The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Thursday at NFL Honors, with Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headlining this year’s five-player group.
Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig (seniors category) have also been inducted.
Here’s a detailed list of Canton’s newest inductees and their career accomplishments:
Drew Brees
Quarterback, San Diego Chargers-New Orleans Saints, 2001-20
No other former player was a bigger lock for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class than Brees. The Saints legend started his career with the Chargers, but it was in New Orleans where he overcame a serious shoulder injury to become one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks. Brees led the league in passing in seven different seasons and ranks second all-time with 80,358 yards and 571 touchdown passes, trailing only Tom Brady. Brees holds the record for most 5,000-yard campaigns with five and was named Super Bowl MVP after guiding the Saints to their first Lombardi Trophy in 2010.
Larry Fitzgerald
Wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals, 2004-20
One of the most respected players of his era, Fitzgerald was the face of the Cardinals franchise for almost two decades. Despite catching passes from quarterbacks who combined for only three Pro Bowl nods in his 17 seasons, Fitzgerald collected 1,432 receptions and 17,492 yards – both second only to Jerry Rice. An 11-time Pro Bowler, he ranks sixth all-time with 121 touchdown receptions. Fitzgerald’s legendary postseason performances include setting records for catches and receiving yards in 2008, when he led Arizona to its first Super Bowl appearance.
Adam Vinatieri
Kicker, New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts, 1996-2019
Widely considered the most clutch kicker in football, Vinatieri holds the record for most field goals made and most points scored in league history. More importantly, his consistency and accuracy helped him win four Super Bowl titles (three with the Patriots and one with the Colts). Vinatieri was a major contributor to New England’s dynasty after converting game-winning kicks in the dying seconds in two of the franchise’s Super Bowl triumphs.
Luke Kuechly
Linebacker, Carolina Panthers, 2012-19
The only knock on Kuechly’s Hall of Fame career is that it lasted only eight seasons. Yet during that time, he was the NFL’s best off-ball linebacker, earning seven All-Pro nods (five first-team selections) in his last seven years as a pro. The former first-round pick was also named Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in his first two campaigns and served as a cornerstone for a 15-1 Panthers team that reached Super Bowl 50.
Roger Craig (seniors category)
Running back, San Francisco 49ers-Los Angeles Raiders-Minnesota Vikings,1983-93
Craig was crucial for the 49ers and helped them win three Super Bowl titles. The four-time Pro Bowler’s stats as a rusher don’t jump off the page (he had only three 1,000-yard seasons), but Craig’s dual-threat ability was off the charts. He retired with 13,100 scrimmage yards and was the first NFL player to top 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season (1985).