Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026: A Star-Studded Group, But No Belichick or Kraft - Yet
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 was officially unveiled Thursday in San Francisco, and while New England Patriots legends Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were on the ballot, they’ll have to wait at least another year for their gold jackets. Instead, the spotlight turned to a group of all-time greats whose careers helped shape the modern NFL - and in some cases, redefined it.
Adam Vinatieri: The Clutch Kicker Who Changed the Game
Among the inductees is former Patriots and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, whose right leg helped launch the Patriots’ dynasty and later extended it in Indianapolis. Vinatieri’s résumé speaks for itself: four Super Bowl rings, countless clutch kicks, and a legacy built on ice-in-his-veins moments when the stakes were highest.
Whether it was the blizzard in the 2001 AFC Divisional Round or the game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVI, Vinatieri didn’t just play in big games - he decided them. His induction marks a rare honor for a specialist, but few have ever been more deserving.
Drew Brees: The Undersized Giant Who Rewrote the Record Books
But if there’s a headliner in this year’s class, it’s Drew Brees. The former Saints quarterback didn’t just put up big numbers - he helped transform a franchise and a city.
Drafted in 2001 by the Chargers, Brees had an uneven start to his career. By the time he hit his stride in San Diego, the team had already drafted Philip Rivers, making Brees expendable.
That led to his move to New Orleans in 2006, a decision that would change the course of NFL history.
Under head coach Sean Payton, Brees became the face of a revitalized Saints franchise, earning 13 Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro nods. He led the league in passing yards seven times, and while Tom Brady eventually surpassed him in total yardage, Brees still holds several remarkable records - including most touchdown passes in a single game (seven), highest single-season completion percentage (74.4), and most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54).
More importantly, Brees delivered New Orleans its first and only Super Bowl title in the 2009 season, a moment that carried even more weight as the city continued to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His impact extended well beyond the field.
Larry Fitzgerald: The Gold Standard of Consistency and Class
Another first-ballot lock, Larry Fitzgerald enters the Hall as one of the most respected and productive receivers the game has ever seen. Drafted third overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2004, Fitzgerald brought size, hands, and route-running precision that made him nearly uncoverable for over a decade. He finished his career second all-time in both receiving yards (17,492) and receptions (1,432), and sixth in touchdown catches (121).
Fitzgerald never won a Super Bowl - the closest he came was a heartbreaking loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII - but his postseason run that year was legendary. He tallied 546 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in four games, including a go-ahead 64-yard score with just over two minutes left in the title game. He was the rare receiver who combined elite production with elite professionalism, and his place on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team only cements that legacy.
Roger Craig: A Versatile Trailblazer
Roger Craig finally gets his due, and it’s long overdue. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers, Craig was the prototype for today’s dual-threat running backs.
In 1985, he became the first player in NFL history to rack up 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season - a feat that still feels ahead of its time. His ability to line up anywhere and contribute in every phase of the offense made him a vital cog in Bill Walsh’s West Coast machine.
Luke Kuechly: A Short Career, But an Impact That Lasts
Luke Kuechly didn’t play long, but he played loud. The former Panthers linebacker was a tackling machine - literally.
He had at least 100 tackles in all eight seasons he played, leading the league twice. A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Kuechly was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and was the heart and soul of a Carolina defense that powered the team to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2015 season.
His early retirement due to concussion concerns cut short what could have been an even more decorated career, but his impact on the field and in the locker room was unmistakable. He was the kind of player who knew the opposing offense better than they did - the kind of linebacker who made quarterbacks think twice.
Belichick and Kraft Left Waiting
While this class is undeniably loaded, the absence of Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft from the final list has generated plenty of conversation - and not just in New England.
For Belichick, this was his first year on the ballot, and while his six Super Bowl wins as a head coach (eight total including his time as a coordinator) make him arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, his candidacy wasn’t without baggage. His name is still tied to two of the league’s most controversial scandals - Spygate in 2007 and Deflategate in 2015. Whether or not those incidents should impact his Hall of Fame case is up for debate, but there’s no question they’ve left a mark on how some voters view his legacy.
Robert Kraft, meanwhile, was on the ballot for the 13th time, but this was his first as a finalist. The longtime Patriots owner has overseen one of the most successful runs in league history, with six Super Bowl titles and a consistent commitment to winning. Depending on how the Patriots fare in their upcoming matchup against the Seahawks, Kraft could soon add a seventh ring to his collection.
Both men will remain eligible, and it’s likely only a matter of time before they’re enshrined. But for now, the Hall’s doors remain closed - at least temporarily.
Other Notables Miss the Cut
Several other big names were finalists but didn’t make the final Class of 2026, including Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, Bengals tackle Willie Anderson, Rams receiver Torry Holt, Giants quarterback Eli Manning, and Ravens pass rusher Terrell Suggs.
Each has a strong case, and each will likely be back in the conversation next year. But with a class this stacked, there were always going to be tough cuts.
Looking Ahead
The Hall of Fame is as much about legacy as it is about numbers. And this year’s class brings together a group of players who not only filled stat sheets but also changed the way the game is played - and remembered. From Brees’ precision passing to Fitzgerald’s consistency, from Vinatieri’s clutch gene to Craig’s versatility and Kuechly’s dominance - this is a class that reflects the full spectrum of what greatness looks like in the NFL.
As for Belichick and Kraft, their stories aren’t finished yet. And when their time does come, it’ll be another chapter in the ongoing saga of a franchise that helped define a generation of football.