The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their list of 12 Coach Candidates for the Class of 2026 today:
Bill Arnsparger: The kind of coach whose fingerprints are all over NFL history, even if most fans couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. A quiet mastermind, Arnsparger built defenses that wrecked game plans and won championships. He was the brains behind the Miami Dolphins’ “No-Name Defense” that dominated the early ’70s and delivered the NFL’s only perfect season. Years later, he came back to Miami and did it again, crafting the fearsome “Killer B’s” that tortured quarterbacks throughout the ’80s.
Head coaching stops with the Giants and LSU were part of the journey, but Arnsparger’s true legacy was as the ultimate defensive architect — a schemer whose calm sideline presence hid a ruthless football mind. Every time a defense punches above its talent, every time a unit wins with brains over star power, you’re seeing echoes of Bill Arnsparger. He wasn’t a household name — but to those who know the game, he’s one of the all-time greats.
Bill Belichick: Not just a coach, but frankly a football institution, even if Tom Brady went on to win another Super Bowl without him. The hooded mastermind behind the New England Patriots dynasty turned a once-middling franchise into a two-decade juggernaut, collecting six Super Bowl rings as a head coach and redefining what sustained excellence looks like in the NFL. Belichick built his empire on ruthless attention to detail, relentless adaptability, and an uncanny ability to turn overlooked players into essential pieces of championship teams.
His resume speaks for itself: 300-plus wins, nine Super Bowl appearances, and a defensive legacy that stretches back to his days scheming for Bill Parcells and the Giants. Love him or loathe him, Belichick has become the standard every other coach will be measured against, a football savant whose genius often lies in the simplest things, like taking away what you do best and making you beat him left-handed. He may never crack a smile at the podium, but between the lines, Belichick is the closest thing the NFL has ever had to a chess grandmaster.
Tom Coughlin: Never the flashiest coach on the sideline, and he didn’t care one bit. A throwback to an era when discipline ruled and details mattered, Coughlin built winners the old-fashioned way: with accountability, preparation, and a healthy dose of toughness. He first made noise turning the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars into an AFC contender practically overnight in the late 1990s, but his true legacy was forged in New York, where he led the Giants to two stunning Super Bowl upsets over Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Coughlin’s teams were a reflection of their coach: gritty, resilient, and unshakable in the biggest moments. His Giants weren’t supposed to beat the undefeated 2007 Patriots, but they did. They weren’t supposed to climb out of a midseason hole in 2011, but they did that too. Along the way, Coughlin evolved from a strict taskmaster to a respected leader whose players would run through walls for him. He may not have Belichick’s mystique or Shula’s win total, but when the lights were brightest, Tom Coughlin’s teams were ready, and they finished.
Alex Gibbs: One of the most influential offensive line coaches the NFL has ever seen, even if his name never dominated headlines. A fiery teacher and relentless perfectionist, Gibbs revolutionized the way teams run the football by popularizing the zone-blocking scheme that became the backbone of dominant rushing attacks in Denver, Atlanta, and beyond. His system turned late-round picks and undrafted backs into 1,000-yard rushers, most famously transforming Terrell Davis from a sixth-rounder into a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer.
Gibbs was as demanding as he was brilliant, known for his blunt coaching style and obsession with precision. His fingerprints are still all over modern NFL offenses, where zone concepts are now foundational elements of the run game. He never became a household name like some head coaches, but among linemen, coordinators, and offensive minds, Alex Gibbs is spoken of with near-reverence.
Mike Holmgren: One of the defining offensive minds of the modern NFL, a master play-caller and quarterback whisperer who helped shape an entire generation of football. Rising from Bill Walsh’s coaching tree, Holmgren carried the West Coast offense into a new era, first as offensive coordinator in San Francisco, where he helped guide Joe Montana and Steve Young, and then as head coach in Green Bay, where he and Brett Favre brought the Packers back to glory with a Super Bowl title in the 1996 season.
Holmgren’s teams were disciplined, balanced, and always dangerous through the air. After Green Bay, he turned around the Seattle Seahawks, building them into a perennial contender and taking them to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Known for his calm authority and sharp offensive mind, Holmgren left a mark that goes beyond wins and losses. His coaching tree produced stars like Andy Reid, Jon Gruden, and Steve Mariucci, and his fingerprints are still visible in the way the passing game is played today. Few coaches were better at molding quarterbacks and orchestrating elite offenses, and Mike Holmgren did both at a championship level.
