Jared Allen
Eric Allen
Sterling Sharpe
Antonio Gates
As soon as the new busts are in place, attention turns to the Next Class. It’s inevitable. Even during yesterday’s speeches, the list of first-year eligibles for the Class of 2026 was bouncing across the social medias. It’s a strong list.
Larry Fitzgerald
Drew Brees
Phillip Rivers
Jason Witten
Frank Gore
Julian Edelman
Maurkice Pouncey
LeSean McCoy
Thomas Davis
Greg Olsen
Alex Smith
Dez Bryant
Stephen Gostkowski
Geno Atkins
David DeCastro
Mike Pouncey
Sean Lee
Todd Gurley
Jurrell Casey
Larry Fitzgerald and Drew Brees are the clear headliners of the group. It’d be a surprise if both aren’t wearing Gold Jackets in the Canton sun next August. After those two, at least six have legit arguments for induction in the coming years.
So, who’s next?
It’s often best to start with the finalists for the previous Class. Somehow, Jared Allen was part of that group for four years before he finally made it in his fifth year of eligibility. Here are the finalists from last year that are still waiting for a Hall knock.
Willie Anderson
Jahri Evans
Torry Holt
Luke Kuechly
Eli Manning
Steve Smith Sr.
Terrell Suggs
Fred Taylor
Adam Vinatieri
Reggie Wayne
Darren Woodson
Marshal Yanda
Last year was the first year of the new voting process. While a single Class is hardly a proper sample size, it seems clear that smaller Classes may become the norm. If that’s the case, making it to Canton will become harder and the group of deserving players will grow considerably. Of the above 12, Luke Kuechly is an easy pick for next year’s Class. Seeing as he was one of the best linebackers of my lifetime, I thought that he was an easy choice in his first year. So, he’s an even easier choice in his second year.
In my opinion, the first three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are easy.
Larry Fitzgerald
Drew Brees
Luke Kuechly
A fourth is also pretty easy. Coaches only have to be out of the game (in this case, the pro game) for a single season. Bill Belichick.
With the new voting process, I wouldn’t be surprised if the voters ended it with those four and perhaps a senior candidate. I’m working toward something closer to the maximum. There are too many deserving candidates to be idiots about this.
While I’d like to see one of the receivers that have been waiting make it, in this exercise of “Who’s Next?” I’m going to end the long wait of Willie Anderson.
After that, I’m going with a player that deserves Hall of Fame recognition but has gotten no traction. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams. He was the key to one of the best run defenses in the league’s history. He has the All-Pros. He has the Pro Bowls. He has the All-Decades. He has it all and should already have a bust.
Finally, the Senior candidate. Verne Lewellen should’ve made it to Canton before the voting got out of the 1960s. He was one of the best football players of the league’s first two decades. It’s mind-boggling that he’s still waiting.
So, here’s Who’s Next for 2026:
Larry Fitzgerald
Drew Brees
Luke Kuechly
Willie Anderson
Kevin Williams
Bill Belichick
Verne Lewellen
See you, Canton!
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