Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2026

Five inductees represent seven decades of NFL history

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday, naming five inductees who collectively represent seven decades of NFL history. The class includes Bilal Powell, Jerry Blanton, Chad Pennington, Ermal Allen, and Mark Pike.

Why it matters

The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame honors players, coaches, and contributors with Kentucky ties who have made a lasting impact on professional football. This year's class represents a diverse group of individuals who have achieved success at the highest levels of the sport.

The details

The Class of 2026 includes Bilal Powell of the University of Louisville, Jerry Blanton of the University of Kentucky, Chad Pennington of Marshall University, Ermal Allen of the University of Kentucky, and Mark Pike of Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, Kentucky. Allen and Pike will be inducted posthumously. The five inductees combined for nine Super Bowl appearances, two Super Bowl championships, and one NFL championship prior to the Super Bowl era.

  • The inductees will receive their Hall of Fame jackets from the mayor of Lexington on Friday, June 26.
  • The Purple Jacket Awards Dinner at the Hilton Lexington Downtown will be held on June 26 and is open to the public.

The players

Bilal Powell

Spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the New York Jets after being selected in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. He finished with 5,275 all-purpose yards and rushed for 1,405 yards in his senior season at Louisville, the fifth-highest single-season total in program history.

Jerry Blanton

Became the first true freshman to start a varsity football game at Kentucky and later anchored a Wildcats defense that captured an SEC Championship. He spent seven years with the Kansas City Chiefs and led the team in tackles during the 1983 season.

Chad Pennington

Was selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors twice, in 2006 and 2008, and threw for more than 19,000 yards over his 11-year career. He currently serves as head football coach at Sayre School in Lexington, where he guided the Spartans to an undefeated season and the program's first Kentucky Class 1A state championship in 2024.

Ermal Allen

Lettered in football, basketball, golf and track at Kentucky before serving four years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1947 and earned a championship in his lone professional playing season. Allen later served as a coach at Kentucky and with the Dallas Cowboys, contributing to two Super Bowl-winning teams. He died in 1988.

Mark Pike

Played 193 games over 12 seasons with the Buffalo Bills after being selected in the seventh round of the 1986 draft. He was a key member of Buffalo teams that reached four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991-1994 and remains the franchise's all-time leader in special teams tackles with 255. Pike died in 2021.

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What’s next

The inductees will receive their Hall of Fame jackets from the mayor of Lexington on Friday, June 26, followed by the Purple Jacket Awards Dinner at the Hilton Lexington Downtown. The event is open to the public.

The takeaway

This year's Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame class highlights the state's rich history of producing talented players, coaches, and contributors who have made a lasting impact on the sport at the highest level. The diverse group of inductees represents the enduring legacy of Kentucky's football tradition.