Chuck Knox: The epitome of an old-school football coach, a tough, no-nonsense leader whose teams reflected his gritty personality. Nicknamed “Ground Chuck” for his run-heavy, physical offensive style, Knox built winners everywhere he went, turning around struggling franchises and instilling a culture of discipline and toughness. He first made his mark with the Los Angeles Rams in the 1970s, leading them to five straight division titles. Later, he revived the Buffalo Bills and then transformed the Seattle Seahawks into playoff contenders, guiding them to the AFC Championship Game in just his second season.
Knox wasn’t known for flashy schemes or headline-grabbing quotes. He believed in pounding the football, controlling the line of scrimmage, and playing smart, hard-nosed defense. His approach worked, delivering 186 career wins and three NFL Coach of the Year awards. More importantly, he earned the respect and loyalty of his players, who trusted his steady hand and no-excuses mentality. Chuck Knox never won a Super Bowl, but his impact on the game was undeniable. He was a builder, a stabilizer, and one of the most respected leaders of his era.
Buddy Parker: One of the most innovative and overlooked coaches of the NFL’s early era, a sharp offensive mind who helped shape the modern passing game. Known for his creativity and willingness to challenge convention, Parker led the Detroit Lions to back-to-back NFL championships in 1952 and 1953 and nearly a third in 1954. He wasn’t afraid to shake things up, as he made bold roster moves, trusted quarterbacks to throw more than most coaches of his time, and embraced the kind of offensive balance that was rare in the 1950s.
Parker also left his mark with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he coached for eight seasons and laid the groundwork for the team’s future success. He was fiery, unpredictable, and fiercely competitive, even resigning abruptly before the 1957 season because he felt the team wasn’t good enough. Parker never received the Hall of Fame recognition many believe he deserves, but his forward-thinking approach and championship pedigree make him one of the most influential coaches of the league’s formative years.
Dan Reeves: the definition of a football lifer as a player, assistant coach, and head coach whose fingerprints are all over decades of NFL history. A former running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Reeves won a Super Bowl as a player and two more as an assistant under Tom Landry before becoming one of the league’s most successful head coaches. He led the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowls in the 1980s, helped revive the New York Giants in the 1990s, and guided the Atlanta Falcons to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 1998.
Reeves was known for his toughness, consistency, and ability to build winning teams wherever he went. His offenses were balanced and disciplined, and his teams were always prepared to compete at the highest level. While a Super Bowl championship as a head coach eluded him, his 190 career wins rank among the most in NFL history, and his impact on the game is undeniable. Dan Reeves didn’t just coach football, he lived it–and left behind a legacy built on perseverance, leadership, and a lifetime dedicated to the sport.
Marty Schottenmeimer: One of the most respected coaches of his generation, a leader who built winners everywhere he went and did it his way. Known for his hard-nosed, run-first approach dubbed “Martyball,” he emphasized discipline, defense, and controlling the clock. His teams were always tough, physical, and well-prepared, and they almost always won. Schottenheimer posted 200 regular-season victories, a mark that puts him among the NFL’s all-time leaders, and he led the Browns, Chiefs, and Chargers to consistent playoff appearances over three decades.
What Schottenheimer’s resume lacked was the one thing critics never let him forget: a Super Bowl ring. His teams often stumbled in January, but that shouldn’t overshadow his legacy. Few coaches have ever been as successful over such a long period, and few were as beloved by their players. Marty Schottenheimer built teams that played with heart, toughness, and purpose, and his impact on the game still echoes through the coaches and players he influenced.
George Seifert: One of the most successful and possibly underrated head coaches in NFL history, a man who kept one of football’s great dynasties rolling. After years as a defensive assistant under Bill Walsh, Seifert took over the San Francisco 49ers in 1989 and didn’t miss a beat, winning the Super Bowl in his first season as head coach. He added another championship in 1994 and finished his 49ers tenure with an astounding .766 winning percentage, one of the best marks ever.
Seifert wasn’t a flashy personality and rarely sought the spotlight, which is part of why his legacy is often overlooked. But his teams were disciplined, explosive, and relentlessly consistent. He guided San Francisco to five division titles and never had a losing season with the franchise. A later stint with the Carolina Panthers was less successful, but it doesn’t change the fact that George Seifert won more games in his first eight seasons than any coach in NFL history. Quiet and steady, he was the perfect steward of a dynasty and a big part of why the 49ers remained dominant well into the 1990s.
