The Pro Football Hall of Fame doesn’t change much about how it does business. That’s kind of the point of the place. But on Friday, the Hall announced the biggest shake-up to its selection process in years, and it’s worth digging into what’s actually changing and why.

The Committee Is Getting Smaller

The most eye-catching change: the Selection Committee is shrinking from 50 members down to 28. Of those 28, 25 will actually vote, with three rotating alternates filling in as needed. Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said the move followed a two-and-a-half-year review process and got sign-off from the board of directors. It kicks in starting with the Class of 2027.

“The Hall continually reviews its bylaws to ensure the selection process reflects the highest standards of integrity and the magnitude of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Porter said in a statement. “There is no more important task at the Hall of Fame than the election of each new class.”

One notable side effect: the Hall is dropping the old requirement that guaranteed at least one selector from each of the NFL’s 32 home markets. That structure had been in place for a long time, and getting rid of it changes the makeup of who’s actually in the room making these calls.

No More Separate Seniors Pool

Perhaps an even bigger change, although one that may draw less attention away from Zoneblitz, is the elimination of the seniors category for players. Previously, once a modern-era candidate had been retired for 25 years, they got moved into a separate seniors pool, competing against other old-timers for a limited number of slots each year, alongside a coach and a contributor.

Going forward, every eligible player goes into one combined pool. The Hall says the goal here is to cut down on any unintended bias that might creep in when candidates get sorted by era before anyone even votes. The categories for coaches and contributors are staying put. I suspect many fans of old school football will not be fans of this change, but in recent years, it has started to feel at times that the number of truly viable senior candidates was dwindling, and the ongoing debate of the Hall of Fame worthiness of several favorite senior candidates kind of shows that.  Even as a Viking fan who would love to see Jim Marshall finally make it to Canton, we realize he’s not a perfect candidate, and continuing to force too many senior candidates may eventually water down the honor.

Voting Goes Back In Person

Porter also confirmed the committee is returning to in-person voting and discussion, a format the Hall moved away from during the pandemic in favor of virtual meetings. Selectors will now gather in person during the first week of February to hash things out face to face rather than over a screen. The hope is that real conversation in the room leads to better-informed votes, and possibly fewer leaks before the results go public.

Why Now

None of this happened in a vacuum. It comes about seven months after the 2026 class was announced and Bill Belichick, with his six Super Bowl rings, didn’t make the cut in his first year of eligibility, a result that set off plenty of noise around the league. Porter has been careful to say the changes aren’t a direct response to any one snub, and that the review had been in the works for a while. Still, the timing speaks for itself.

The Hall had already made one adjustment earlier in the year, cutting the waiting period for coaches from five years down to one, which is what opened the door for that recent coaching candidate to even be eligible this fast. This latest round of changes builds on that, reshaping who votes and how the pools are structured heading into 2027.

Whether a smaller, in-person committee and a single combined player pool actually changes outcomes remains to be seen. But it’s clear the Hall felt like something needed to change, and only time will tell if these changes are for the positive.

Let us know your thoughts on the changes in the comments.

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With a post on the social media app formerly known as Twitter, Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Winning QB Russell Wilson officially announced his retirement Wednesday, with word coming out that he plans to join CBS’ NFL Today this fall.

Thank You, Football.

Love, #3 pic.twitter.com/hqlS7kWQpy

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) June 3, 2026

And, as much as I probably shouldn’t be, I’m torn on his legacy and on whether he and his career will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The upside? Ten Pro Bowls, though at least a couple of those just illustrate how that game has devolved. Did he really deserve to go in 2024 when he missed the first six games due to injury and he took Pittsburgh to a 6-5 record after replacing Justin Fields? He was fine, I guess, but his slump at the end of the season contributed to the Steelers’ early exit.

He was added on to the roster only after Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson withdrew.

Or in 2021, when he led Seattle to a 6-8 record in his starts, he missed three games, and he slumped at the end of the season after returning from a finger injury, again making it as a replacement, this time for Tom Brady.

He goes down as very likely the best quarterback Seattle has ever had. And he did win a Super Bowl, though he received massive help from the “Legion of Boom.”

And he should have won another one, but his last-second interception from the one-yard line goes down as one of the dumbest play calls in the big game’s history.

He also had a monster peak where he threw more than 30 TDs in five of six seasons, peaking at 40 in 2020. His 1.9 interception percentage is impressive and he ended up just short of 47,000 yards passing over his 14 years. He threw a tremendous deep ball and was a solid runner, adding 5,568 yards and 31 TDs on the ground to his impressive passing stats.

