The 2026 NFL hall of fame eligibility list has been released. Who is getting in first ballot?

[MegaTronBomb!]

Fitz should be the only guaranteed first ballot.


Brees is going to surely run into the " if QB X threw the ball at the rate Brees did....they'd have similar stats" argument + for all those passing yards, the Saints were never a true perinnial title or deep playoff threat.

Don't let people get to arguing that Eli should get in first because he has 2 rings and one of them was to beat the best NFL team ever.

 

[Trips]

Fitz should be the only guaranteed first ballot.


Brees is going to surely run into the " if QB X threw the ball at the rate Brees did....they'd have similar stats" argument + for all those passing yards, the Saints were never a true perinnial title or deep playoff threat.

Don't let people get to arguing that Eli should get in first because he has 2 rings and one of them was to beat the best NFL team ever.

I see what you're saying. But, he's going in on the first Ballot.

He's got the SB, he's got stats, and people who vote thought he was an all time great.

QB stats exploded in his era. But, people are going to start looking at the weird things they didn't before. Like Drew Brees in my eyes was a different QB from a Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, and so forth. But the voters they're gonna look at his stats, they are going to look at his teams, they are going to weigh he won the Super Bowl. And then they are going to do the other thing where they go well he just barely made it in the second round. His original team cast him away and then he thrived etc. I have no connection to Brees. But, if you said shyt you watched these guys all play football. Brees, Rivers, Eli, Ryan, Big Ben, etc. Brees still jumps off the board for me. And that is what I think separates him from his peers.

 

[Harry B]

Phil Rivers is an interesting player in that he has the 6th most passing yards ever.

It'll be interesting to the what the value of that is to the journalists. Obviously not 1st ballot, but the % will be interesting

 

[King Harlem]

First Ballot: Brees, Fitzgerald (Guaranteed). Witten and Gore (Probable).

 

[Easy-E]

 

[Belize King]

Sucks Rivers played in the AFC against Brady, Manning, and Ben.

I think he gets in because is career numbers eventually. Gore will get in eventually as well. AD and Henry are the last running back locks. They will eventually have to change their views on the position because the career numbers aren’t there anymore.

 

[horizon]

Fitz should be the only guaranteed first ballot.


Brees is going to surely run into the " if QB X threw the ball at the rate Brees did....they'd have similar stats" argument + for all those passing yards, the Saints were never a true perinnial title or deep playoff threat.

Don't let people get to arguing that Eli should get in first because he has 2 rings and one of them was to beat the best NFL team ever.

Horrible take, definitely the worst I’ve read this year and maybe top 5 all time on this forum.

 

[Hov]

What about the guys that are waiting. HOF isn’t just made up of whoever’s eligible today

IMO Gore doesn’t go before Fred Taylor

Fitz and Brees yes. Possible Witten, I don’t think he’s worthy but Dallas feels otherwise

 

[No Hook]

This is the correct answer. However, I do think there’s a chance Witten gets in first ballot. I don’t value him that way, but I can see it.

It will be an embarrassment for the Pro Football HOF if Rivers and/or Gore get in first ballot.

Written will make the HOF but he’s not first ballot. I expect Kuechly and/or Suggs making the list next year along with Terry **** finally making hopefully

Witten and Pouncey definitely getting in

Very hard for an OL to make first ballot unless you have at least 3 1st teams which Pouncey does not have. He will make it eventually I think but he’s not 1st ballot by any means and won’t make it next year

 

[Reggie]

I would be surprised if Larry and Drew didn't make it. Everyone else is a toss up. Witten could get in but I think they will make him wait at least a year to get in. Gores numbers says he should be in but the eye test says he should have to wait a year or two since other better players have had to as well. Next year should be the year to get some guys who have been waiting for the call in.

 

[Sbp]

Dez Bryant?
Alex Smith?

Edelman

 

[RammerJammer]

Brees and Fitz are locks, rest will be a debate except like Alex Smith and Dez, there was a debate after SB 53 if Edelman is a HOF mostly started by cacs, but I just don't see it man

It's getting interesting now seeing more and more players I actually watched on these ballots

 

[Spence]

Rivers getting in because he’s white and consistent

 

[Remote]

Gore was just good for a very long time and accumulated numbers. Not a first ballot HOF

Sometimes I don’t understand the logic of someone not being a first ballot HOFer.

Either you’re a hall of famer or you’re not.

If you happen to be eligible in a stacked year, I understand lines have to be drawn. There are only so many votes.

But if the argument is “Frank Gore belongs but he deserves to wait a few years….” then I think that’s terrible.

 

[NoMoreWhiteWoman2020]

Sometimes I don’t understand the logic of someone not being a first ballot HOFer.

Either you’re a hall of famer or you’re not.

If you happen to be eligible in a stacked year, I understand lines have to be drawn. There are only so many votes.

But if the argument is “Frank Gore belongs but he deserves to wait a few years….” then I think that’s terrible.

That’s the argument I think Deion made or some shyt.

I agree with you, but it has to maintain some exclusivity unlike the NBA HOF. I think first ballot HOFers should have their own distinction and be a super-exclusive club like the undefeated Dolphins. Kind of like the was MLB treats inductees whose votes were unanimous