Twenty Former Patriots Nominated for Pro Football Hall โof Fame Class โคof 2026
The Pro โFootball Hallโค of Fame announced its initial list โฃof โฃnominees for the Class of 2026 today,โ featuring โa notable contingent of 20 players โฃwho once donned the New England patriots uniform. The group represents aโฃ diverse range of eras adn contributions โto the โฃfranchise’s storied โฃhistory, from Super Bowl champions to impactfulโ veteransโฃ who โฃbriefly added their talents to the Patriots roster.
Among theโค nominees are key figures from the Patriots’ dynastyโค years, including Super โBowl XXXVIII โchampion Larry Centers, who playedโ his โฃfinal season with New England in 2003, and Ted Washington, a defensive anchor โขon the 2003โ championshipโ team. More recent contributors such as Brianโฃ waters, a โฃPro Bowl guard who started every game in 2011 and helped the team reach Super โBowl XLVI, and โJames Harrison, who made โขan impact inโ theโ 2017 playoffs with two sacks in the AFC Championship Game, also โคreceived nominations.
The listโ also includes players whose Patriotsโ tenures wereโค shorter โฃbut still noteworthy. Donte’ Stallworth was a steady contributor in โ2012, recording 74 receptions for 911 yards and four touchdowns. Chad Johnson,known asโข Chad ochocinco during his time in โฃNew England,appeared in Super Bowl XLVI after playing โขthe 2011 season with the team. Steven Jackson started the AFC Championship Game against Denver in 2015, โscoringโ a touchdown during hisโค brief time with the patriots. Fred Taylor played two seasons in a rotational roleโ from 2009-2010, totaling four touchdowns.
Several veteran players who spent limited time with theโ Patriots โขalso made the โขlist. Rich Gannon was drafted by New England in 1987 but traded to the Vikings shortlyโฃ after. Reggie Wayne signed with the Patriots in 2015 but was released before the regular season. Adrian Wilson was signed in 2013 but spent โฃthe season onโข injured reserve.Torry Holt attended the 2010 offseason โขand training camp before being placed on injured reserve.
Rounding out the list โขof Patriotsโค nominees are defensive players James Sanders, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, โRodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, and Andre Tippett, โand also running back Corey Dillon.
The final โClass of 2026 will be announced before โSuper Bowl LX, with the induction โขceremony scheduled for the followingโ summer.