In their first year on the ballot, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore and Jason Witten are semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

They were among the 26 modern era candidates announced on Tuesday, a list that will be whittled down to 15 finalists by a 50-member selection committee.

Four returning finalists are already locked into the last 15 after reaching the final seven in 2025: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.

Eight others are returning finalists: Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.

The other nine semifinalists, including first-timers Lomas Brown and Kevin Williams, are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis.

In addition to voting on 15 modern era finalists before the Super Bowl in February, the selection committee will consider three seniors, one coach and one contributor.

Between four and eight new members will become the Class of 2026. In the first year of this format in 2025 only four men got in.

Brees trails only Tom Brady on the all-time list for passing yards (80,358) and touchdown passes (571) and led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title.

Fitzgerald ranks second only to Jerry Rice in receiving yards (17,492) and receptions (1,432) and played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals.

Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection who played 16 of his 17 seasons with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers and passed for 63,440 yards and 421 TDs.

Gore ranks third on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards, trailing only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. He was named to five Pro Bowls.

Witten made 11 Pro Bowls, played 16 of his 17 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and ranks No. 2 among tight ends in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046).

–Field Level Media