128 Modern‑Era Nominees for 2026 Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame released a list of 128 modern‑era nominees for the Class of 2026, including 13 first‑year eligibles such as quarterbacks Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Alex Smith; receiver Larry Fitzgerald; tight end Jason Witten; running backs Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy; and defensive tackle Geno Atkins. The ballot includes several groupings of interest, notably multiple former Washington players (Alex Smith, Brian Mitchell, London Fletcher, Shaun Alexander, Donovan McNabb and DeAngelo Hall) and nine former Cincinnati Bengals highlighted by Willie Anderson, Geno Atkins, Corey Dillon and Chad Johnson. The screening committee will trim the list to 50 by mid‑October, then to 25 semifinalists and 15 modern‑era finalists before the selection meeting; players who reached the final seven for the Class of 2025 — Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri — are automatically included among the 15 finalists. Enshrinees must receive at least 80% of the vote, and the Class of 2026 will include three to five modern‑era players.