CANTON, Ohio — Drew Brees was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, headlining a five-member Class of 2026 that also includes Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Roger Craig and Adam Vinatieri.
The enshrinement ceremony took place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where the former New Orleans Saints quarterback was formally welcomed into the Hall after a 20-season NFL career. The Pro Football Hall of Fame confirmed the five inductees in its official Class of 2026 announcement and scheduled the ceremony for Aug. 8.
Brees spent his first five NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers before joining the Saints in 2006. He played 15 seasons in New Orleans and became the central figure in the franchise's most successful period, including its victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season. Brees was named Super Bowl MVP.
He retired after the 2020 season with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes. The Hall of Fame lists both totals as second in NFL history. Brees also made 13 Pro Bowls, won two Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year awards and led the league in passing yardage seven times.
The Class of 2026 also recognizes three other prominent players from the modern era. Fitzgerald, a wide receiver who spent his entire 17-year career with the Arizona Cardinals, finished with 1,432 receptions and 17,492 receiving yards. Kuechly, a linebacker who played his entire eight-year career with the Carolina Panthers, was selected to seven Pro Bowls. Vinatieri, who played for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, became the NFL's career scoring leader during his career.
Craig was elected from the Hall's separate seniors pool. The former San Francisco 49ers running back helped the team win three Super Bowls and became the fifth member of the 1980s 49ers to enter the Hall, according to the Hall's class announcement.
The five selections were made from a field that initially included 128 nominees. Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly and Vinatieri advanced through the Modern-Era Players selection process, while Craig was selected from a separate pool of senior finalists.
With the induction complete, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's membership stands at 387, including the five newest members of the Class of 2026.
