Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame together. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) (Sean Gardner via Getty Images)
Frank SchwabSenior writerFri, February 6, 2026 at 3:13 AM UTC·3 min readSAN FRANCISCO — After Bill Belichick failed to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot, nobody seemed to be a lock to get in right away.
But Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald were the definitions of first-ballot Hall of Famers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 was announced on Thursday night during the NFL Honors show. The class included one of the best quarterbacks and one of the best wide receivers in league history:
QB Drew Brees
Brees checked every box to be on a short list of greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Brees made 13 Pro Bowls, he’s second to Tom Brady in many career passing lists including most yards (80,358) and passing touchdowns (571). He led the NFL in passing seven times, and had five 5,000-yard seasons and another 4,952-yard season. Brees led the NFL in completion percentage six times. He also helped the Saints to their only Super Bowl title at the end of the 2009 season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWR Larry Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was the third pick of the 2004 NFL Draft and over the next 17 seasons, he was everything the Arizona Cardinals could ask for.
Fitzgerald was an 11-time Pro Bowler, finished second all-time to Jerry Rice with 1,432 receptions and 17,492 yards and sixth with 121 receiving touchdowns. He was also the Walter Payton Man of the Year winner in 2016. Fitzgerald was the total package at receiver, but was legendary for his excellent hands. Fitzgerald rarely had a drop in his 272 career games including playoffs. That included a trip to and memorable touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.
LB Luke Kuechly
The only argument against Kuechly was his longevity, because concussions cut his career short. Over his eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers, he was among the best defensive players in football. He was first-team All-Pro five times, won Defensive Rookie of the Year and in his second season he was NFL Defensive Player of the Year. His all-around ability at linebacker made him one of the best players of his era.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementK Adam Vinatieri
Vinatieri had some of the most memorable kicks in NFL history, including two walk-off field goals to win Super Bowls, and now he’s the rare kicker in the Hall of Fame.
Vinatieri, who set records for field goals made and attempted and points scored with 2,673 over his 24 seasons with the Patriots and Colts, was voted into the Hall of Fame. He joins Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the only primary placekickers in the Hall.
RB Roger Craig
Craig was ahead of his time as a dual-threat running back. He was the first to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a season, doing so for the 1985 San Francisco 49ers. That came a year after Craig helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XIX. He scored three touchdowns in that game. Craig played 11 seasons, eight with the 49ers, one with the Raiders and his final two with the Vikings. Craig was a three seniors finalist for the Hall of Fame this season.
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