Pro Football Hall of Fame: Who’s eligible in 2027

The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined give new members as part of the Class of 2026.

Who could join them next year?

Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri, Roger Craig, Luke Kuechly, and Larry Fitzgerald joined the legends in Canton, Ohio, this past weekend as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Several candidates, from potential first-ballot candidates to returning finalists, could join them next year.

Here are the names to watch.

First-year candidates

Here are the first-year candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

• Le’Veon Bell
• Brandon Brooks
• Antonio Brown
• Rob Gronkowski
• Joe Haden
• Dont’a Hightower
• Malcolm Jenkins
• Ryan Kerrigan
• Alex Mack
• Gerald McCoy
• Cam Newton
• Adrian Peterson
• Ben Roethlisberger
• Richard Sherman
• Eric Weddle
• Andrew Whitworth

Of the names on this list, Gronkowski, Peterson, and Roethlisberger feel like the strongest first-year candidates. There is also a very good case to be made for both Richard Sherman and Cam Newton.

Returning finalists

These candidates have been finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recent years. Again, the names are listed in alphabetical order.

• Willie Anderson
• Bill Belichick
• Jahri Evans
• Frank Gore
• Torry Holt
• Robert Kraft
• Eli Manning
• Terrell Suggs
• Reggie Wayne
• Kevin Williams
• Jason Witten
• Darren Woodson
• Marshal Yanda

After missing out a year ago, this might be the year that Belichick gets into Canton. This might also be the time Willie Anderson finally gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which feels overdue.

Other returning candidates

These are the rest of the returning candidates, listed in alphabetical order.

• Bud Adams
• Lomas Brown
• Tom Coughlin
• Rodney Harrison
• Mike Holmgren
• Robert Mathis
• Art Rooney Jr.
• George Seifert
• Mike Shanahan
• Steve Smith Sr.
• Fred Taylor
• Earl Thomas
• Hines Ward
• Richmond Webb
• Vince Wilfork
• Steve Wisniewski

Several names on this list have a strong case for enshrinement. Steve Smith Sr. could finally break the logjam at wide receiver. Super Bowl winning coaches such as Tom Coughlin George Seifert, and Mike Shanahan also have cases.