But he never received an MVP vote, nor did he ever get named first team Associated Press All Pro – giving him the very odd (10/0) profile count. He was named to the second team one time after the 2019 season. In fairness, he was named first team All Pro that season by the Pro Football Writers and Pro Football Focus. Still … one time on the AP honor rolls? That’s underwhelming.

I do wonder if my opinion of him is a bit unfair, if I’m putting too much credence into his having been seen as a bit of a jackwagon, a rehearsed, inauthentic teammate, that his “brand” was more important than his teammates. He was never in trouble. He was the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2020. But Sean Payton couldn’t wait to get rid of Wilson during the 2024 season. But Payton has a lot of jackwagon tendencies too.

At least I’m not alone in feeling conflicted about his candidacy. Andrew Perloff at Athlon Sports says Wilson should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. That, to me, is laughable. First ballot status is overrated a bit, but it should be saved for the best of the best. Wilson’s career counting stats are impressive, but the lack of AP honors, MVP votes and … even teammates sticking up for him as critics tore apart his leadership skills tarnishes him enough as a candidate to keep him from that honor.

The USA Today argues his getting into the Hall at all isn’t even a “slam dunk.”

So, yeah, I’m not the only one left a little unsure. Ten Pro Bowls, as flimsy as that honor has gotten in this era, probably gives his candidacy a really strong chance. And that’s fine. I’m not going to argue against it – but I’m not going to get excited about it either.

But does he really stand out against all the other guys in this era who are in between very good and great, such as Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers or Matthew Stafford? Was he ever seen as the best in the league? Among the elite? It seems as if reading between the lines of the AP voting each year, that answer is no.

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The Broncos covered two weeks ago, but Jarrett Stidham couldn’t do quite enough in the snow to have his moment. Sam Darnold outdueled Matt Stafford. So … I went 0-2 on picks, 1-1 vs the spread. … Stay away, Vegas.

That sets up today’s highly unexpected (at least back in August) Super Bowl rematch of XLIX 11 years ago … damn, that time has gone fast.

Patriots vs Seahawks (-4.5) – I didn’t expect either of these teams heading into the season to be in the mix for the big game. I’m not sure either of them are in the same class as, say, Patriots teams of the early 21st century or Chiefs teams of recent years. I do think Seattle is a little more ready for this. Coming off a four win season, I think New England probably would have considered just making the postseason a successful improvement. Drake Maye has had a great season and Mike Vrabel is a great coach. I suspect both will be back – though you can never assume anything, a la Dan Marino, 1984, getting there in his second year and never getting back.

Ultimately, I think I agree with most who say Seattle is the better team. More weapons, more seasoned, just … a little better all around. I don’t expect a high-scoring game. Kenneth Walker will have a solid day. Jaxon Smith-Njigba will make a few big plays. We could have a rare defensive MVP to this game. Either way, Seahawks win, Seahawks cover.

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Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen died at age 91 his family confirmed on February 6, 2026.

Jurgensen played 18 seasons in the NFL, spending his first seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles (1957-1963). He truly became a legend and earned a reputation as being one of the game’s all-time most gifted passers after being traded to Washington in 1964. He finished his career there 10 years later.

“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football,” Commanders Managing Partner Josh Harris said in a statement. “He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen.”

A Hall of Fame Career

Jurgensen’s election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 recognized a career built on precision, production and pure throwing ability. His credentials were impressive for his era, which was far less friendly to the passing game than today’s NFL: 255 career touchdown passes, 32,224 passing yards and a passer rating of 82.6.

What set Jurgensen apart was his consistency. He led the NFL in passing yards five times, including a remarkable 3,747 yards in 1967 and 3,102 in 1969. In an era dominated by running backs and brutal defenses, those totals represented rarely matched offensive firepower. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and one AP All-Pro honor during his career, according to Pro Football Reference.

Jurgensen won an NFL Championship with the Eagles in 1960, though he spent much of that season backing up Norm Van Brocklin. After the trade to Washington, he became the face of the franchise, thrilling fans with his ability to throw the ball downfield with touch and accuracy. His production earned a selection to the All-1960s Team.

His 4/1 output wasn’t stellar, but his Hall of Fame case rested on more than just numbers. Jurgensen represented a shift in how the quarterback position was played. He was a pure passer who could dissect defenses and put points on the board through the air. Later in his career he split time with Billy Kilmer. He helped Washington reach Super Bowl VII following the 1972 season, but missed the game with an achilles injury.

