(KMJ) Former Fresno State great Henry Ellard is among nine semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 – in the seniors category.
After starring at wide receiver for the Bulldogs, Ellard, 64, earned three Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections during his prime with the Los Angeles Rams, leading the NFL with 1,414 receiving yards in 1988 — the first of his seven 1,000-yard campaigns.
49ers running back Roger Craig, quarterback Ken Anderson wide receivers Stanley Morgan and Otis Taylor, defensive lineman L.C. Greenwood, offensive lineman Joe Jacoby, cornerback Eddie Meador and special teams ace Steve Tasker were the others announced Wednesday.
A blue-ribbon committee reduced the list from 34 candidates among players who did not appear in a game after the 2000 season. The panel will whittle the list to three finalists for consideration by the full selection committee before Super Bowl LX in February.
Craig, 65, won three Super Bowls and made four Pro Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s, earning a spot on the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team. In 1985, he became the first player in NFL history with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 receiving in the same season.
Anderson, 76, played all 16 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1981. He led the league in passing yards in 1974 and 1975 and earned four Pro Bowl selections.
Morgan, 70, was a four-time Pro Bowl pick and a big-play specialist with the New England Patriots. He topped the league in yards-per-reception in three straight seasons from 1979-81.
Taylor, who died in 2023 at the age of 80, played with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1965-75. The two-time All-Pro had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl IV win against Minnesota.
Greenwood, who died in 2013 at 67, was a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fabled “Steel Curtain” defense and won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro.
Jacoby, 66, was one of the anchors of Washington’s elite offensive line known as “The Hogs,” who helped the team capture three Super Bowl championships.
Meador, who died in 2023 at age 86, was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who made the Hall of Fame’s 1960s All-Decade team as a star in the Rams’ secondary.
Tasker, 63, was selected to seven Pro Bowls and appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s.
