Running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Reggie Wayne were named Tuesday among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, giving Miami Hurricanes fans a pair of names to track as the selection process moves into its final stretch.
The Hall's selection committee will meet ahead of Super Bowl LX to debate the modern-era finalists and vote on this year's class. The Hall of Fame said the Class of 2026 will be announced Feb. 5 during NFL Honors in San Francisco, with enshrinement set for August in Canton, Ohio. Gore and Wayne are the only University of Miami alumni on the modern-era finalist list.
The finalists for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame: pic.twitter.com/YAFxhMCH1p
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2025
Frank Gore: first-year finalist, all-time production that's hard to ignore
Gore has hit the finalist stage in his first year of eligibility, and his resume is built on rare longevity for his position. Gore finished with exactly 16,000 rushing yards, which ranks third in NFL history, and 19,985 yards from scrimmage, which ranks fourth. He played 241 regular-season games, the most ever for an NFL running back.
Reggie Wayne: back as a finalist again, still chasing the call
Wayne is a finalist for the seventh time. His career numbers remain Hall-worthy by any modern standard: 1,070 catches, 14,345 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns.
Wayne's NFL peak came in Indianapolis alongside Peyton Manning and he reached the postseason 11 times with the Colts.
What this means for Miami, and who didn’t make the cut
Former Hurricanes defensive tackle Vince Wilfork reached the semifinalist stage in November, but he was not included on the 15-player finalist list released Tuesday.
The Hall's rules allow the committee to elect up to five modern-era players, and the final class is typically between four and eight total inductees once the separate seniors, coach and contributor categories are factored in.