Former Colts offensive lineman Chris Hinton on Thursday was announced among 52 Senior candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Hinton, who played both tackle and guard in his 13-year NFL career, was a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Colts – he was selected fourth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, who later traded him to the Baltimore Colts as part of a deal to acquire quarterback John Elway. Hinton was a Pro Bowler as a rookie and then earned a spot in the Pro Bowl every year from 1985-1989 with the Indianapolis Colts, and was named a second-team AP All-Pro in 1985 and 1989.
Hinton joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1990 and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1991 and was named a first-team AP All-Pro in 1993. He finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings from 1994-1995.
Over his 13 years in the NFL, Hinton started 172 games.
Hinton will be considered by the Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee, which is comprised of nine voters who also serve on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The seniors committee will reduce the number of candidates from 52 to 25 and then to nine in balloting that will take place over the next few weeks. Of those nine semifinalists, three will be selected as finalists to be considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year.
Senior candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame have not appeared in an NFL game since at least the 2000 season.
