It’s rush hour and maybe gridlock time as the Pro Football Hall of Fame nears picking its Class of 2026 .

A reduction to 26 modern-era player semifinalists was made today. It gets harder for holdovers in that the four men are included in their first year of eligibility .

The newbies are Drew Brees , Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Philip Rivers and Jason Witten. They each played their last professional football game in the 2020 season.

Brees is seen as a lock to get in right away.

Fitzgerald seems a lock to make it sooner rather than later based on ranking second all-time to Jerry Rice in career receiving yards.

Gore wasn’t viewed as impactful at running back as Fitzgerald was at receiver, but he ranks third all-time in rushing yards, ahead of a slew of Hall of Famers.

Wit

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