11/25/25 09:53:00
Printable Page
11/25 08:01 CST Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald lead Pro Football
Hall of Fame modern era semifinalists
Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald lead Pro Football Hall of Fame
modern era semifinalists
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Pro Football Writer
Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, along with wide receiver Larry
Fitzgerald, tight end Jason Witten and running back Frank Gore made it to the
semifinal stage in their first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of
Fame.
The five newcomers are among the 26 modern era candidates who advanced to this
stage in voting conducted by the full 50-member selection committee for the
class of 2026.
The selection committee will next reduce the list to 15 finalists, who will be
voted on 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.
The other returning finalists are Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr.,
Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshall Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.
Offensive lineman Lomas Brown and defensive lineman Kevin Williams were the
other two candidates who reached the semifinal stage for the first time. The
other semifinalists are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney
Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis.
In addition to the 15 modern era finalists, the selection committee will
consider three seniors, one coach and one contributor for the class of 2026.
Between four and eight new members will be elected in the second year of this
current format.
Only four people got in last year for the smallest class in 20 years.
Brees and Fitzgerald are the top new candidates this year.
Brees is second all time to Tom Brady with 80,358 yards passing and 571
touchdown passes. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the San
Diego Chargers before signing as a free agent with the Saints in 2006, where
his career took off as he helped lift a city still recovering from Hurricane
Katrina.
Brees delivered to New Orleans its first Super Bowl title following the 2009
season, when he won MVP of the game after beating Peyton Manning and the
Indianapolis Colts. Brees made the Pro Bowl 13 times in his career, won AP
Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, was an All-Pro in 2006 and was a
second-team All-Pro four times.
Fitzgerald spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals after being
drafted third overall in 2004. His 1,432 catches and 17,492 yards receiving in
17 seasons rank second all time to Jerry Rice.
Fitzgerald topped 1,000 yards receiving nine times --- tied for the fourth most
ever --- and helped the Cardinals reach their only Super Bowl following the
2008 season. Fitzgerald set single-season records that postseason with 546
yards receiving and seven TD catches, including a go-ahead 64-yard score with
2:37 to play in the Super Bowl before Pittsburgh rallied for a 27-23 win over
Arizona.
Rivers ranks seventh all time with 63,440 yards passing in a career spent
mostly with the Chargers. He made eight Pro Bowls and won the 2013 AP Comeback
Player of the Year.
Witten was one of the most prolific tight ends ever with his 1,228 catches and
13,046 yards ranking second best all time. Witten was a two-time All-Pro for
Dallas and was a second-team All-Pro two other times.
Gore ranks third all time with 16,000 yards rushing with nine 1,000-yard
seasons and five Pro Bowl honors.
Kuechly's career was brief but impactful. The first-round pick by Carolina in
2012 was an All-Pro five times, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie
of the Year award.
Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles
(1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66).
Vinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making the
game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl victories during New
England's dynasty.
He helped launch the run with one of the game's greatest kicks --- a 45-yarder
in the snow to force overtime in the "Tuck Rule" game against the Raiders in
the 2001 divisional round. He made the game-winning kick in OT to win that game
and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20-17 win in the Super Bowl
against the Rams.
Vinatieri is the NFL's career leader in points (2,673) and made field goals
(599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He also leads
all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.
Holt was a key part of the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf," helping the team win
the Super Bowl in his rookie season in 1999 and getting back there two years
later. Holt led the NFL in yards receiving in 2000 and in catches and yards in
2003 when he made his only All-Pro team.
Holt finished his career with 920 catches for 13,382 yards and 74 TDs.
Anderson was considered one of the top right tackles in his era after being a
first-round pick by Cincinnati in 1996. He spent nearly his entire career with
the Bengals and made three straight All-Pro teams from 2004-06.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
|
