DENVER (KDVR) — It’s one of the most prestigious accolades in sports, being elected to the Hall of Fame, and for a group of former Denver Broncos players and a coach, that dream is moving closer to being a reality, with 19 players and a single coach being nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
Nothing has been set in stone yet, but a list of 128 nominees was announced on Wednesday for Modern-Era Players. That list will be trimmed to 50 at some point in October, then to 25 later in the year and eventually to the final 15 players who will be considered for induction.
A dozen of the Broncos players nominated fall under the category of Modern-Era Players. For the final selection, a minimum of three and a maximum of five Modern-Era Players can be elected to the Class of 2026.
Two of the nominees are already part of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame: wide receiver Rod Smith and center Tom Nalen.
Smith is the franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He also holds a claim to the title of best undrafted player in NFL history, according to the Broncos. A critical part of the team that won back-to-back Super Bowls, he is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time Second Team All-Pro.
Nalen was the teammate of Smith and the anchor for the Broncos during their championship run. He is one of the most decorated players in franchise history and was named a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time First Team All-Pro and a Second Team All-Pro selection. He has the second-most starts in franchise history at 188, second to John Elway’s 231.
Some of the remaining nominees spent varying times with the Broncos, with some only hanging around for a year, while others spent a decent chunk with the team.
The nominees include:
- DT Ted Washington (1994)
- DE Simeon Rice (2007)
- TE Vernon Davis (2015)
- RB Jamaal Charles (2017)
- DT Jurrell Casey (2020)
- WR Wes Welker (2013-14)
- WR Brandon Lloyd (2009-11)
- WR Brandon Marshall (2006-09)
- DE Elvis Dumervil (2006-12)
- T Ryan Clady (2008-15)
The last time the Broncos had a Modern-Era player inducted was in 2023, when DeMarcus Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2016, heard his name called.
The other former Broncos nominated were nominated under the Seniors category, and include six Broncos Ring of Famers. A total of 162 players were chosen for the Seniors’ first round.
- WR Lionel Taylor
- WR Rick Upchurch
- LB/DL Karl Mecklenburg
- DB Dennis Smith
- CB Louis Wright
- DL Neil Smith
- DB Goose Gonsoulin
The final nominee for the Broncos is a man who never suited up for the team, but had a lot of time coaching it. Mike Shanahan will be vying for a spot in the Coach category and has a strong case as a two-time Super Bowl champion and innovator of the game.
The final inductees of the Class of 2026 are expected to be announced in February.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
