Brees, Fitzgerald, and 35-Year-Old Kuechly Enter Pro Football Hall of Fame

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, and Luke Kuechly were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday at Tom Benson Stadium.

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, and Luke Kuechly officially entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Brees, a first-ballot selection, joins the Canton ranks holding the second-most passing yards in NFL history with 80,358 and the second-most touchdown passes with 571, trailing only Tom Brady. During his 20-year career, Brees earned a Super Bowl title with the New Orleans Saints after a tenure with the San Diego Chargers where he was benched three times while competing for playing time against Doug Flutie and Philip Rivers.

Larry Fitzgerald was the first inductee to have his bronze bust revealed at Tom Benson Stadium. The wide receiver spent his entire 17-year career with the Arizona Cardinals, earning 11 Pro Bowl selections. Fitzgerald currently ranks second on the NFL’s all-time career list for receptions with 1,432 and receiving yards with 17,492. His 121 touchdown catches place him sixth in league history.

Kuechly Makes History as Youngest Modern Inductee

At 35 years old, Luke Kuechly became the second-youngest player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, following Gale Sayers who was 34 at the time of his 1977 enshrinement. The induction took place on the same field where Kuechly secured a state championship for St. Xavier High School in 2007. Over an eight-year career with the Carolina Panthers, the linebacker was a five-time All-Pro, the 2012 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the 2013 AP Defensive Player of the Year. Kuechly cited the preservation of his brain health following multiple concussions as a primary reason for his retirement.

Roger Craig also joined the class of 2026, recognized as the first player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. This statistical feat has since been matched only by Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey. During his video speech, Craig shared that he has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. The induction class was rounded out by kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Brees Reflects on Chargers Adversity and Saints Success

Introduced by Sean Payton, who took a leave from coaching the Denver Broncos to attend, Brees credited former coach Marty Schottenheimer for his development. Brees noted that Schottenheimer benched him three times, an experience the quarterback claimed was necessary to reach the heights of his career. He described his motivation as a relentless attempt to master his craft and a desire to sacrifice for his teammates. The ceremony drew a large contingent of New Orleans fans, known as the Who Dat Nation, to Canton to witness the speech.

Fitzgerald Honors Mentors and Minnesota Roots

Fitzgerald was introduced by his oldest son, Devin, and used his platform to thank those who influenced his early years as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings. He credited Hall of Famers John Randle, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel, and Warren Moon for teaching him professional standards. Fitzgerald specifically highlighted the impact of receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

He also expressed gratitude toward former Cardinals teammates Emmitt Smith and Kurt Warner. Fitzgerald noted that Warner’s demands for elevated preparation and accountability helped lead him to the "winner's circle." The receiver concluded by emphasizing that the values upheld and the people traveled with matter more than individual fame or social media likes. The 2026 ceremony concluded with these athletes taking their permanent places among the game's greatest figures.