Hall of Fame inducts Brees, Fitzgerald and Kuechly in Canton ceremony
Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly join Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig in enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted five former National Football League legends into its ranks on Saturday, 8 August 2026, during a ceremony held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The event, broadcast on ESPN and the NFL Network, formally welcomed Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig into the institution’s most exclusive fraternity.
Brees, who played for the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints, received his bronze bust on stage, with New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton introducing him. Brees credited former Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer for his development, noting that being benched three times forced him to reach a new level of performance. He revealed that the adversity lit a fire that forced him to access a part of his mind and heart he had not yet been, ultimately helping him become one of the most prolific passers in league history with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes.
Fitzgerald, who spent his entire 17-year career with the Arizona Cardinals, was the first player to have his bust revealed on stage during the ceremony. Introduced by his oldest son, Devin, Fitzgerald dedicated his speech to his children, emphasising helping others pursue excellence. The 11-time Pro Bowl wide receiver finished second on the NFL’s career list in receptions and receiving yards, and sixth in touchdown catches.
Kuechly, a former Carolina Panthers linebacker, became the second-youngest player ever inducted at age 35, behind only Gale Sayers, who was inducted at 34 in 1977. Introduced by his father, Tom, Kuechly cited his retirement decision as partly motivated by the need to preserve his brain health following several concussions. He was a five-time All-Pro and won Defensive Player of the Year honours during his eight-year career.
The class also included Roger Craig, who delivered a video speech revealing he has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. Craig is the first player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He did not attend the preceding Thursday news conference held by the other inductees. The ceremony highlighted significant personal milestones and the enduring legacy of these athletes within the sport.
