Ex-Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams has been named among 52 former players being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, as announced by the organization on Oct. 22, 2025.
Williams, who was selected ninth overall in the 2003 draft and spent 11 of his 13 NFL seasons with the Vikings, is now in his sixth year of eligibility. He has not previously advanced to the list of 25 modern-era semifinalists. Despite this, Williams holds five first-team All-Pro honors and was named to the NFL’s Team of the Decade for the 2000s. “Maybe a sixth time will be the charm in former Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams’ quest to clear the next hurdle to join former teammate Jared Allen in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” wrote reporter Mark Craig.
The Modern Era Players Screening Committee chose Williams as one of 52 players from an initial list of 128 candidates. Eight players are being considered in their first year of eligibility, including Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald Jr., who played all seventeen seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and ranks second all-time in NFL history in receptions and receiving yards.
Williams achieved all five All-Pro selections, six Pro Bowls, and nearly half of his career sacks during his first seven seasons with Minnesota. Out of twenty-two defenders on the NFL’s Team of the Decade for the 2000s, only four are not currently enshrined at the Hall. Among those with five or more first-team All-Pro honors from that team are Ray Lewis (seven), Ed Reed, Derrick Brooks, Zach Thomas, and Brian Dawkins.
Kicker Gary Anderson, who also spent part of his career with Minnesota, is included on this year’s candidate list as well. Four players—Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri—will automatically advance because they were finalists last year when Antonio Gates, Eric Allen and Jared Allen were selected for enshrinement.
The selection committee is expected to narrow down this group to twenty-five semifinalists within five weeks.
Being named among candidates demonstrates recognition for achievements across professional football careers; final decisions regarding enshrinement will shape future classes at Canton.
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