Oh Bull!
“Peterson, Roethlisberger, Gronkowski lead 2027 Hall of Fame first-time eligibles”
The first-ballot headliners next year include Adrian Peterson, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Each of those players played his last season in 2021.
And because they were among the finalists who were not selected for enshrinement this year, OLB Terrell Suggs, OT Willie Anderson and G Marshal Yanda will automatically be finalists in 2027, per the Hall of Fame’s bylaws. Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick figures to be the finalist from the coaching subcommittee once again, while Patriots owner Robert Kraft could repeat as the contributors’ finalist. Belichick and Kraft, who won six Super Bowls together in New England between 2001 and 2018, were not included in this year’s Hall of Fame class.
Roethlisberger played 18 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where was a two-time Super Bowl champion and a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He is seventh in career passing yards (64,088), ninth in passing touchdowns (418) and led the league in passing yards twice. The Steelers had a 165-81-1 record in his starts.
A maximum of five modern-era finalists can be selected for enshrinement each year.
Footbahlin’ with Ben Roethlisberger, Episode 120
The conversation also touches on the significance of establishing a strong team culture, and the dynamics of the locker room, culminating in a preview of the upcoming Super Bowl.
February 1, 2009
17 years ago today the Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, a game that included special plays by James Harrison, Santonio Holmes, & Ben Roethlisberger. #Steelers #NFL @jharrison9292 @ToneTime10 @_BigBen7 #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/VR15i8EAqnpic.twitter.com/E7YxApj3m3
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) February 1, 2026
Sports Spectrum Magazine
Future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger aims to model Christ for his kids with the help of numerous athletes who speak out about their faith, making it cooler to be a Christian now than when he joined the NFL.
Check out his story in our latest mag 👇https://t.co/nKAEhmPfxJ pic.twitter.com/tuXlADX0iw
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) January 30, 2026