Fifty-two Modern-Era Players have advanced in the voting process for the
Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 presented by Visual Edge IT. Candidates for the Hall in
this category last could have appeared in a professional football game in the 2020 season.

Each member of the Modern-Era Players Screening Committee, an entity created a year ago to
make the first reductions from the original list of nominees, cast a ballot for 50 individuals
whom they believe should be considered for election. This year’s roster of nominees included
128 names – 77 offensive players, 42 defensive players and nine special teams players.

Under Hall of Fame bylaws, ties for the 50th position also remain eligible for the Class of 2026.

The 52 Modern-Era Players whose names now move to the full Selection Committee for further
consideration for election as members of the Class of 2026 are:
(*-Finalist (final 15) for the Class of 2025. Underline indicates first year of eligibility.)

QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, *Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.


RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean
McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), *Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.

WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, *Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, *Steve
Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne.

TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen, Jason Witten.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): *Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), *Jahri
Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C),
Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), *Marshal Yanda (G).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata
(DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).

LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison, *Luke Kuechly, *Terrell Suggs.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles
Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), *Darren Woodson (S).

PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), *Adam Vinatieri (K).

SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).

In the next step of the process, each member of the Hall of Fame’s full 50-person Selection
Committee will review the above list and cast a vote for the 25 nominees each believes should
advance to the Semifinalist stage. The names of the 25 Semifinalists (plus ties, if any, for the
25th position) will be announced in about five weeks.

Because they reached the final list of seven Modern-Era Players under consideration for the
Class of 2025 but were not elected, Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam
Vinatieri automatically advance to the final 15 this election cycle.


The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined next August in Canton.