Predicting Patriots 2026 Hall of Famers

Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 recently saw movement, with 52 players — including several former New England Patriots standouts — advancing in the voting process.

Candidates for the Hall of Fame in this particular category could have last appeared in a professional football game in the 2020 season. Each member of the Modern-Era Players Screening Committee — an entity created one year ago to make the first reductions from the original list of nominees — cast a ballot for 50 individuals whom they believe should be considered for election. This year's roster of nominees included 128 names, 77 offensive players, 42 defensive players and nine special teams players.

The full list released by NFL.com of the 52 Modern-Era Players who have advanced for further consideration in the Class of 2026 are as follows:

(*-Finalist (final 15) for the Class of 2025. Italics indicate first year of eligibility.)

QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, * Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.

RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), *Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.

WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, *Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, *Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne.

TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen, Jason Witten.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): *Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), *Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), *Marshal Yanda (G).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).

LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison, *Luke Kuechly, *Terrell Suggs.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), *Darren Woodson (S).

PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), *Adam Vinatieri (K).

SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).