Frank Gore and Philip Rivers will be eligible for the first-time in a debut group that also includes Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald vying for football immortality.
The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class could have a number of first-year eligible former greats including quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald—both of whom should headline next year’s inductees.
However, there are also two former Indianapolis Colts veteran players, running back Frank Gore and quarterback Philip Rivers, who will also be eligible for the first time.
Those two should be under heavy consideration, along with two Colts’ holdovers from this year’s unchosen modern-era finalists: Adam Vinatieri and Reggie Wayne, as well as others.
Coming over from the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, the then 31-year-old veteran Gore played 3 seasons in Indianapolis (2015-17)—providing former franchise quarterback Andrew Luck a solidifying presence in the ground game.
During 49 career games in Indianapolis, Gore rushed for 2,953 total rushing yards on 784 carries (3.8 ypc. avg) to go along with 13 rushing touchdowns. Collectively in his career, he ranks 3rd all-time with 16,000 total career rushing yards—and was a former NFL All-Pro and 5x NFL Pro Bowler.
Meanwhile, longtime Chargers franchise veteran gunslinger Philip Rivers played just one season in Indianapolis during the COVID year of 2020—his final season at age 39 in the NFL before retirement, but gee golly, was it a memorable one.
Rivers completed 369 of 543 pass attempts (68.0%) for 4,169 total passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions during all 16 starts—leading the Colts to an 11-5 record and an AFC wild card playoff berth, which Indianapolis hasn’t sniffed since.
Overall, Rivers ranks 6th both in all-time career passing yards (63,440) and touchdown passes (421) respectively—as an 8x NFL Pro Bowler and former NFL Comeback Player of the Year.