In their first year on the ballot, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore and Jason Witten are semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.

They were among the 26 modern era candidates announced on Tuesday, a list that will be whittled down to 15 finalists by a 50-member selection committee.

Four returning finalists are already locked into the last 15 after reaching the final seven in 2025: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.

Eight others are returning finalists: Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.

The other nine semifinalists, including first-timers Lomas Brown and Kevin Williams, are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harri

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