"Quarterback Drew Brees and receiver Larry Fitzgerald were picked in their first year of eligibility as two of the nominees among modern era players for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Brees and Fitzgerald were two of the most prolific producers in the passing game in NFL history with Brees ranking second all-time in yards passing and touchdowns, and Fitzgerald ranking second in career receptions and yards receiving."
"Eleven other players in their first year of eligibility were picked among the 128 modern-era nominees for this year's class. The other nominees in their first year of eligibility are quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Alex Smith; tight ends Greg Olsen and Jason Witten; running backs Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy; offensive linemen David DeCastro and Maurkice Pouncey; defensive linemen Geno Atkins and Jurrell Casey; and linebacker Thomas Davis."
"A screening committee will reduce the candidates to 50 in October with the full 50-member selection committee reducing the list to 25 and then 15 finalists, who will be voted on by the selection meeting before the Super Bowl in February. Four players have already guaranteed themselves spots in the final 15 after making it down to the final seven players in the 2025 class with Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri taking those spots."
Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald were nominated among 128 modern-era candidates for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Brees ranks second all-time with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes; Fitzgerald ranks second in career receptions and receiving yards. Eleven other first-year eligibles include notable quarterbacks, tight ends, running backs, offensive and defensive linemen, and a linebacker, such as Philip Rivers, Alex Smith, Greg Olsen, Jason Witten, Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy. A screening committee will trim the field to 50 in October; a 50-member selection committee will reduce that to 25 and then 15 finalists for a vote before the Super Bowl. Four players from 2025 already secured spots among the final 15.
Read at ESPN.com
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