Eric Boggs
Ohio State continues to make its mark on football history as two of its all-time greats, running back Eddie George and center Nick Mangold, have advanced in the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process for the Class of 2026. The pair were among the 52 modern-era players chosen to move forward from an initial list of 128 nominees, while former linebacker A.J. Hawk was not included in the latest cut.
For Buckeye fans, seeing George and Mangold in the running for football immortality is both a point of pride and a reminder of the program’s long-standing excellence across generations.
Eddie George remains one of the most decorated players to ever wear scarlet and gray. During his Ohio State career from 1992 to 1995, George cemented himself as one of college football’s most dominant backs, capturing the 1995 Heisman Trophy after a senior season in which he swept nearly every major national award. Selected 14th overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1996 NFL Draft, George became the face of the franchise—later the Tennessee Titans—amassing 10,441 rushing yards, 2,227 receiving yards, and 78 total touchdowns over nine NFL seasons. A four-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro selection, and the 1996 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, George remains the Titans’ all-time leading rusher and a symbol of consistency and toughness. This marks another strong push toward Canton for George, who has previously reached the semifinalist stage in both 2022 and 2024.
Nick Mangold, another cornerstone of Ohio State’s storied legacy, joined George in advancing to the next round. A dominant force on the Buckeyes’ offensive line from 2002 to 2005, Mangold helped lead Ohio State to a national championship as a freshman and earned first-team All-American honors in his senior season. Drafted 29th overall by the New York Jets in 2006, Mangold became one of the most respected centers of his era. Over his 11-year career, all with the Jets, he earned seven Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors, and a place in the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022. His consistency, leadership, and football intelligence made him one of the defining linemen of his generation.
While A.J. Hawk didn’t advance this time, his credentials remain impressive enough to keep him in future Hall of Fame discussions. A two-time All-American and three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection at Ohio State, Hawk became a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2006, where he went on to win Super Bowl XLV and become the franchise’s all-time leading tackler with 922 stops. Though his Hall of Fame journey may take longer, Hawk’s place in Buckeye and Packers history is unquestioned.
The Hall of Fame selection process now shifts to the 50-member Selection Committee, which will trim the field of 52 candidates to 25 semifinalists in mid-to-late November. That list will later be reduced to 15 finalists, followed by a series of reduction votes before the final Class of 2026 is announced on the eve of the Super Bowl. To earn enshrinement, each finalist must receive at least 80 percent approval from the committee, with four to eight new members typically selected each year.
As the next round of voting approaches, Buckeye Nation will be watching closely. With Eddie George’s remarkable legacy as a Heisman winner and NFL workhorse, and Nick Mangold’s decade-long dominance at one of football’s most demanding positions, both Ohio State greats stand on the brink of securing their well-deserved gold jackets in Canton — a short drive from the place where their football greatness began.