Beyond the Field

After retiring as a player in 1974, Jurgensen remained a fixture in Washington. He moved into the broadcast booth, where his voice became synonymous with the team for generations of fans. His analysis and commentary on radio and television kept him connected to the franchise for decades, shaping how fans experienced games long after his playing days ended.

“After his career on the field, Sonny’s voice became a fixture of Washington Sundays for decades, shaping the way generations of fans experienced the game,” Harris added. “He was the embodiment of the Burgundy and Gold: tough, smart, and endlessly devoted to this franchise and its fans.”

The family expressed pride and gratitude for Jurgensen’s long life. “We are enormously proud of his amazing life and accomplishments on the field, marked not only by a golden arm, but also a fearless spirit and intellect that earned him a place among the legends in Canton,” the statement read. “But to those of us who knew him beyond the stadium lights, he was the steady, humorous and deeply loving heart of our family.”

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The votes have been counted and yes, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were not voted into the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

But QB Drew Brees, RB Roger Craig, WR Larry Fitzgerald, LB Luke Kuechly and K Adam Vinatieri did.

Craig was one of three finalists in the Senior/Coach/Contributor category. The others are modern-era candidates.

Other finalists who advanced to the final seven modern era candidates who, as part of the Hall of Fame’s new voting process, automatically advance to the finalist stage for the 2027 class are T Willie Anderson, Edge Terrell Suggs and G Marshal Yanda.

The selection process, which combines coaches, contributors and senior candidates, has drawn controversy this year due to the exclusion of Belichick and Kraft, who were seen by many as shoe-in candidates.

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Word has come out over the last few days that former Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft will not make the Hall of Fame this year.

Kraft has been eligible as a contributor for a while. Belichick is in his first year of eligibility. Both were expected to sail through the process this year, riding together into the glory of Canton, Ohio as a result of their long, successful tenure together – even though they seem to not like each other very much right now.

A funny thing happened along the way – both of them got caught up
in the Hall of Fame’s baffling new voting process, which combines
contributors, coaches and senior committee candidates into one pile and forces voters to choose no more than three of the five between them rather than giving them an up or down vote.

Along with the news that the Patriots’ duo has been left out has come some ridiculous ran response. Some have even suggested that those voters found to have left, at least Belichick, off their ballots should have their voting rights terminated.

That’s a bit ridiculous.

First off, the voters aren’t the problem here. The problem is the system.

I believe Belichick should be in. To the degree that I care, I believe he should be a first-ballot nominee. But there are reasons – some due to Belichick himself and some due to circumstance — I see as legitimate why folks are going the other way.

A couple of voters have come out with reasoning in their ballots. One of those reasons is the new HOF voting system. Forcing them to choose just three of the five lumped together candidates muddies the issue. One can believe, as I do, that Belichick is the most qualified of those five. That’s fine. I think Belichick should be in. But he also will have other chances.

The glut of legit senior candidates beyond this year’s trio means for this group, this is likely their last and only shot at this point. If someone was to tell me, they wanted to vote for Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and/or L.C. Greenwood in order to see them have their day, requiring Belichick to wait another year, I can’t fault them for that.

Craig had only three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, four Pro Bowls and one Associated Press First Team award in his 11 seasons, but he was ahead of his time in that the first seven years of his career he gained more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage when adding in receiving. In 1985, he became the first player to record 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving. Solid resume.

Anderson was mired on some bad teams, a la Jim Plunkett, but he had an AP MVP, four Pro Bowls and a First Team AP award in 1981 when he led the typically moribund Bengals to the Super Bowl. They didn’t win and he’s on the borderline, but he’s a credible candidate.

Greenwood, who passed away in 2013, had six Pro Bowls and two AP first team awards and unofficially had 78 sacks as a member of the Steel Curtain defense that helped the Steelers to four Super Bowls. He may not have achieved the level of glory reached by Mean Joe Greene or Jack Lambert, but he’s a legit candidate, as well.

Coaches and contributors come up and come back all the time. The Hall of Fame’s new voting system does these seniors a disservice not allowing the voters a yes-or-no on their candidacy. These players are borderline for a reason, but they deserve their time and opportunity.

Regarding Belichick, there also was the issue of a couple albeit minor scandals he was involved in during his coaching career in New England. They won’t – and shouldn’t – keep him out of the Hall. But requiring a year wait as a penalty? Not the end of the world. Certainly not cause to revoke voting privileges.

Along with that, Belichick may be paying the price for the change allowing coaches on to the ballot after sitting out just one season. Many, including some of those sitting in the virtual offices at Zoneblitz.com, think he still wants to come back and coach in the NFL again.

