The New Orleans Saints just took a big step toward adding more gold jackets to their history, as longtime stars Drew Brees and Jahri Evans were named modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fameâs Class of 2026. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who finished his career in New Orleans, also made the cut.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 26 modern-era players as semifinalists on November 25, trimming the list from 52 names that advanced out of an initial pool of 128 nominees. Brees is one of five players to reach the semifinalist stage in his first year of eligibility, while Evans made it for the fourth straight year.
Breesâ semifinalist nod was expected but still represents a major milestone in his post-playing career. The former Saints quarterback retired after the 2020 season, having led New Orleans to its first Super Bowl title and rewriting large chunks of the NFL passing record book.
Evans, one of the dominant guards of his era and a key piece of the Saintsâ offensive line during their peak years with Brees and Sean Payton, continues to hang around the Hall conversation with another appearance in the semifinalist group from 2023â2026.
Saints Land Multiple Shots at Canton in 2026 Class
The Saints are well-represented on this yearâs semifinalist list. Brees is listed with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints, reflecting his early years in San Diego before his 15-season run in New Orleans from 2006 through 2020.
Evans is recognized as a guard who played for the Saints from 2006-2016 before finishing his career with the Green Bay Packers in 2017. His four straight semifinalist appearances underline how consistently heâs remained on the radar of Hall of Fame voters.
Williams, best known for his decade with the Minnesota Vikings, also has Saints ties after finishing his career with Seattle and New Orleans in 2014 and 2015. This is his first time reaching the semifinalist stage despite not being in his first year of eligibility.
The Saintsâ Hall of Fame presence has grown steadily over the past two decades as the franchiseâs modern era success is reassessed by voters. Brees is the headliner and a strong candidate to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but Evansâ continued traction adds a second legitimate shot at Canton for one of the best eras in team history.
What It Means for the Saintsâ Legacy
From a legacy standpoint, this semifinalist group is another reminder of how much the Brees era reshaped the perception of the Saints around the league. A gold jacket for Brees would put the franchiseâs Super Bowl run and high-powered offenses back in the national spotlight during Hall of Fame week.
If Evans can break through to the finalist level and eventually get enshrined, it would further validate the offensive core that powered New Orleans through multiple playoff runs. Interior linemen often have a tougher climb with voters, but repeated semifinalist recognition keeps him in the conversation and gives Saints fans a reason to track each round of cuts.
Williamsâ inclusion also gives New Orleans fans another familiar name to watch, even if most of his case is tied to his dominant years in Minnesota. His presence on the list adds to the growing group of former Saints who are regularly involved in Hall of Fame debates.
Whatâs Next in the Hall of Fame Selection Process
The 26-player modern-era list will be cut again later this year, when the selection committee votes to trim the group to 15 finalists. Those finalists will be presented at the committeeâs annual meeting ahead of Super Bowl 60, alongside candidates from the Seniors, Coach and Contributor categories.
The Class of 2026 will officially be announced at NFL Honors in San Francisco in February, with enshrinement scheduled for August in Canton, Ohio. Between now and then, Saints fans will be watching to see if Brees advances as expected and whether Evans and Williams can ride this momentum one step closer to getting their own bronze busts.
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