Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers WireTue, November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM UTC·1 min readA pair of Carolina Panthers legends are a step closer to football immortality.
As announced on Tuesday morning, former wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and former linebacker Luke Kuechly have been named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class. They are among the 26 semifinalists for the upcoming induction.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSmith has now reached the semifinalist stage for a fifth straight year. He was named a finalist for the first time in 2024.
Kuechly, also a finalist last year, will continue to advance after finishing in the final seven of the voting for the 2025 class. He'll be joined by Torry Holt, Willie Anderson and Adam Vinatieri as automatic finalists for 2026.
Those who did not make it through into the semifinalist stage include former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and cornerback Charles Tillman. Both advanced into the group of the final 52 modern-era nominees last month.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers greats Luke Kuechly, Steve Smith Sr. named HOF semifinalists
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