The Pro Football Hall of Fame class in Canton this summer will include new inductees, but reports indicate Bill Belichick and Eli Manning likely won’t be among them.
Belichick was the lone coaching finalist on this year’s ballot, facing off with contributor finalist Robert Kraft and senior nominees Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood. Hall of Fame election is decided by a 50-member selection committee; a candidate must receive 80% of the vote (at least 40 votes) to be elected, and each committee member can vote for up to three finalists.
Eli Manning is part of a stacked group of modern-era finalists that includes quarterbacks Drew Brees, receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, tight end Jason Witten, running back Frank Gore, guard Jahri Evans and at least one prominent offensive tackle. The broader modern-era field (15 finalists total) also features names like guard/tackle Marshall Yanda, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, edge rusher Terrell Suggs, linebacker Luke Kuechly and safety Darren Woodson; kicker Adam Vinatieri is the specialist among them.
Up to five modern-era finalists can receive invitations in a single year, so the Hall class usually ends up between four and eight members.
Before the official announcement on Thursday, Feb. 5, here’s a closer look at the frontrunners.
Virtual locks: Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald
It’s surprising both Brees and Fitzgerald weren’t elected earlier. Brees retired as one of the NFL’s all-time passing leaders — finishing his career near the top in both yards (80,353) and touchdowns (571), now behind only Tom Brady — and he also earned Super Bowl MVP in New Orleans’ 2009 title run. Fitzgerald ranks second only to Jerry Rice in career receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492) and sits among the top scorers in touchdown catches; while he never won a Super Bowl, he was a key part of Arizona’s deep 2008 playoff run.
Next tier: Gore, Kuechly, Suggs, Vinatieri, Witten
Frank Gore and Jason Witten are both first-time eligibles with strong resumes. Gore climbed into the top three on the all-time rushing list (16,000 yards), trailing only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. Kuechly dominated defensively during his eight-season career before injuries curtailed it — a trajectory that drew comparisons to Patrick Willis, who waited several years for enshrinement. Terrell Suggs ranks among the career leaders in sacks (139), has a Defensive Player of the Year award and a Super Bowl ring. Witten is second all-time among tight ends in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046), behind Tony Gonzalez. Adam Vinatieri’s case is also compelling: the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with multiple Super Bowl-winning kicks, including clutch, game-deciding field goals in postseason conditions fans still talk about.
The rest of the field
Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt are longtime finalists whose vote totals have often seemed to offset each other. Ken Anderson and Darren Woodson are among the longest-waiting finalists — Anderson as an offensive lineman (a position that often gets overlooked) and Woodson as a safety, another role sometimes undervalued by voters; Woodson remains the Dallas Cowboys’ all-time tackle leader. Senior finalists like Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood bring historic achievements: Craig was the first NFL player to post 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season and played on three championship teams, while Greenwood was a key member of Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” defense that helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls.
Contributor and senior finalist outlook
At least one person is typically inducted from the senior and contributor categories some years, and Robert Kraft — the owner who has six Super Bowl rings to his name — is considered a strong candidate for induction. Meanwhile, senior finalists such as Greenwood have powerful historical cases that could lead to posthumous honors.
2026 Hall of Fame class prediction
– QB Drew Brees
– WR Larry Fitzgerald
– LB Luke Kuechly
– Contributor Robert Kraft
– DL L.C. Greenwood
Brees and Fitzgerald appear likely to be first-ballot inductees, and Kuechly seems overdue for enshrinement. Kraft looks poised to be honored from the contributor ranks this year, while Belichick will probably have to wait longer; among senior nominees, Greenwood could very well be voted in for his role in one of the game’s great defenses.
Fan Take: This ballot highlights the tension between modern-era superstars and historic contributors — fans get to celebrate recent icons like Brees and Fitzgerald while also acknowledging figures whose impact was foundational, like Kraft and Greenwood. How the Hall balances those choices matters because it shapes the narrative of NFL history and what accomplishments future generations will view as Hall-worthy.
