The NFL community, and sports world at large, was understandably stunned this week to learn that Bill Belichick — one of the greatest coaches in league history – won’t be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He’ll be enshrined in Canton eventually since his resume — six Super Bowl victories as the Patriots head coach (two others as the Giants defensive coordinator), 333 victories as a head coach (second-most all time) — mandates it.
Assuming he’s elected in 2027 (as he’s expected and should be), who could be joining him?
For context, the selection committee’s current bylaws say that between four and eight individuals can be enshrined each year — between three and five “modern-era players” and between one and three individuals from the combined categories of coach, contributor and seniors.
Here are seven names to watch:
Adrian Peterson
In his first year of eligibility, Peterson is a no-brainer. The seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro selection is still the last non-quarterback to win MVP (2012), and he did so a year after tearing his ACL and MCL. In his 15-year NFL career, Peterson led the league in rushing yards three times and in scrimmage yards two times. The former seventh overall pick rushed for 14,918 rushing yards in his career, which is fifth-most all-time.
Adrian Peterson will go down as one of the best running backs of all time. (Tom Lynn /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Rob Gronkowski
Also in his first year of eligibility, Gronkowski has a strong case as the most dominant tight end in league history in his prime. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro in just 11 seasons, winning four Super Bowls with Tom Brady.
[Related: Gronk, Robert Kraft React to Belichick Snub]
Ben Roethlisberger
One other first-ballot case. You possibly can’t rule out Roethlisberger needing to attend — he was by no means a real MVP candidate and didn’t make an All-Professional group in his profession — however he was a fantastic quarterback over a chronic time period. In his 18 NFL seasons, he was a six-time Professional Bowler and led the league in passing twice, accumulating a 165-81-1 report and guiding the Steelers to 2 Tremendous Bowl victories.
Darren Woodson
Woodson is presently a finalist for the category of 2026 in his 18th yr of eligibility. I say he lastly breaks via a yr later.
Among the best safeties of his period, Woodson made 5 straight Professional Bowls from 1994-98, together with three consecutive first-team All-Professional nods (1994-96). He gained three Tremendous Bowls with the Cowboys.
Invoice Belichick not voted into Corridor of Fame in 1st yr, Had been the voters justified? | The Herd
Reggie Wayne
Like Woodson, Wayne is a finalist this yr (in his seventh yr of eligibility). However he might proceed ready if somebody like Torry Holt, who made the ultimate seven for the category of 2025, will get in now.
Wayne performed his complete 14-year profession with the Colts, making six Professional Bowls and three All-Professional groups (as soon as as a first-teamer). The Tremendous Bowl XLI champion recorded eight 1,000-yard seasons, together with seven in a row (2004-10).
Okay.S. “Bud” Adams
A candidate for the contributor class, the late Adams co-founded the AFL, which merged with the NFL in 1970. He was the founder and proprietor of the Oilers/Titans franchise for 53-plus years (1960-2012).
Eddie Meador
Meador was a semifinalist within the seniors class for this yr’s class. A seventh-round decide within the 1959 draft, Meador was on the Sixties all-decade group. He was a six-time Professional Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Professional defensive again in his day for the Rams.