Mike Shanahan: One of the most innovative offensive minds of his era and the architect of one of the NFL’s most explosive dynasties. Best known for his time with the Denver Broncos, Shanahan turned John Elway’s late career into a golden era, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. His offenses were precise, balanced, and deadly, built around a devastating zone-blocking run game and a play-action passing attack that kept defenses guessing. Under his watch, players like Terrell Davis flourished, and Denver became one of the league’s most feared teams.
Shanahan’s coaching career extended beyond Denver with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, and his influence continues to shape the modern game. His offensive philosophy has become the foundation for many of today’s most successful systems, carried forward by a coaching tree that includes his son Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and Matt LaFleur. Mike Shanahan’s teams were smart, physical, and explosive, and his legacy as a two-time champion and offensive innovator is secure among the NFL’s coaching greats.
Clark Shaughnessy: One of the true pioneers of modern football, a visionary strategist whose ideas helped transform the game from its grind-it-out roots into the dynamic, tactical sport it is today. Best known for popularizing the T-formation with man-in-motion, Shaughnessy’s innovations revolutionized offensive football and laid the foundation for much of what teams still run today. His influence was felt most famously with the Chicago Bears in the early 1940s, when his schemes helped turn George Halas’s team into a powerhouse that crushed opponents and redefined offensive possibilities.
Shaughnessy also made his mark at the college level, most notably at Stanford, where he orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in college football history by taking a 1-7 team to an undefeated Rose Bowl season in 1940. Brilliant, demanding, and endlessly creative, he was often years ahead of his time, introducing concepts like shifting formations and disguised intentions that are now standard parts of the game. Clark Shaughnessy might not be a household name today, but football as we know it wouldn’t exist without his innovations.
In all, twelve candidates for one spot, with several on the list that are probably deserving, although Belichick has to be considered the front runner, unless the voters hold off to vote him in with Brady (and/or if they’re not convinced he’s done in the NFL yet). Leave us your thoughts below.
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Thanks Tony … alot better list to look at than the upcoming contributor list which will continue to disappoint.
Belichick I predict, will rightly jump ahead of everyone on this list and will be elected in February. If he could dump his muse, he might even coach in the NFL again but we shall see …
Alot of great head coaches listed but interesting with three great assistant coaches as well. They will get their chance later down the road.
2026 — Belichick
2027 — Holmgren or Shanahan
2028 — Holmgren, Shanny or Reeves?
Hoping Parker gets his chance again. If George Preston Marshall can get elected, so should Buddy.
with one coach a finalist per year (and fighting with four others for max 3, but more likely 1-2 election slots) there are several current and future coach candidates (Andy Reid) before any asst coach would ever have a shot…just look at 2026 12 semifinalists-only 2 assistants
At least the assistants names are out there, with Gibbs having no head coaching experience. To be honest, I figured Holmgren or Shanahan would have already been elected but tough with these voters, who may not ever elect Parker as well. I do like Arnsparger and Shaughnessy alot though, but it will be along while before election.
Still disappointed Buck Shaw cant make the list. Some peole feel Potsy Clark is worthy as well, who like Parker, was successful with the Lions but struggled with another team. Blanton Collier and Jim Lee Howell won championships as well.
From what I can gather the “election math” cost Holmgren last year-and he may have been as close as 1 vote from getting the 40 minumum…suspect after BillB that he and Shanahan are up next..unless Andy Reid were to up and retire in next few years..
Until very recently, the bar to be a HOF coach was exceedingly high. The coach literally had to be one of the top 4 coaches of his era to make the HOF.
1920-1950s – 7 (Chamberlin, Conzelman, Flaherty, Halas, Lambeau, Neale, Owen)
1950s-60s – 4 (Brown, Ewbank, Gillman, Lombardi)
1970s – 4 (Grant, Landry, Noll, Shula)
1980s – 3 (Gibbs, Parcells, Walch)
1990s – 1 (Levy)
2000s – 1 (Dungy)
When the “seniors” committee inducted Stram, Madden, and Allen the bar dipped a notch–but only a small notch. All of these guys were “borderline” under the “old” system.
Then the “coach” category was created, and the bar dipped significantly with Cowher, Coryell, Flores, Johnson, and Vermeil. None of these coaches would have been elected under the “old” rules. I’m not providing any opinion on whether this was a good or bad development. Everyone has to make up their own minds, but it can’t really be argued that the bar for election is the same. In fact, the Hall was transparent that it believed it was too difficult for coaches to make the hall.
