Six former Buffalo Bills players and one former coach have advanced to the next stage in the selection process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The players—LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, Ruben Brown, Troy Vincent, and London Fletcher—are among 52 Modern-Era nominees. The list was reduced from 128 to 52 on October 22.
Former Bills head coach Chuck Knox, who led the team from 1978 to 1982, is one of 12 coaching candidates still in contention. Steve Tasker, another notable figure from the Bills’ history, remains among 162 Senior player nominees; this list has not yet been narrowed down.
According to a statement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame: “In the next step of the process for players, each member of the Hall of Fame’s full 50-person Selection Committee will review the above list and cast a vote for the 25 nominees each believes should advance to the Semifinalist stage. The names of the 25 Semifinalists (plus ties, if any, for the 25th position) will be announced in about five weeks (from Oct. 22).”
The process continues as finalists are selected ahead of Super Bowl LX. Ultimately, up to eight new members could be chosen for enshrinement next August in Canton.
“In the next step of the process for coaches, nine semifinalists will be announced,” according to information provided by the Hall.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bylaws require that between four and eight new members are inducted each year.
