Prominent Figures Advance in the 2026 Hall of Fame Race
The path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the class of 2026 has taken a crucial step. A total of 52 players, including emblematic names, have passed the first selection phase in the veterans category.
Among the standouts are versatile running back Roger Craig, former MVP Ken Anderson, and Steve Tasker, a special teams specialist.
The veterans’ selection committee reduced the initial list of 162 nominees, all of whom were players whose last appearance in professional football dates back to the 2000 season.
An elite committee will continue to evaluate candidates in three additional stages, until selecting the three finalists who will compete in the final vote, which will take place before the Super Bowl in February.
The list of nominees includes three players who were finalists in the last two years, but did not make it in. Linebacker Maxie Baughan and offensive lineman Jim Tyrer are seeking to be finalists for the second year in a row, while wide receiver Art Powell aims to return to this stage after reaching it in 2024.
Ken Anderson, who was selected for the Pro Bowl four times, led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl in 1981, where he was recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP). At the time of his retirement after the 1986 season, Anderson ranked sixth all-time in passing yards (32,838) and 13th in passing touchdowns (197).
Roger Craig was a fundamental piece in the San Francisco 49ers dynasty in the 1980s, excelling both as a running back and in his ability to catch passes. Craig was the first player in history to accumulate 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season (1985). In 1988, he led the NFL with 2,036 total yards and contributed to the 49ers’ Super Bowl victory.
Craig was also part of San Francisco’s championship teams in the 1984 and 1989 seasons. His 410 total yards in those Super Bowls position him as the third player with the most combined yards in the history of the event, surpassed only by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.
Steve Tasker, considered one of the best special teams players of all time, excelled in kick coverage and returns. Throughout his career, he blocked seven kicks and caught nine touchdown passes as a receiver. Tasker contributed to the Buffalo Bills winning four consecutive AFC titles before losing in the Super Bowl and was selected for the Pro Bowl seven times during his 13-year career.
