Five players enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton this summer — a class that spans a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the most reliable kicker in postseason history, and a running back who waited nearly three decades for the call.
When and Where to Watch
| Enshrinement | Saturday, August 8, 2026 — noon ET |
| Venue | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio |
| TV | NFL Network (live) |
| Hall of Fame Game | Thursday, August 6 — Cardinals vs Panthers, NBC |
The Five
Drew Brees — quarterback. The face of the New Orleans Saints, and of a city’s recovery. Brees led the Saints to their only Super Bowl title and spent his career at the top of the passing record books.
Larry Fitzgerald — wide receiver. Seventeen seasons, all with the Arizona Cardinals — a rarity in the modern game, and the reason Arizona is in the Hall of Fame Game.
Luke Kuechly — linebacker. Also a one-franchise man, entirely with the Carolina Panthers. Defensive Rookie of the Year, then Defensive Player of the Year, before retiring early at his peak.
Adam Vinatieri — kicker. The most decorated postseason kicker the sport has produced, whose name is attached to some of the most famous kicks in Super Bowl history. Kickers rarely reach Canton; that is the measure of the career.
Roger Craig — running back. The senior selection of the class, and the longest wait. A cornerstone of the San Francisco 49ers dynasty, Craig was the first player to record 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season — a feat that redefined what a running back could be.
Why This Class Fits Together
Three of the five — Fitzgerald, Kuechly and, for all but his final season, Vinatieri’s New England era — are studies in loyalty and longevity rather than headline-chasing. Two of them, Fitzgerald and Kuechly, spent every single season with one team, which is why the league scheduled their old clubs against each other to open the preseason. It is a neat piece of programming: the class is introduced at the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, then enshrined two days later in the same stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is in the Hall of Fame Class of 2026?
Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.
When is the 2026 enshrinement ceremony?
Saturday, August 8 at noon ET, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
What channel is the Hall of Fame ceremony on?
NFL Network, live.
Which two played their entire careers for one team?
Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals) and Luke Kuechly (Panthers) — which is why those clubs meet in the Hall of Fame Game.
Class details, ceremony date, time and broadcast per the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NFL, 2026. Photo: Drew Brees by Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
