Trio Of Former Patriots Advance To Next Round Of Hall Of Fame Voting

On Tuesday, it was revealed that former New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick had advanced to the next round of voting in his quest to find his way into the Hall of Fame. As it turns out, he may not be the only former Patriots legend to find his way into the Hall as part of the Class of 2026.

After revealing the coaching finalists, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 52 players who have advanced to the next stage of the selection process, as voters continue to whittle down the list of players eligible for enshrinement.

Part of this group is three former Patriots players, as it was revealed that kicker Adam Vinatieri, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and safety Rodney Harrison had all taken a big step towards achieving their Hall of Fame goals.

“Adam Vinatieri, Vince Wilfork & Rodney Harrison advance to the next round of Pro Football Hall of Fame voting ????,” the team shared in a post on X.

Each of these guys has a solid case to make it into the Hall, but of the trio, it feels like Vinatieri is the closest thing to a lock. Not only did he nail a pair of game-winning kicks in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII, but he also spent a mind-boggling 24 years in the NFL, earning three Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team selections apiece.

Wilfork spent 11 years of his 13-year NFL career with the Patriots, earning five Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro selections (one of which was a First Team selection) and a pair of Super Bowls.

Harrison, meanwhile, played the final six years of his 15-year career in New England, earning two Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro honors and two Super Bowls during his time in the league.

All three of these guys are already legends in Foxboro, MA, but it would undoubtedly mean a lot for them to find their way into the Hall of Fame. Time will tell whether any of them make it, but for now, they are one step closer to earning themselves the coveted golden Hall of Fame jacket.