So, again, voters are allowed to have opinions that differ from the general public, the fan. Fans love their teams, their coaches, their players, and they should.

Voting for the Hall is different. The idea that a difference of opinion – one shared, mind you, by at least 11 voters, if Belichick and Kraft are, in fact, being left out — should permanently cost them their vote is ludicrous.

To get into the Hall, they need 40 of 50 votes or, if none of them reach 40, to be the highest vote getter of the bunch. That means at least 11 voters said no to both Belichick and Kraft. You want to replace more than 20 percent of the voters?

I’ve also heard folks say it should be the current HOFers voting on today’s candidates. Again, I disagree. Media members may not be the perfect representatives, especially if there is any truth to rumors that folks like Bill Polian are using the vote as a way to penalize former rivals. Grudges, egos and bias are a legit drawback, but I suspect if the players who are in are voting, they’ll prioritize friends and former teammates – in some cases that might work out, but in others … I think you’d find over time an even bigger issue with guys who deserve to be in left out and those who didn’t deserve it getting in. Who is going to remain more upset about that perceived cheap shot in a game in 1983? The media member watching from the press box? Or the HOFer who took the shot on the field?

I’m not sure you can find a perfect voting system. But the changes levied to the system a couple years ago to tamp down on large classes and ensure only the best of the best get in has gone too far the other direction.

But yes, at the end of the day, this is a systemic issue. The new rules were well-intentioned, but they aren’t quite right yet. This system seems to be blocking even the most legit candidates from getting in and it’s going to continue becoming a bigger deal the longer they keep these rules as more legitimate candidates get backlogged.

Getting 80 percent of the vote might have been too possible when it was a straight up-or-down vote, but it appears it’s clearly too hard under this one. It’s likely going to result in a smaller class again this year and it’s going to gum up classes in the near future, as well.

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I did a little better at picking winners last week, hitting three of four. Stupid Texans — CJ Stroud, ooof.

But it’s a good thing I’m not in Vegas right now. I’m 6-4 straight up, but only 3-7 against the spread. Oh well.

So, NFL Championship Sunday presents a couple of interesting games. I’m intrigued.

Sunday, January 25
Patriots (-4) at Broncos – I think I might be among only a handful not thinking the world is coming to an end with Bo Nix breaking his ankle. Don’t get me wrong, Nix is good. But this game was going to be a defensive dogfight even before the Broncos lost their QB. And while the young Drake Maye has been fantastic, this is a different kind of a spot for a young player, too. Jarrett Stidham is fairly highly regarded as a backup — of course his coach would say so, but Sean Payton says Stidham would start for at least a handful of teams in the league. I don’t think he’s going to wilt under pressure. Denver’s defense is still strong. Stidham will play serviceably, avoiding stupid mistakes and making a few plays, a la Jeff Hostetler for the Giants in 1990 and Nick Foles in 2017. RJ Harvey will have a game. The game will go well under the Vegas 43.5 total. Maybe it’s wishful thinking and delusion, but … the Broncos will win and cover.

Rams at Seahawks (-2.5) – Los Angeles was expected all along to be among the league’s top teams in 2025. Many “experts” picked them to go to or win the Super Bowl. Predictions for Seattle were a little more across the board. They’ve been great, but they, too, suffered a significant injury heading into the game — Zach Charbonnet, the pounder in the tandem with Kenneth Walker — tore his ACL last week. One could argue Walker will pick up that slack, but Seattle relies heavily on the run game to make sure Sam Darnold doesn’t have to do too much. The Seahawks had the top-ranked scoring defense on the season, but Matt Stafford and Co. put up 37 and 21 against them in splitting the first two meetings. Darnold has rejuvenated his career nicely the last couple years, but in this situation, I’m betting on the MVP and previous Super Bowl champ. Rams win and cover.

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Oof. Ugly week last week. Hit only three of six straight up and two of six against the spread.

Maybe it’s a good thing sports gambling isn’t legal here.

The divisional round is typically my favorite weekend of the NFL playoffs. The pretenders are usually out. There are usually four really good match-ups. This year is no different.

Saturday, Jan. 17
Bills at Broncos (-1.5) – This is the first time I can recall looking at the odds in various Vegas outlets and seeing spreads favoring each team. They ranged from about 1 to 1.5 in either team’s direction. The site I’m using for this favors Denver. My brother disagrees – last I heard he thought Josh Allen could overcome using TEs Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. I think I’m going the other way. The key differences here for me are that Buffalo struggles stopping the run and Buffalo’s already less-than-stellar receiving corps took a couple ACL hits last week. I think this is a big game for RJ Harvey, Denver’s rookie RB. Broncos win and cover.

