Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers fan base has the chance to see two former quarterbacks for the Bolts enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2026.
On Thursday night, former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was named to the four-man Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, joining defensive end Jared Allen, defensive back Eric Allen, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. It was the smallest class since 2025 and left out some intriguing names such as quarterback Eli Manning, kicker Adam Vinatieri, and linebacker Luke Kuechly.
With Gates now set to receive a gold jacket and bust, Chargers fans can now look towards the Class of 2026 which will feature a host of prominent players that starred this century, including two former quarterbacks for the Bolts in Philip Rivers and Drew Brees.
The chances of both Rivers and Brees joining the class together on their first ballot might be a bit of a stretch. It’s almost assured that Brees and his one Super Bowl victory will get him in, on top of all his passing accomplishments, but Rivers’ lack of a Super Bowl could be something that keeps him out of the Hall for some time.
Despite never winning, or appearing, in the big game, Rivers made it to the postseason seven times and compiled a 5-7 record. Three of those losses came against Tom Brady and the Patriots which was an unfortunate part of playing in the AFC during that dynasty. Still, Rivers ended his career with 63,440 passing yards, good for sixth-most in NFL history. Among those in the top 10, he joins Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Dolphins legend Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks without a Super Bowl victory.
Marino still made it to the Hall even without a Lombardi Trophy and I think it’s safe to say that both Rivers and Ryan will, as well, but it may simply take more time, especially with the amount of quality players who will become eligible in the coming years.
Just in the 2026 class alone, Rivers will become eligible alongside wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, tight end Jason Witten, running back Frank Gore, offensive guard David DeCastro, and center Maurkice Pouncey.
A lot of other fan-favorite players will become eligible, as well, so there won’t be any shortage of competition for those gold jackets in the immediate future.
A player like Rivers and his resume should make it, eventually, to the Hall of Fame. But if Gates was asked to wait a year despite being the league’s all-time touchdown scorer for a tight end and an entire franchise’s leader in receptions, receiving yards, and scores, it should be expected that Ol’ Man Rivers may have to be somewhat patient before hearing his name called.
