For the first time since he retired from the NFL 23 years ago, former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowler who played 11 seasons for the Lions in 1985-95, is one of 26 modern-era candidates up for selection as part of the Hall's class of 2026, and one of seven first-time semifinalists.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe other first-timers: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Jason Witten and Philip Rivers are semifinalists in their first year of eligibility, while Brown is in his 18th year of eligibility and former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams is in his fifth.
Billy Sims with Lomas Brown before a game against the Cowboys on Sept. 19, 1994.INSIDE THE LIONS: Flawed Lions' hopes come down to Thanksgiving game vs Packers
A first round pick by the Lions out of Florida, Brown spent seven seasons blocking for Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders and holds NFL records for most games played (263) and starts (251) at offensive tackle.
He won a Super Bowl as a backup in his final NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, was first-team All-Pro in his final season in Detroit and also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow a radio analyst for the Lions, Brown is one of six offensive linemen selected as semifinalists, along with Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Richmond Webb and Steve Wisniewski.
Detroit Lions legend Lomas Brown speaks during Calvin Johnson's Pride of the Lions induction during the halftime of the game between Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.JOINING THE FRANCHISE: The last player the Detroit Lions took No. 6 overall was stunned to hear his name called
Anderson is one of four players who qualified automatically as a semifinalist after finishing in the top seven of voting last year, along with wide receiver Torry Holt, linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
The 26 semifinalists were selected from a group of 52 nominees, and the 50-member Hall of Fame selection committee will cut the list to 15 finalists in December.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists for the class of 2026:
Willie Anderson, T – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens.Times as a semifinalist: 6 – 2021-26.
Drew Brees, QB – 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints .Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Lomas Brown, T – 1985-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-98 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 ClevelandBrowns, 2000-01 New York Giants, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Jahri Evans, G – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers.Times as a semifinalist: 4 – 2023-26.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR – 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals.Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Frank Gore, RB – 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 MiamiDolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets.Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Rodney Harrison, S – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots.Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2021, 2023-26.
Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville JaguarsTimes as a semifinalist: 12 – 2015-26.
Luke Kuechly, LB – 2012-19 Carolina Panthers.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Eli Manning, QB – 2004-2019 New York Giants.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Robert Mathis, DE/LB – 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts.Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2022-26.
Philip Rivers, QB – 2004-2019 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, 2020 Indianapolis Colts.Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Steve Smith Sr., WR – 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens.Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2022-26.
Terrell Suggs, LB/DE – 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 KansasCity Chiefs.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Fred Taylor, RB – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots.Times as a semifinalist: 7 – 2020-26.
Earl Thomas, S – 2010-18 Seattle Seahawks, 2019 Baltimore Ravens.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Adam Vinatieri, K – 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers.Times as a semifinalist: 10 – 2017-26.
Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts.Times as a semifinalist: 7 – 2020-26.
Richmond Webb, T – 1990-2000 Miami Dolphins, 2001-02 Cincinnati Bengals.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Vince Wilfork, DT – 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans.Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2022-26.
Kevin Williams, DT – 2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 NewOrleans Saints.Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Steve Wisniewski, G – 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders.Times as a semifinalist: 3 – 2014, 2025-26.
Jason Witten, TE – 2003-2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders.Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2026.
Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas CowboysTimes as a semifinalist: 10 – 2015, 2017, 2019-26.
Marshal Yanda, G/T – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens.Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2025-26.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lomas Brown, Detroit Lions OT, first-time Hall of Fame semifinalist
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