49ers at Seahawks (-7) – San Francisco can’t get any love. Seattle is probably the better team, especially with the Niners still fighting back from injuries. But this is a rivalry game and Brock Purdy will keep this close. And if it stays close, I could see being more comfortable with Purdy than with Sam Darnold late. Ultimately, Seattle is starting to look like the team of destiny in the NFC a little bit. I do think they pull it off. Seahawks win. 49ers cover.

Sunday, Jan. 18 –
Texans at Patriots (-3.5) – I am hugely impressed with Houston’s defense, to the point where a skilled but less-than-great Texans offense doesn’t need to do much to win. I am a huge Drake Maye fan, but the Chargers held New England to 16 last week and that was only with a late TD. Texans win, Texans cover.

Rams (-4) at Bears – My picks wouldn’t have sucked nearly as much last week if Green Bay had held on to beat Chicago. Speaking of teams of destiny … the Bears have had a brilliant turnaround season this year. Caleb Williams looks like the real deal. But for most of the season, the general consensus was that the Rams were one of the league’s best teams. I think an extra day of rest and Matt Stafford’s veteran presence take over here, especially if they can get up early. They’re not giving up a 21-3 lead like the Packers did. Rans win, Rams cover.

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So, yeah, postseason is here. We’ve been getting away from pick and gambling segments, but I’m bored – so, what the hell.

Would love to see your picks below.

Saturday, Jan. 11
Rams (-10) at Panthers – This should be an exception to the division winners hosting wild card teams. You should need to win at least half your games. Carolina is … improving, but not that good. Rams could have been the top seed. Rams to win and cover.

Packers (-1.5) at Bears – I was surprised to see Green Bay as the favorite here, but I agree with it. They should have swept Chicago, but now don’t have to worry about trying to beat a team three times in a season. Bears are improving, but are young and I don’t think they’re quite there yet. Packers win and cover.

Sunday, Jan. 12
Bills at Jaguars (-1.5) – Saw a couple places predict that the Jaguars would blow out Buffalo. I don’t think it’ll be quite that much of a spread. But Jacksonville is hot and Buffalo is not. Josh Allen keeps them in it, but Trevor Lawrence stays hot and Travis Etienne exploits a struggling defense. Jaguars win and cover.

49ers at Eagles (-6) – There is no clear Super Bowl team in either conference this year, but if I was forced with a gun held at my head to pick one, I’d say Philadelphia turns it on. That said, San Francisco is legit. They were a bad draw. This is the game I’m most excited to watch this weekend. Eagles win. Niners cover.

Chargers at Patriots (-3.5) – I’m not confident in this one. New England is good, but young. Chargers are good, but flawed, especially with tackles hurt. I *think* the Patriots win this one, but I would not be surprised either way. Patriots win. Chargers cover.

Monday, Jan. 12
Texans (-3.0) at Steelers – Pittsburgh won a dog of a division. Aaron Rodgers will ensure this isn’t a complete blowout, but I believe in Houston’s defense and the offense has plenty of weapons, as long as CJ Stroud can avoid catastrophic mistakes. Texans win and cover.

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Nine of this year’s 15 modern-era finalists for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame are first- or second-year eligible players.

Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald highlight the list of first-year eligible candidates, which is rounded out by Frank Gore and Jason Witten.

Second-year eligibles up for enshrinement include Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri and Marshal Yanda.

The modern-era candidate list includes:

How many can be selected?

Players are eligible for modern era enshrinement if they have been out of the game between five and 20 years. The slate of candidates in the modern-era Players category will be considered when the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LX. The Class of 2026 will be unveiled publicly Feb. 5 during the “NFL Honors presented by Invisalign” broadcast.

The Selection Committee may elect up to five modern-era Players for the Class of 2026; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent for election.

Five others – Senior category finalists Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood, Coaching category finalist Bill Belichick and Contributor candidate Robert Kraft – also are candidates for the 2026 class. They’ll be voted on separately, with a minimum of one and a maximum of three being elected under the Hall’s bylaws.

While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the Hall of Fame’s current selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members shall be selected.

The Finalists in the Modern-Era Players category were determined by the Hall’s independent Selection Committee from a list that originated with 128 nominees. It was reduced two other times (to 52 nominees and to 26 Semifinalists) before the cut to the 15 Finalists.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be announced at “NFL Honors” in San Francisco in February and will be enshrined in August in Canton.

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