Former NFL stars Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald will enter the Football Hall of Fame in 2026 in their first year of eligibility.
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Those who played respectively as quarterback and pass catcher will receive this ultimate honor along with linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri. Both men were in their second year of eligibility.
Running back Roger Craig will be admitted as a senior.
However, it is still the absence of head coach Bill Belichick in this class of inductees that is making the most waves. Thursday evening, we learned that 11 of the 50 voters had not selected him. The 73-year-old was in his first year of eligibility after winning eight Super Bowls, including six times as head coach of the New England Patriots. He signed 333 victories in the NFL in the regular season and in the playoffs, which makes him the second winningest coach in the history of the circuit.
Drew Brees
- Quarterback
- San Diego Chargers (2001-2005) & New Orleans Saints (2006-2020)
Highlights : Super Bowl XLIV Champion | Super Bowl XLIV MVP | NFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player (2008 & 2011) | NFL First All-Star Team (2006) | 13 invitations to the Pro Bowl game
Photo AFP
Larry Fitzgerald
- Reces for the passes
- Cardinals of the Arizona (2004-2020)
Highlights : NFL First All-Star Team (2009 & 2011) | 11 invitations to the Pro Bowl game
Photo d’archives, AFP
Izenern
- Linebacker
- Carolina Panthers (2012–2019)
Highlights : NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2013) | NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) | NFL First All-Star Team (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2018) | 7 invitations to the Pro Bowl game
AFP
Adam Vinatieri
- Kicker
- New England Patriots (1996-2005) & Indianapolis Colts (2006-2019)
Highlights : Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX & XLI Champion | NFL First All-Star Team (2002, 2004 & 2011) | 3 invitations to the Pro Bowl game
Getty Images via AFP
Roger Craig
- Ball carrier
- San Francisco 49ers (1983-1990), Los Angeles Raiders (1991) & Minnesota Vikings (1992-1993)
Highlights : Champion of Super Bowls XIX, XXIII & XXIV | NFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player (1988) | First NFL All-Star Team (1988) | 4 invitations to the Pro Bowl game
