The Indianapolis Colts franchise (which obviously includes Baltimore) has 22 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They’ll get a chance to add some more this year as six more players have been nominated for the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
Of those six, only two (maybe three) have a realistic shot to get in and two others have about as much of a relation to the Colts as I do and I cover them for Heavy.
The nominees for 2026 are:
-Wide receiver Reggie Wayne
-Kicker Adam Vinatieri
-Center Jeff Saturday
-Defensive end Robert Mathis
-Quarterback Philip Rivers
-Running back Frank Gore
Rivers played one year for the Colts in 2020 and if he does get in some day it won’t be because of anything he did with the Colts. Gore is the No. 3 rusher in NFL history with 16,000 yards and he absolutely deserves a spot. But, he played just three years with the Colts from 2015-2017 so…see: Rivers. Did the Kansas City Chiefs brag about Joe Montana getting inducted in 2000?
Saturday has a chance as he played 13 years of his 14-year NFL career (1999-2011) with the Colts and was always on some really good teams. Longevity and team success might be enough to get him in because there are no stats for centers. Let’s be honest, when someone says “so and so was a great center,” unless you watched the guy every game, you would just nod your head and think ‘I trust you.’
Mathis had a nice 13-year career (all with the Colts) and tallied 123 sacks, so he could be in the conversation, but I’m not seeing Hall of Fame for him.
Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver Reggie Wayne (2001-2014)
Wayne was a 2001 first-round pick in what was an insane wide receiver draft class. It’s safe to say mistakes were made ahead of him (Wayne was taken No. 30) when teams took David Terrell (8), Koren Robinson (9) and Rod Gardner (15)…ouch.
It’s a little amazing that Wayne is now in his seventh year of eligibility and hasn’t gotten in yet. His numbers are downright stupid, even when compared to the pinball machine numbers that receivers put up in the NFL these days.
“Wayne and Jerry Rice are the only players in NFL history who rank in the top 10 in receptions and yards in the regular season and postseason,” writes Mike Chappell of Fox 59. “The Colts’ current receivers coach ranks No. 10 in the regular season with 1,070 catches and 14,345 yards. In the postseason, he ranks No. 6 in catches (93) and No. 7 in yards (1,254).”
Indianapolis Colts, kicker Adam Vinatieri (2006-2019)
Vinatieri is considered by many to be the best kicker in NFL history, even though he’s not. Vinatieri played in the NFL from 1996-2019 (24 years…that’s insane), was absolutely magnificent and – most of all – clutch. However, other kickers have great, lengthy careers but probably won’t ever get Hall of Fame consideration. Does that mean Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson isn’t great because his next big kick would be his first?
Even the great Tom Brady once said of Vinatieri, “when you look up clutch in the dictionary it should have your picture.”
Vinatieri was so good for so long (83.8% career) that even the Atlanta Falcons would consider signing him right now. But, his career stats are almost irrelevant because A. You don’t kick for 24 years if you stink, and B. People will only remember his huge kicks anyway.
Yes, these are New England Patriots highlights, but blame the YouTube content lockdown on the NFL because much of it isn’t shareable.
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