SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headlined the 2026 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame class that includes 5 gamers however not six-time Tremendous Bowl successful head coach Invoice Belichick.
Brees and Fitzgerald each made it of their first yr of eligibility in outcomes introduced at NFL Honors on Thursday night time after prolific careers. Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri made it of their second seasons of eligibility, whereas Roger Craig was the lone choose amongst seniors, coaches and contributors.
However the class can be noteworthy for Belichick’s absence as a minimum of 11 of the 50 voters opted in opposition to giving him a vote regardless of a profession with 333 wins within the common season and playoffs and probably the most Tremendous Bowl titles of any head coach. A report final week that Belichick fell quick in his first yr of eligibility was met with widespread criticism of each the voters and the method for selecting Corridor of Famers.
The person who employed Belichick in New England to set the stage for the Patriots dynasty additionally fell quick, with proprietor Robert Kraft failing to get sufficient votes.
That is the second straight yr with a smaller class after solely 4 folks made it final yr as new rule modifications have made it tougher to get into the Corridor. There had been a minimum of seven folks inducted within the earlier 12 lessons earlier than final yr.
That contributed to the snub for Belichick and Kraft, who have been grouped with Craig and two different gamers — Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood — who’ve been retired for a minimum of 25 seasons. The voters picked three of the 5 candidates with the best vote-getter and anybody else above 80% getting the dignity.
Craig, who was in his twenty eighth yr of eligibility, was the one a type of 5 to make it. Craig was the primary participant ever to have 1,000 yards speeding and 1,000 yards receiving in the identical season, which occurred in 1985, and he led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988 when he helped San Francisco win the Tremendous Bowl.
Craig additionally was a part of the title-winning groups for the 49ers within the 1984 and 1989 seasons. His 410 yards from scrimmage in these Tremendous Bowl wins are the third-most ever behind Corridor of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.
Vinatieri was one of the vital clutch kickers in NFL historical past, making the game-winning subject objectives within the first two Tremendous Bowl victories throughout New England’s dynasty with Belichick and Kraft in cost. He joined Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the one gamers within the Corridor who have been primarily kickers of their careers.
Vinatieri helped launch the run with one of many sport’s biggest kicks — a 45-yarder within the snow to drive time beyond regulation within the “Tuck Rule” sport in opposition to the Raiders within the 2001 divisional spherical. He made the game-winning kick in OT to win that sport after which hit a 48-yarder on the ultimate play of a 20-17 win within the Tremendous Bowl in opposition to the Rams.
Vinatieri is the NFL’s profession chief in factors (2,673) and made subject objectives (599) over a 24-year profession with New England and Indianapolis. He additionally leads all gamers with 56 subject objectives and 238 factors within the postseason.
Brees is second all time to Tom Brady with 80,358 yards passing and 571 landing passes. He spent the primary 5 seasons of his profession with the San Diego Chargers earlier than signing as a free agent with the Saints in 2006, the place his profession took off as he helped raise a metropolis nonetheless recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
Brees delivered to New Orleans its first Tremendous Bowl title following the 2009 season, when he gained MVP of the sport after beating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Brees made the Professional Bowl 13 instances in his profession, gained AP Offensive Participant of the 12 months in 2008 and 2011, was an All-Professional in 2006 and was a second-team All-Professional 4 instances.
Fitzgerald spent his total profession with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted third general in 2004. His 1,432 catches and 17,492 yards receiving in 17 seasons rank second all time to Jerry Rice.
Fitzgerald topped 1,000 yards receiving 9 instances — tied for the fourth-most ever — and helped the Cardinals attain their solely Tremendous Bowl following the 2008 season. Fitzgerald set single-season data that postseason with 546 yards receiving and 7 TD catches, together with a go-ahead 64-yard rating with 2:37 to play within the Tremendous Bowl earlier than Pittsburgh rallied for a 27-23 win over Arizona.
Kuechly’s profession was transient however impactful. The primary-round choose by Carolina in 2012 was an All-Professional 5 instances, with seven Professional Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award. Over his eight-year profession, Kuechly led all linebackers within the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66).
Voters diminished the checklist of 15 finalists within the trendy period class to 10 after which seven earlier than voting for 5 to make it. The highest three vote-getters and anybody else above 80% received into the Corridor.
Offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Marshal Yanda, and edge rusher Terrell Suggs made it to the ultimate seven within the modern-era class and can mechanically be finalists once more subsequent yr.
