Changes

==Eligibility==

==Eligibility==

A former player must be fully retired for five years before becoming eligible (if a player is on an active roster after retiring, but before the five years end, the clock restarts; an example of someone in this position is Greatest Conservative Sports Star [[Philip Rivers]], who was a semifinalist in 2025 but came out of retirement to sign with the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and was on the roster for the final four games).

A former player must be fully retired for five years before becoming eligible.  If a player is on an active roster after retiring, but before the five years end, the clock restarts; an example of someone in this position is Greatest Conservative Sports Star [[Philip Rivers]], who was a semifinalist for the Class of 2026 but came out of retirement to sign with the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and was on the roster for the final four games (as such, he will not be eligible for consideration again until the Class of 2031).

A former coach need only be retired.

A former coach need only be retired.

==Controversies==

==Controversies==

There are some notable omissions in this Hall of Fame, likely for political reasons, such as [[Herschel Walker]].  Others were delayed entry for unexplained reasons, probably due to their outspokenly [[Christian]] [[faith]], such as Tim Brown and Art Monk.  [[Bill Belichick]], who endorsed [[Trump]] in 2016, was denied entry in his first year of eligibility; similarly, [[Robert Kraft]] (also a Trump supporter) was also denied entry after first appearing on the ballot.

There are some notable omissions in this Hall of Fame, likely for political reasons, such as [[Herschel Walker]].  Others were delayed entry for unexplained reasons, probably due to their outspokenly [[Christian]] [[faith]], such as [[Tim Brown]] and [Art Monk]].  [[Bill Belichick]], who endorsed [[Trump]] in 2016, was denied entry in his first year of eligibility; similarly, [[Robert Kraft]] (also a Trump supporter) was also denied entry after first appearing on the ballot.

Questionable inclusions in this Hall of Fame are Joe Namath and Troy Aikman (though, for the latter, his induction may be more due to his broadcasting career as partner with [[Joe Buck]]).

Questionable inclusions in this Hall of Fame are Joe Namath and Troy Aikman (though, for the latter, his induction may be more due to his broadcasting career as partner with [[Joe Buck]]).