Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward failed to advance to become a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the 10th consecutive year that Ward has been a semifinalist, but failed to advance to the finalist stage. three other former Steelers did not, including former semifinalist James Harrison.
Ward was among the 26 semifinalists announced by the Hall of Fame for the Class of 2026. That list was be cut to 15 finalists that will be voted on by the full Hall of Fame selection committee votes on the class in February.
The 15 modern-era players that made the cut are:
Cincinnati Bengals OT Willie Anderson^
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees*
New Orleans Saints G Jahri Evans
Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald*
San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore*
St. Louis Rams WR Torry Holt^
Carolina Panthers LB Luke Keuchly^
New York Giants QB Eli Manning
Baltimore Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs
Indianapolis Colts K Adam Vinatieri^
Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne
Minnesota Vikings DT Kevin Williams
Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten*
Dallas Cowboys S Darren Woodson
Baltimore Ravens G Marshal Yanda
Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Keuchly and Adam Vinatieri all were automatically finalists because they were in the top seven of voting at the finalist stage last year. Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore and Jason Witten advanced to the finalist stage in their first season of eligibility.
Ward’s 14-year NFL career was spent carving out a role as one of the most physical players on the Steelers, even as a wide receiver. The Korean-born Ward won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh and was the MVP of Super Bowl XL after his game-sealing touchdown reception. His impact as a blocker was so well-known that the NFL changed its rules to prevent blindside blocks downfield, which has come to be known as the Hines Ward Rule. Ward was named to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time All-Pro and is on the Steelers’ All-Time Team. He is currently serving as the wide receivers coach at Arizona State.
A big part of the problem for Ward’s candidacy has been his lack of statistical dominance. In his career, he had 12,083 receiving yards — well below the career numbers of finalists Larry Fitzgerald (17,492), Reggie Wayne (14,345), Torry Holt (13,382). Ward is also looking up at the career numbers of fellow semifinalist Steve Smith Sr. (14,731), and Anquan Boldin (13,779), who failed to even make the semifinalist list this season after four previous attempts.
Other receivers with more yards than Ward that aren’t in the Hall of Fame include Henry Ellard (13,777), Irving Fryar (12,785), Brandon Marshall (12,351) and Jimmy Smith (12,287).
Ward is the only receiver with more than 12,000 career receiving yards and two Super Bowl wins that has not been elected, but he also played in an era with more dominant receivers — never being voted a first-team All-Pro at any point in his career.
The road forward for Ward won’t get much easier in...
