Early look at the 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot

With the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class officially unveiled, we turn our attention to the former NFL stars who could be immortalized in Canton next.

Here's the rundown on what the 2027 ballot could look like.

1st-year eligibles

Rob Gronkowski and Adrian Peterson are likely first-year locks from this group, but other candidates also boast strong resumes.

Rob Gronkowski: "Gronk" is on the Mount Rushmore of tight ends and should be a lock for first-ballot entry. His dominance during the 2010s earned him four first-team All-Pro nominations and a spot on the All-Decade team. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and one with the Buccaneers.

Ben Roethlisberger: He was the Steelers' starting quarterback for 18 straight years, securing two Super Bowl titles. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers kept Roethlisberger from earning an All-Pro selection or an MVP trophy, but he's got six Pro Bowl selections and an Offensive Rookie of the Year award on his resume.

Adrian Peterson: Peterson is one of the best running backs to ever lace them up. The former Vikings star is the most recent non-quarterback to secure an MVP award (2012), and he led the league in rushing three times during his 15-year career.

Richard Sherman: The three-time first-team All-Pro cornerback was the leader of a Seahawks secondary that terrorized opposing offenses and became known as the Legion of Boom. A true lockdown defender, Sherman led the league in interceptions in 2013 and earned a spot on the 2010s All-Decade team.

Eric Weddle: A ball hawk, hard hitter, and blitzer all in one, Weddle earned two first-team All-Pro nods during his 14-year career with the Chargers, Ravens, and Rams. He came out of retirement at the end of the 2021 season and started in Super Bowl LVI, helping Los Angeles win the Lombardi Trophy.

Andrew Whitworth: Whitworth started 235 games and seemed to get better with age, earning two first-team All-Pro nominations after turning 33. The longtime Bengal retired on top after winning a Super Bowl with the Rams during the 2021 campaign.

Antonio Brown: An incredible talent, Brown secured four first-team All-Pro nominations while posting five straight seasons of at least 1,285 receiving yards. He led the NFL in receiving twice and touchdown receptions once. However, his career was riddled with issues both on and off the field, and voters could hold that against him.

Other notable first-year eligible players: Cam Newton, Alex Mack, Gerald McCoy, Le'Veon Bell, Dont'a Hightower, Mitchell Schwartz, Everson Griffen, Malcolm Jenkins, Joe Haden, Ryan Kerrigan

Best of 2026 modern-era finalists

Eli Manning: Manning was a finalist in the past two years and will eventually get in. He's a two-time Super Bowl MVP with 57,023 career yards and 366 touchdown passes. But his lack of All-Pro nods and his 244 interceptions hurt his case. It doesn't help that Drew Brees was in the 2026 class and Manning will likely go up against Roethlisberger ('27) and Tom Brady ('28) next.

Jason Witten: One of the most consistent tight ends of his era, Witten ranks second in NFL history for catches and yards at the position. He's also the Cowboys' all-time leader in those categories, as well as games played.

Frank Gore: Gore was a finalist in his first year of eligibility. He doesn't have any first-team All-Pro berths on his resume, but his longevity stands out. The 49ers' all-time leading rusher retired with 16,000 career rushing yards and 81 touchdowns on the ground in 241 regular-season appearances, a running back record.

Willie Anderson: The longtime Bengals offensive tackle has been knocking on the door as a finalist in the last five years. Anderson was one of the most dominant blockers of his era, claiming three first-team All-Pro selections in 184 starts from 1996-2008.

Torry Holt: The wait continues for Holt, who's heading into his 13th year of eligibility. A key member of the Greatest Show on Turf, he helped the Rams win a Super Bowl. Holt's six straight seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards from 2000-05 remains an NFL record (tied with Julio Jones).

Reggie Wayne: Wayne has been a finalist in each of his seven years of eligibility, yet the former Colts great hasn't gotten the call. Wayne formed an outstanding trio with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, who are both already in Canton. They won a Super Bowl together, and Wayne ranks second to only Harrison in every major receiving category on the team.

Jahri Evans: One of the best guards of his era, Evans was also an iron man for the Saints. He made 169 of a possible 176 starts over 11 years in New Orleans before finishing his career with the Packers. The heralded right guard was also a Pro Bowler six consecutive times from 2009-14. Perhaps it won't be long before he joins former teammate Brees in Canton.

Darren Woodson: Another year has gone by where Woodson has been a finalist but hasn't received the much-anticipated knock on his door. Woodson was a major part of the Cowboys' dynasty of the '90s, winning three Super Bowls with Dallas. Despite being a safety, Woodson is the franchise's all-time leader in tackles. The three-time first-team All-Pro also had 23 career interceptions, including a run of 10 straight seasons with a pick.

Terrell Suggs: Suggs, a finalist in each of the last two years, ranks eighth in NFL history with 139 sacks. The good news for him is that the only players ahead of him are Hall of Famers.

Marshal Yanda: Like his former teammate Suggs, Yanda has also been a finalist but fallen short in two straight years. One of the best interior offensive linemen of the modern era, few controlled the trenches like Yanda, who spent his 13-year career with the Ravens. Yanda won one Super Bowl and earned eight Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro appearances. He was also recognized on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Kevin Williams: Williams was a finalist for the first time in 2026. Not only was he a cornerstone of a dominant Vikings front seven, but he was also one of the league's best defensive linemen and a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team. Williams racked up six Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro honors in addition to 63 sacks.

Wait, what about Bill Belichick?

Only one coach can be a Hall of Fame finalist each year. Belichick made the list but ultimately fell short of induction on his first ballot. We expect him to get the nod in 2027. The coach is inarguably an all-time great, having won eight Super Bowl titles, including two as an assistant.

If chosen as a finalist again, Belichick would be grouped with three seniors and one contributor (possibly Patriots owner Robert Kraft) before the committee votes. Kraft also fell short in 2026.

Voters select up to three of those five finalists. Each name needs at least 80% support to get immortalized in Canton, unless none of them reaches the 80% threshold; in that case, the finalist who got the most votes is inducted.