The Pro Football Hall of Fame is preparing for its 2026 induction by announcing a list of senior nominees, including notable former Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith. Meredith is part of a group of 52 senior nominees who will contend for induction alongside a previously announced set of 128 modern-era nominees.
The nominees come after a broad selection that included 162 original candidates, all of whom played in the NFL at least 25 years prior. Over the following weeks, the list will be narrowed down to a maximum of three finalists for induction.
Noteworthy Senior Nominees
Among the impressive list of senior nominees, Meredith stands out as he brought the Cowboys to their first two Super Bowl appearances and earned multiple Pro Bowls. Other highlighted senior quarterbacks include:
- Ken Anderson: 1981 league MVP and led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl.
- Charlie Conerly: Notable for his long-term performance with the Giants, contributing to their 1956 NFL title.
- Roman Gabriel: A celebrated quarterback known for his time with the Rams and Eagles.
- Jack Kemp: A leading light of the AFL, bringing championships to the Bills in the 1960s.
Complete Group of Senior Nominees
- Quarterbacks: Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Roman Gabriel, Jack Kemp, Don Meredith
- Running backs: Ottis Anderson, Larry Brown, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell, Paul “Tank” Younger
- Receivers/Tight Ends: Mark Clayton, Isaac Curtis, Lavvie Dilweg, Henry Ellard, Harold Jackson, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Otis Taylor
- Offensive Linemen: Jay Hilgenberg, Chris Hinton, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob Kuechenberg, Marvin Powell, Dick Schafrath, Jerry Sisemore, Walt Sweeney, Jim Tyrer, Al Wistert
- Defensive Linemen: L.C. Greenwood, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin
- Linebackers: Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Mike Curtis, Larry Grantham, Lee Roy Jordan, Clay Matthews Jr., Matt Millen, Tommy Nobis
- Defensive Backs: Dick Anderson, Bobby Boyd, Pat Fischer, Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Lemar Parrish, Everson Walls
- Special Teams: Steve Tasker
