Roger Craig is finally getting his gold jacket - and it’s long overdue.
The former Nebraska standout and San Francisco 49ers great has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, joining a star-studded group that includes Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri, and Luke Kuechly. With the announcement, Craig becomes the sixth former Husker to earn a spot in Canton, and the first since linemen Will Shields and Mick Tingelhoff were inducted back in 2015.
Craig’s Hall of Fame résumé has been debated for years, but the numbers - and the impact - have always spoken for themselves. Over an 11-year NFL career that spanned stints with the 49ers, Raiders, and Vikings, Craig carved out a legacy as one of the most dynamic and versatile backs the league has ever seen.
He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time Super Bowl champion, and in 1985, he became the first player in NFL history to rack up both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. That kind of dual-threat production was ahead of its time - and it helped redefine what teams could expect from the running back position.
Craig’s postseason pedigree is just as impressive. In three Super Bowl appearances, he totaled 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries, while adding 212 receiving yards and two more scores on 20 catches.
He was the first player ever to score three touchdowns in a single Super Bowl, a feat he accomplished in the 49ers’ blowout win in Super Bowl XIX. And in 1988, he was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year - a season that helped cement his status as one of the era’s elite offensive weapons.
Before all that, Craig was a force at Nebraska. In three seasons with the Huskers, he rushed for 2,446 yards and 26 touchdowns, showcasing the same blend of power, vision, and pass-catching ability that would later make him a nightmare for NFL defenses. He was selected by San Francisco in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft, stepping into a Bill Walsh offense that would maximize his skill set and help launch a dynasty.
Craig’s enshrinement is more than just a personal milestone - it’s a celebration of a player who helped revolutionize the running back position. His ability to seamlessly transition between pounding the ball between the tackles and lining up as a legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield made him a matchup problem in every sense. And now, that legacy will be forever etched in bronze.
The Class of 2026 will be officially inducted on Saturday, August 8, in Canton, Ohio - a fitting stage for one of the game's true trailblazers.
