Arizona’s Tedy Bruschi and Lance Briggs have been named among 128 Modern-Era Players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Bruschi spent his entire 13-year National Football League career with the New England Patriots, while Briggs played all 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
Bruschi’s time with New England included three Super Bowl titles, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2005, second-team All-Pro honors in 2003 and 2004, a selection to the 2004 Pro Bowl, and recognition on several Patriots anniversary and dynasty teams. He is also an enshrinee of the Patriots Hall of Fame. Bruschi led New England with 18 forced fumbles and holds other franchise records, including being third in career tackles.
Briggs earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2005 and 2006 as part of standout Chicago defenses, was named a second-team All-Pro in 2009, made seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 2005 through 2011, and helped lead the Bears to the NFC Championship in 2006. He is recognized as one of the top-100 Bears of all time.
In college football at Arizona, Bruschi won the Bill Willis Trophy in 1995, was a unanimous All-American that year and in 1994, and received multiple other honors including having his Arizona number retired. Briggs was a three-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection from 2000 to 2002 and led Arizona in several defensive categories throughout his collegiate career.
Jonathan Jones highlighted on social media: “Here are the 128 modern-era players nominated for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame. Between three-five players will ultimately make this class. Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri are all automatically in the top-15 based on their place in voting last year.”
As part of Enshrinement Week events, between three and five nominees from this list will be selected for enshrinement into the Hall.
