Two of the best to ever wear an NFL uniform at their respective positions — defensive end Jim Marshall and running back Chuck Foreman — were among 52 players announced Thursday morning as being considered by the Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.

The nine-person committee received the names today following the initial work of the separate Seniors Screening Committee, which had been tasked with reducing the list of 162 nominees for the new class to 50. (Ties for the final spot also advanced.)

Members of the Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee, who also serve on the full Hall of Fame Selection Committee, will reduce the list of 52 candidates to 25, then again to nine, in balloting that will occur over the next several weeks. They then will meet virtually to discuss those nine Semifinalists and will choose three Finalists for the Class of 2026.

Marshall, the 14-time team captain who passed away in June at the age of 87, was honored by the Vikings during Week 3 as part of Legends Weekend. The team is wearing a No. 70 helmet decals (and coaches and staff are wearing pins) in honor of the player who started every game of the franchise's first two decades.

When Marshall retired after his 270^th regular-season game to conclude 1979, he ranked third in sacks behind Hall of Famers Deacon Jones and teammate Carl Eller. Marshall also set an NFL record of 29 fumble recoveries that was later tied by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor.

Marshall started 19 postseason games, including all four Super Bowl appearances by the Vikings.

Foreman's dual-threat abilities helped revolutionize the running back position, showcasing his skills as a receiving option.

The 1973 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first five seasons. He totaled 5,950 yards and 53 touchdowns on the ground and added 350 receptions for 3,156 yards and 23 more scores through the air. Foreman led the NFL with 73 receptions in 1975 and posted 51 scrimmage touchdowns from 1974-76. He started in Super Bowls VIII, IX and XI.

To be considered this election cycle, each person in the Seniors category could have appeared in a professional football game no more recently than the 2000 season. The players who remain eligible for election with the Class of 2026 are:

QUARTERBACKS (5): Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Roman Gabriel, Jack Kemp, Don Meredith.

RUNNING BACKS (6): Ottis Anderson, Larry Brown, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell, Paul "Tank" Younger.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS (9): Mark Clayton, Isaac Curtis, Lavvie Dilweg, Henry Ellard, Harold Jackson, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Otis Taylor.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (11): Jay Hilgenberg, Chris Hinton, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob Kuechenberg, Marvin Powell, Dick Schafrath, Jerry Sisemore, Walt Sweeney, Jim Tyrer, Al Wistert.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (4): L.C. Greenwood, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin.

LINEBACKERS (8): Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Mike Curtis, Larry Grantham, Lee Roy Jordan, Clay Matthews Jr., Matt Millen, Tommy Nobis.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (8): Dick Anderson, Bobby Boyd, Pat Fischer, Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Lemar Parrish, Everson Walls.

SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Steve Tasker.

Reduction voting in three other categories for the Hall of Fame – Modern-Era Players, Coach and Contributor – also will be conducted this month. This year's voting will be completed with oversight from the firm Ernst & Young LLP, a Hall partner since 2019. EY's Agreed-Upon Procedures include validating the completeness of the ballots and tabulating the ballots in accordance with the bylaws established by the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, which can be composed of a minimum of 4 individuals to as many as eight, will be enshrined next August in Canton.

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