CHARLOTTE — Four Panthers legends were among the final 50 players (plus ties) in voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.
Linebacker Luke Kuechly's an automatic finalist this year, after he made the final seven in last year's voting. Wide receiver Steve Smith also made the list, after he was a finalist for the first time last year.
They're joined on this year's ballot by tight end Greg Olsen, and cornerback Charles Tillman, who played his final season here in 2015.
The group came from the preliminary list of 128, which was filtered down by the Hall's new screening committee. The 52 players will now be voted on by the full selection committee, and reduced to 25, and that list will be announced in around five weeks.
Kuechly's an automatic finalist this year, along with Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, and Adam Vinatieri.
But his resume suggests that would have been the case regardless.
In eight seasons, Kuechly was a seven-time All-Pro, a seven-time Pro Bowler, earned defensive rookie of the year honors, defensive player of the year, and went to one Super Bowl. He was named to the All-Decade team for the 2010s.
It's a nearly identical resume to Hall of Fame linebacker Patrick Willis, who was enshrined in 2024 in his third year of eligibility. (Willis also played eight years, made the All-Decade team, and was a six-time All-Pro. He did not win a defensive player of the year.)
Kuechly was also recognized as one of the best in the game, practically his entire career. By making an All-Pro team in seven of his eight seasons (87.5 percent, and the only year he didn't, he was defensive rookie of the year), he has the third-highest percentage of All-Pros in NFL history, trailing just Barry Sanders (10-of-10, 100.0 percent) and Jim Brown (8-of-9, 88.9). The guys he's immediately ahead of on that list are Reggie White (13-of-15, 86.7) and Anthony Munoz (11-of-13, 84.6).
Smith made the final 15 last year and would need to go through the voting process again, though his numbers suggest that seems likely.
There are a logjam of receivers in the discussion, including former Rams star Torry Holt, who is an automatic finalist. Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald is a nominee for the first time, and since he's second on the all-time receiving lists behind only Jerry Rice, his chances seem good.
Reggie Wayne was also a finalist with Holt and Smith last year, and none made it to Canton. Holt and Wayne have been finalists for six years each.
Smith is eighth in league history in receiving yards and 12th in receptions. Wayne is 10th in both categories. Holt is 17th in yards and 26th in receptions in a shorter career.
Unlike those two, Smith didn't have the benefit of all-star casts of Hall of Fame quarterbacks. He was also the focus of every opposing defensive coordinator, and did it all for teams that generally preferred to run. The year he won the triple crown, leading the league in catches, yards, and touchdowns (2005), the Panthers ran more often (487 attempts) than they threw (449 passes).
Olsen came along at the beginning of a wave of pass-catching tight ends and is seventh all-time in receptions and receiving yards at his position.
Three of the six guys ahead of him on the yardage list are already in the Hall (Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe), and the other three are coming soon (Jason Witten, Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski).
Olsen's also the first tight end in league history to post three straight 1,000-yard seasons (2014-16), as he was Cam Newton's de facto No. 1 receiver in those years.
Tillman played his final season here in 2015 (like defensive end Jared Allen, who was enshrined last year). He was a two-time Pro Bowler and earned one All-Pro during his time with the Bears. He's also remembered for the "Peanut Punch," a technique he popularized that led to league records for forced fumbles in a season (10 in 2012) and in a game (four).
"I'm not going to say I was washed up, but I definitely wasn't in my prime," Tillman said of his role in 2015. "I was still a good player, but my role was comedic relief."
The Panthers are represented in the Hall by defensive end Julius Peppers (Class of 2024), linebacker Sam Mills (2022), outside linebacker Kevin Greene (2016), and original general manager Bill Polian (2015).
Former Browns tackle and longtime coach/original Panthers team president Mike McCormack (1984), and former Steelers safety/community and player development staff Donnie Shell (2020) are also enshrined for their work with other teams, along with single-year Panthers Reggie White (2006) and Jared Allen (2025).
AUTOMATIC FINALISTS IN 2026
Luke Kuechly, Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, and Adam Vinatieri.
REMAINING CLASS OF 2025 FINALISTS
Steve Smith Sr, Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs, and Darren Woodson.
FULL LIST OF 52 MODERN-ERA NOMINEES ADVANCING FOR CLASS OF 2026
QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.
RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne.
TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen, Jason Witten.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), Marshal Yanda (G).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).
LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), Darren Woodson (S).
PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), Adam Vinatieri (K).
SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).
View the top photos from the tight end's Pro Bowl season.
