Brees, Fitzgerald Headline 2026 Hall Semifinalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its list of 26 modern-era player semifinalists for the Class of 2026 on Tuesday, spotlighting a group headlined by first-year eligible stars Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, among others who retired after the 2020 season.

The announcement came from the Hall's selection committee, which conducted preliminary voting to narrow down hundreds of candidates. Brees, Fitzgerald, quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Frank Gore and tight end Jason Witten all advanced in their debut year of eligibility. Two additional first-time semifinalists include offensive tackle Lomas Brown, who last played in 2002, and defensive lineman Kevin Williams, whose final season was 2015.

Four players secured automatic advancement to the finalist stage after finishing among the top seven candidates for the 2025 class: offensive tackle Willie Anderson, wide receiver Torry Holt, linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri. The remaining 15 semifinalists, all returning from last year, are quarterbacks Eli Manning and Philip Rivers; running backs Fred Taylor and Frank Gore; wide receivers Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Jahri Evans,...