The greatest quarterback in New Orleans Saints history will soon become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drew Brees has learned that he will don a gold jacket after a record-setting career.
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NFL fans learned the identities of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Thursday night as part of the NFL Honors ceremony. This group included Brees (first ballot), former wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (first ballot), former linebacker Luke Kuechly, former kicker Adam Vinatieri, and former running back Roger Craig (senior class).
The induction ceremony for the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will take place on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.
A former second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers, Brees spent five seasons in Southern California while earning one trip to the Pro Bowl and winning Comeback Player of the Year. However, he departed the team after a shoulder injury and the addition of Philip Rivers.
Brees landed in New Orleans and kicked off an incredibly successful partnership. He led the league in passing yards seven times, led the league in touchdowns four times, and he led the league in completion percentage six times. He also took the Saints to the team's lone Super Bowl win.
A 13-time Pro Bowl player, Brees ended his career second all-time with 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing Touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald
The third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent his entire NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. He played with numerous quarterbacks on the struggling franchise, but he became a dominant force in the NFL.
The former Minnesota Vikings ballboy appeared in 263 regular-season games and racked up the second-most receiving yards in NFL history (17,492) and the second-most receptions (1,432).
The Cardinals only made the playoffs four times during Fitzgerald's career, but he performed when put under the spotlight. The most recent example is the divisional round win over the Packers during the 2015 season. He caught eight passes for 176 yards and one touchdown.
His longest play of the game came in overtime. Carson Palmer escaped pressure and lobbed a pass across the field to Fitzgerald, who rumbled for 75 yards. Palmer then hit Fitzgerald for the 5-yard game-winning touchdown.
Of course, this game paled in comparison to the 2008 season when Fitzgerald went on an all-time run. He caught 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns during the postseason, including a 64-yard catch-and-run score to give the Cardinals the lead over the Steelers in Super Bowl 43. However, the Cardinals ultimately lost after a late touchdown by Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes.
Luke Kuechly
The ninth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Kuechly did not have a long NFL career. He only suited up for the Carolina Panthers in eight seasons due to injuries, but he made a major impact before walking away from the sport.
Kuechly earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl, won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, and became a five-time First-Team All-Pro. He led the league in tackles in both 2012 and 2014, and he spearheaded a defense in 2015 that helped propel the Panthers to the Super Bowl.
Luke Kuechly ALWAYS seemed to knew where the ball was going 🧠pic.twitter.com/pPqLNmA0uh
— Football Is Life (@FootbaIl_Tweets) August 14, 2025
Kuechly's ability to recognize plays became a defining factor. He constantly waved his arms and called out things to his fellow defenders, showing that he knew exactly what to expect during each game. This included the conference game during the 2015 season when he picked off Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and returned it for a touchdown with 5:11 remaining in the game.
Adam Vinatieri
An undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State, Vinatieri is only the fifth kicker to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. He did so in only his second year of eligibility after a career with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.
Vinatieri is the NFL's all-time leader in career points (2,673), successful field goals (599), and consecutive field goals (44). He is also the man who kicked the game-winning kicks in both Super Bowl 36 and Super Bowl 38.
Vinatieri actually won four Super Bowls during his 24-year career. He captured three titles with the Bill Belichick-led Patriots and then won another with the Tony Dungy-led Colts.
Roger Craig
Craig has earned a spot in the Hall of Fame while becoming the lone inductee from the senior, coach, or contributor category. Now, he will don a gold jacket shortly after turning 66 years old.
Craig entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1983. He spent eight seasons with the Bay Area team before moving to the Los Angeles Raiders for one season. He then closed out his career with two years in Minnesota playing for the Vikings.
The dual-threat weapon won three Super Bowls with the Joe Montana-led 49ers, and he posted 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the first seven seasons of his career. The 1985 season, in particular, featured him posting more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. Three years later, he led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage.
Craig ended his career with only 8,189 rushing yards and 4,442 receiving yards, but he posted 73 total touchdowns. He also earned one Pro Bowl nod and won Offensive Player of the Year in 1988.