With that out of the way, I rank the candidates as follows:
Definitely elected under the “old” way: Belichick
Possibly elected under the “old” way / “senior” way: Coughlin, Holmgren, Shanahan
Possibly elected under “coach” category: Reeves, Schottenheimer, Shaughnessy, Parker, Seifert
Unlikely under any system: Arnsparger, Gibbs, Knox
The real question right now is whether the current system is more like the pre-coaches category system or something else. My gut is that it might be even harder than any of the previous systems. Of the above list, I could be convinced that only Belichick has a realistic shot under the current system–and even then, all his recent “bad publicity” could come back to bite him. Under the current system, it would not be at all unreasonable to see a very strong senior candidate and Kraft nudge him out in his first year.
It could be similar to Parcells being forced to wait because the voters thought he might coach again (the voters were, of course, correct but that probably shouldn’t have been an excuse for not voting for Parcells).
Food for thought.
its also worth noting that under current election rules (also in place for 2025 election) coaches had to complete with 1 contributor and 3 senior finalists for max of 3 slots..Holmgren fell short last year (likely as voters were split among the contributor and 3 seniors) with only Sharpe getting 40+ votes…BillB should not have that issue, so seems like it will be harder than pre 2025 elections were for coaches who for several years can direct/uncontested path to election. In future I suspect Coughlin, Holmgren, Shanahan will continue to have chances (as will Andy Reid)
I don’t need to give my thoughts we all know the coaching finalist is going to be Bill Belichick
Usually Brian with the contributor nominees you get some names that are deserving and some well who baffle the mind plain and simple, names who shouldn’t even merit consideration now or ever
Robert names like who Virginia Halas McCaskey and Doug Williams
Exactly 100% andy
In recent years I think there has been a tendency among some contributor BRP members to advance some candidates as a form of career recognition, even knowing they would have have enough support to get elected. I have heard from voters and a previous member of that BRP that in their view there is perhaps only 10-12 actual truly deserving contributors, so getting to semi-finalist stage of 25 are others really not strong candidates (Doug Williams was a project of PFHOF Mel Blount, doubt it ends up in serious consideration).
Youre right Paul, but its pure laziness from the committees when you cant even find or look for contributors who are actually, deserving.
How do people miss out on a Dick Haley, Jack Vainisi, Tony Razzano, Byron Donzis, Bernie Parrish, Clint Murchison, Peggy Parratt, Leo Lyons and others who made major contributions to the sport? Ralph Hay helped start the league but cant get voted in.
Sometimes politics are factored in, which shouldnt happen but does. Give credit to the committees and voters though,for not putting in waves of owners, which the category was really created for …
I think there are a wide range of views of the significance of one’s contributions-beyond owners, league officials, scouts, GMs (and likely in terms of past, not current) there is likely even from those the list is relatively small. Keeping in mind the number of experts on the history of NFL and pro football-for pre 1990s-is also a very small group. I don’t consider myself of that group but have a pretty good understanding of that history and I don’t recognize several of the names you listed. Keeping in mind contributors in any major pro HOF are very few and in case of PFHOF is and will always been very small % of total in Hall
Brian thank you for including Clint Murchison I thought you were against him even though you signed my petition don’t forget about Robert Kraft also
The point is Andy P, there are a number of contributors that need to get recognition and helped evolve the NFL into what it is today. Most of those names I mentioned are off the top of my head. There are others that have been underrated, forgotten or downplayed. Good books on team histories could uncover more of them, but good journalists and researchers have to spotlight them. I will try to uncover more myself but it takes time and they still wont get the recognition of making lists for induction into the HOF.
A good example is Don Kellett of the Baltimore Colts. He did alot of things in the organization, helping the HC, Weeb Ewbank, as well as owner, Carroll Rosenbloom. He did things for the team that five guys might do nowadays but never got his due in helping the Colts become a powerhouse. He would even look players in the eye and ask them what they were worth and why in negotiations. He wanted proof from statistics, notes and film study, that they were doing their job and should get the compensation they deserve. He brought Weeb to the team and signed John Unitas. He helped Shula with the team as well. He would be good on a contributor list but is now forgotten …
just released by Hall:
Six head coaches in the National Football League whose teams won at least one Super Bowl (or NFL title game) are among the nine individuals who have been named as Semifinalists in the Coach category for possible election as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 presented by Visual Edge IT.
Members of the Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee made their selections from a list they earlier had reduced to 12 candidates. The committee will discuss the nine Semifinalists at length when it meets virtually Nov. 18 to select one Finalist to present to the full Selection Committee for its consideration when it casts ballots for a new class of enshrinees in early 2026.
The nine Semifinalists in the Coach category this year are: Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan.