Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee names 9 Semifinalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Group to meet Nov. 11 to choose 1 Finalist for possible election 

Nine individuals who contributed to the sport of professional football in distinct ways have reached the Semifinalists stage for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 presented by Visual Edge IT.

Members of the Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee made their selections from a field of 21 in their most recent reduction vote. The committee will discuss the Semifinalists at length when it meets virtually Nov. 11 to select one Finalist for the full Selection Committee to consider when it votes for a new class of enshrinees in early 2026.

The nine Semifinalists in the Contributor category this year are: K.S. “Bud” Adams, Roone Arledge, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Rooney Jr., Clark Shaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff and Buddy Young.

Adams, Hay, Kilroy, Kraft, Rooney and Siwoff reached this point in the selection process last year, with Hay ultimately being chosen as the category’s Finalist for the Class of 2025.

Here are brief bios on the nine Semifinalists in the category: 

• K.S. “Bud” Adams: During his 54 years as founder, owner, chairman of the board, president and CEO of the Titans/Oilers franchise, Adams was a pivotal figure in the formation of the AFL and its subsequent merger with the NFL.
• Roone Arledge: Television industry executive and producer whose creativity, leadership and technical innovations revolutionized the presentation of both news and sports.
• Ralph Hay: Owned the Canton Bulldogs from 1918-1922 and hosted the NFL’s formational meeting in his automobile dealership in downtown Canton.
• Frank “Bucko” Kilroy: Worked in player personnel and scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He was the Patriots’ general manager from 1979 to 1982 and vice president from 1983 to 1993.
• Robert Kraft: Owner, chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots since 1994. His teams have won six Super Bowls. Key member of several influential NFL owners’ committees.
• Art Rooney Jr.: Employed with the Steelers since 1961, from 1964 through 1986, worked in the Steelers’ Scouting Department. Currently a Steelers vice president and member of the Board of Directors.
• Clark Shaughnessy: Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams from 1948-49 and assistant coach for the Washington Redskins from 1944-47 and Chicago Bears from 1951-1962. Credited with modernizing the T-formation and other offensive and defensive innovations.
• Seymour Siwoff: Owner and president of Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians of the NFL, from 1952-2019.
• Buddy Young: First African American executive in any major sports league when NFL hired him in 1964 in its scouting and public relations department. Was working as director of player relations in NFL when he died at age 57 in a car accident.

Reduction votes also are occurring in the Modern-Era Players, Seniors and Coach categories. Eventually, 20 Finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting in advance of Super Bowl LX: 15 Modern-Era Players, three Seniors, one Coach and one Contributor.

On Wednesday, the Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee named its nine Semifinalists for the Class of 2026: Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan.

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

This year’s voting will be completed with oversight from the firm Ernst & Young LLP, a Hall partner since 2019. EY’s Agreed-Upon Procedures include validating the completeness of the ballots and tabulating the ballots in accordance with the bylaws established by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.

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

Elsewhere in the Class of 2026 selection process

• 52 Modern-Era Players advance in voting process for Hall of Fame's Class of 2026
• Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee names 9 Semifinalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026
• 34 Seniors remain in consideration for Hall of Fame's Class of 2026
• Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee names 9 Semifinalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026

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