By Sunday 
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has officially announced its nominees for the Class of 2026, and Detroit Lions fans will see plenty of familiar names on the list. Five former Lions — some franchise legends, others with shorter stints in Honolulu blue — are in the running for football’s highest honor.
The Legends of Detroit
Among the nominees, Jason Hanson, Herman Moore, and Lomas Brown stand tall as pillars of Lions history.
- Jason Hanson: Detroit’s iron man kicker spent all 21 years of his NFL career with the Lions, a rare feat of loyalty and excellence. He racked up 495 career field goals (fourth all-time) and was the first player in league history to score 2,000 points with a single franchise. Simply put, he’s one of the greatest ever to do it.
- Herman Moore: Before Calvin Johnson, Moore was the guy at wide receiver in Detroit. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, he twice led the NFL in receptions. His 1995 season — 123 catches, 1,686 yards, and 14 TDs — remains one of the most dominant campaigns by any wideout.
- Lomas Brown: The steady hand on Detroit’s offensive line during the Barry Sanders years. Brown earned six Pro Bowl nods in Detroit and played a key role in some of the most memorable rushing attacks in franchise history.
The Familiar Faces
While not career Lions, Anquan Boldin and David Akers also spent time in Detroit and are part of the 2026 Hall of Fame conversation.
- Anquan Boldin: A veteran presence in 2016, Boldin was already a Super Bowl champion with Baltimore and one of the league’s most respected receivers. His single season with Detroit included 67 receptions and eight touchdowns.
- David Akers: After Hanson’s retirement, Akers took over kicking duties in 2013. He’s best remembered for his 12 seasons with the Eagles, where he became one of the most decorated kickers of his generation.
What Happens Next?
The road to Canton is never easy. The list of 128 modern-era nominees will be whittled down throughout the season:
- From 128 → 25 semifinalists
- From 25 → 15 finalists
- And finally narrowed to five inductees after a vote by the Hall’s 50-member selection committee.
Those chosen will be enshrined next August in Canton, Ohio.
For Lions fans, this class feels special. Seeing names like Hanson, Moore, and Brown — who defined eras of Detroit football — on the ballot is a reminder of how much history runs through Ford Field and the Silverdome before it.