Adam Vinatieri and Reggie Wayne on Tuesday took the next step toward taking the place in Canton both earned during their historic playing careers, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame announcing both Colts greats among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
This is Vinatieri's second year as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in as many years of eligibility; despite being widely regarded as the greatest kicker in NFL history, he was not selected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer a year ago. Wayne, who is one of nine players in NFL history with at least 1,000 catches, 14,000 yards and 80 touchdowns, has not been selected in his previous six years of eligibility; he reached the finalist round in all six of those years.
Vinatieri and Wayne previously were among 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. That list was reduced to 25 semifinalists in mid-December, when quarterback Philip Rivers ended his five-year retirement to step in behind center for the Colts. Longtime Colts defensive end Robert Mathis – the NFL's all-time leader in strip-sacks – was not named a finalist for this year's class; Mathis has been a semifinalist in each of his five years of eligibility but has not advanced to the finalist round.
Running back Frank Gore, who played for the Colts from 2015-2017, was also among the 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Modern Era finalists announced Tuesday:
- T Willie Anderson (1996-2008)
- QB Drew Brees (2001-2020)
- G Jahri Evans (2006-2017)
- WR Larry Fitzgerald (2004-2020)
- RB Frank Gore (2005-2020)
- WR Torry Holt (1998-2009)
- LB Luke Kuechly (2012-2019)
- QB Eli Manning (2004-2019)
- OLB/DE Terrell Suggs (2003-2019)
- K Adam Vinatieri (1996-2019)
- WR Reggie Wayne (2001-2014)
- TE Jason Witten (2003-2017, 2019-2020)
- S Darren Woodson (1992-2003)
- G/T Marshal Yanda (2007-2019)
Both Holt and Wayne have now reached the finalist round of consideration seven times, tied for the most among those 15 finalists. Holt is in his 12th year of eligibility, and he along with Anderson, Kuechly and Vinatieri automatically were named finalists for 2026 because they made the cut to the final seven last year.
For more on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's selection process and how Vinatieri and Wayne stack up as candidates this year, check out today's episode of The Colts Show Podcast with longtime Colts scribe Mike Chappell, who serves as a selector on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. You can get the episode on your podcast platform of choice, including:
