Here are the individuals who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in place of Bill Belichick.

2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class Announced

The buzz surrounding Bill Belichick’s omission—and to some degree, Robert Kraft’s—culminated on Thursday night as the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was revealed during the NFL Honors ceremony.

Among the contenders in the senior/coach/contributor category, only Roger Craig, a standout running back, made the cut, receiving his honor at an event in San Francisco, where he famously spent most of his football career.

Joining Craig in the newly inducted group are notable names like Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Patriots and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, and Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

This announcement wrapped up a period of about ten days rife with public debate after it became known that Belichick wouldn’t be inducted in his first eligible year. Some speculate that past controversies, like “Deflategate” and “Spygate,” may have influenced some voters, much to the chagrin of many fans and analysts.

Shortly after, news emerged that Kraft also fell short of the selection criteria.

A revealing video from the Pro Football Hall of Fame captured the moment when former 49ers teammates and current Hall of Famers Ronnie Lott and Charles Haley visited Craig’s home to share the news. “You’re walking into a house in San Francisco that you built yourself,” Lott said in the touching clip.

Craig, the legendary 49er, earned this acknowledgment after waiting through 28 years of eligibility, a remarkable journey that saw him not only with the 49ers but also with the Raiders and Vikings before hanging up his cleats in 1993.

Drafted by the 49ers in 1983, Craig played a pivotal role in securing three Super Bowl victories for the franchise. Notably, during Super Bowl XIX in 1985, he managed to score three touchdowns against the Dolphins.

Over the span of his 11-season career, he accumulated impressive stats—8,189 rushing yards, 56 rushing touchdowns, and 566 receptions for another 4,911 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Craig became the first player ever to reach both 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season—a feat that has only been replicated by Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey since then.