game and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20–17 victory in the Super Bowl against the Rams.
Vinatieri is the NFL’s career leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He leads all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.
Holt was a key part of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf”, helping the team win the Super Bowl in its inaugural season in 1999 and returning there two years later. Holt led the NFL in receiving yards in 2000 and in catches and yards in 2003 when he made his only All-Pro team.
Holt finished his career with 920 catches for 13,382 yards and 74 TDs.
Willie Anderson was considered one of the top right tackles of his era after being selected in the first round by Cincinnati in 1996. He spent almost his entire career with the Bengals and made three consecutive All-Pro teams from 2004–06.
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