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Hall of Fame modern-era candidates include Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers
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- Hall of Fame modern-era candidates include Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers
CANTON — Eli Manning can wait. Drew Brees has checked in the game.
This is the second year, Manning has been eligible to join his quarterback brother Payton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame . He didn't make it the first time when he was among the 15 finalists for the Class of 2025 , and he almost certainly won't now that Brees is eligible for the first time.
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Brees and Manning are on a new list of 52 modern-era players who made a cut to be considered for the Hall's Class of 2026. Brees ranks in the top three all-time in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and wins by a quarterback, and is a cinch to get in.
It is highly unlikely Eli Manning or Philip Rivers , also in the final 52, would come in with him, given the presence of plenty of strong candidates at other positions.
Brees and Rivers are " first-year eligibles ." along with receiver Larry Fitzgerald , running back Frank Gore , center Maurkice Pouncey , and defensive lineman LeSean McCoy .
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) greets New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) midfield after the teams' game Nov. 28, 2011, in New Orleans.
Candidates for the Hall in this category last could have appeared in a professional football game in the 2020 season.
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Former Kent State star James Harrison , who finished his high school career at Coventry, and former Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph standout London Fletcher, who played college ball at John Carroll, join former Cincinnati St. Xavier player Luke Kuechly and ex-Raven Terrell Suggs on the linebacker list.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (C) runs back an interception 100 yards against the Arizona Cardinals, the longest in Super Bowl history, for a touchdown that ended the second quarter of the NFL's Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Florida, February 1, 2009. The Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald (L) attempts to tackle Harrison. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (UNITED STATES)
Of interest in Ohio, Lomas Brown, who spent the 1999 season as the first-year-expansion-team Browns ' left tackle, is one of the 52. So is long-time Bengals tackle Willie Anderson.
This year's roster of initial modern-era player nominees included 128 names — 77 offensive players, 42 defensive players and nine special teams players.
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Modern-era players advancing in Hall of Fame selection process
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QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees , *Eli Manning, Philip Rivers .
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RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch , LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), *Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.
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WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin , Larry Fitzgerald, *Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, *Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne.
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TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen , Jason Witten .
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OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): *Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), * Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), * Marshal Yanda (G).
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DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).
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LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison , *Luke Kuechly, *Terrell Suggs.
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DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), *Darren Woodson (S).
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PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), * Adam Vinatieri (K).
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SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).
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* Denotes a finalist (final 15) from the Class of 2025
Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process for modern-era players
Each member of the modern-era players screening committee, an entity created a year ago to make the first reductions from the original list of nominees, cast a ballot for 50 individuals whom they believe should be considered for election. Under Hall of Fame bylaws, ties for the 50th position also remain eligible for the Class of 2026. Those are the 52 former players announced today.
In the next step of the process, each member of the Hall of Fame's full 50-person selection committee will review the above list and cast a vote for the 25 nominees each believes should advance to the semifinalist stage. The names of the 25 semifinalists (plus ties, if any, for the 25th position) will be announced in about five weeks.
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Those 25 will later be reduced to 15. In that they reached the final list of seven modern-era players under consideration for the Class of 2025 but were not elected, Anderson, Kuechly, Holt and Vinatieri automatically advance to the final 15.
Hall of Fame selection process continues for other seniors, coach, contributor categories
Reduction votes also are occurring in the seniors , coach and contributor categories. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Hall of Fame released the list of 12 coach candidates still under consideration . Later this week, progress in the seniors and contributor categories will be announced.
Eventually, 20 finalists will be presented at the selection committee's annual meeting next year in advance of Super Bowl 60: 15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach and one contributor. While there is no set number of enshrinees for any class, the Hall of Fame's selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.
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When is the 2026 Hall of Fame Enshrinement?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 will be enshrined next August in Canton.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers among Hall of Fame nominees
