Just weeks after being named as the Pittsburgh Steelers ' assistant offensive line coach, Jahri Evans will have to wait to arrive at another destination. Evans, who enjoyed a 12-year career as a guard with the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers , but isn't yet headed to Canton, as he was passed over for the Pro Football Hall of Fame 's Class of 2026 on Thursday night.
Evans was also a Hall of Fame finalist in 2024 and 2025. He started all 179 games he played in New Orleans , helping clear the way for an offense operated by Drew Brees . Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis, who led the front office that drafted Evans, made a strong pitch on the team's website on Tuesday.
"The interior of the line I think oftentimes gets overlooked in our league — the importance of center and guards," Loomis said . "Certainly, with Drew, keeping that spot — three yards behind the line of scrimmage — it was important to protect that. And Jahri and the guys that he played with over the years did a great job during that time frame. Jahri was a huge element of that. I think he should definitely be in the Hall of Fame."
Others in the running to earn a bust in Canton were quarterback Eli Manning ; running back Frank Gore ; receivers Larry Fitzgerald , Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; tight end Jason Witten ; guard/offensive tackle Marshal Yanda ; offensive tackle Willie Anderson; defensive tackle Kevin Williams ; linebackers Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs ; safety Darren Woodson; and kicker Adam Vinatieri .
Only five were selected: modern-era finalists Fitzgerald, Brees, Kuechly and Vinatieri and senior committee finalist Roger Craig. Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood and former Steelers quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson were also left out of the class.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Assistant Coach Left Out of Hall of Fame Class
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