CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Former Carolina Panthers linebacker and fan favorite Luke Kuechly was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.
This is Kuechly second year on the Hall of Fame ballot, and he was a finalist for the 2025 class but just missed being chosen.
Because he finished in the top seven in voting for the 2025 class, he was an automatic finalist for the 2026 class. Fifteen players made the modern-era finalist list. One who was notably left of was another Panthers great, Steve Smith.
Like Kuechly, Smith was also a finalist for the 2025 class.
Joining Kuechly as finalists for the 2026 class are:
Drew BreesEli ManningLarry FitzgeraldFrank GoreJason WittenTorry HoltAdam VinatieriTerrell SuggsReggie WayneDarren WoodsonKevin WilliamsMarshal YandaWillie AndersonJahri Evans
Former Panthers star linebacker Luke Kuechly is again a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.(Mike McCarn | AP)How Hall of Famers are chosen
To whittle down a Pro Football Hall of Fame class, there is a long process to get there.
For starters, players must be retired for at least five years before they can be nominated. Once nominated — and well over 100 are usually nominated each year — the list of nominees is cut down to 50 by screening committees.
Once the list of nominees is trimmed to 50, it is further reduced to 25 modern-era semifinalists by the selection committee. Then, the selection committee chooses 15 finalists. One coach, one contributor and three seniors are added to the 15.
The list of 15 modern-era finalists is eventually cut down to 10 players, then seven. Then, with seven players remaining, selectors cast their final ballots, where they choose five players for induction.
In order to be inducted, players must be chosen on 80% of the final ballots.
Kuechly’s career
While he was never the biggest, fastest or strongest player on an NFL field, Luke Kuechly made up for it with his knowledge of the game. He developed a reputation for being an intense film studier, often knowing an opponent’s play before the ball was even snapped.
His football IQ propelled him to seven Pro Bowls in his eight-year career, to go along with five First-Team All-Pro selections. If not for his relatively short NFL career, the now 34-year-old likely would have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Kuechly twice led the league in tackles (2012 and 2014), and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.
His 1,092 career tackles are second in Panthers history, just behind former teammate Thomas Davis.
The 2012 first-round draft pick quickly became a fan favorite in Carolina, and is still popular with fans years after retiring.
Since he retired following the 2019 season, Kuechly has become a regular on the Panthers’ radio broadcast team, and has appeared on numerous football shows and other broadcasts.
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