Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. | Feb. 5, 2026 — The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, the nation’s only state-specific Pro Football Hall of Fame, is celebrating its 24th year with the announcement of its Class of 2026.

The Members of the Class of 2026 are:

• Bilal Powell, University of Louisville — New York Jets
• Jerry Blanton, University of Kentucky — Kansas City Chiefs
• Chad Pennington, Marshall University — New York Jets, Miami Dolphins
• Ermal Allen, University of Kentucky — Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys (coach)
• Mark Pike, Dixie Heights High School (Edgewood, Ky.) / Georgia Tech — Buffalo Bills
  • Note that Allen and Pike will be inducted posthumously.

Collectively, members of the Class of 2026 represent seven decades of NFL history, with nine combined Super Bowl appearances, two Super Bowl championships, and one NFL championship prior to the Super Bowl era.

The Class of 2026 inductees will be honored Friday, June 26, when they receive their Hall of Fame jackets from the mayor of Lexington, followed by the Purple Jacket Awards Dinner at the Hilton Lexington Downtown. The event is open to the public. Ticket information will be available soon on our website: www.kyprofootballhof.org.

The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame

Founded in 2003, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame honors players, coaches and contributors with Kentucky ties who have made a lasting impact on professional football. With 115 inductees and five additional members joining in 2026, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame continues to recognize NFL legends and pioneering figures whose careers reflect excellence, dedication and passion for the game.

The mission of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame is to celebrate Kentucky’s football legends while supporting the Commonwealth’s children and young people. Since its inception, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame has raised more than $1 million for youth and children’s charities. The Foster Care Council of Kentucky is the organization’s current beneficiary.

More About the Members of the Class of 2026

Bilal Powell (University of Louisville / Lake Gibson H.S., Lakeland, FL)

After a standout senior season at the University of Louisville, where he rushed for 1,405 yards – the fifth-highest single-season total in program history – Bilal Powell was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Powell went on to spend his entire nine-year NFL career with the Jets, establishing himself as a dependable and versatile all-purpose back, equally effective between the tackles and as a receiver out of the backfield. He completed his professional career with 5,275 all-purpose yards and became a fan-favorite among Jets supporters for his toughness, reliability, and consistency. Following his playing career, Powell returned to Louisville, where he founded the 29th and 9th Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting athletes by bridging the gap between mental health and sports.

Jerry Blanton (University of Kentucky / DeVilbiss H.S., Toledo, OH)

Jerry Blanton became the first true freshman to start a varsity football game at the University of Kentucky and later anchored a Wildcats defense that captured an SEC Championship. Selected in the eleventh round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, Blanton narrowly missed making the roster, finishing as the final cut of training camp. He was signed the following season by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he went on to spend his entire seven-year NFL career. Blanton earned a starting role as inside linebacker in 1980 and emerged as a defensive leader, leading the Chiefs with 136 tackles during the 1983 season. Following his playing career, Blanton built a distinguished career in public service and business. In 2003 he accepted Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher’s invitation to become Deputy Commissioner of the state’s Department of Parks. Blanton became the highest-ranking African American in the department’s history. His football legacy continues through his son, Kendall, who is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chad Pennington (Marshall University / Webb School, Knoxville, TN)

Chad Pennington emerged as one of college football’s most impactful quarterbacks at Marshall University in the late 1990s before being selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Pennington overcame multiple injuries and shoulder surgeries to become one of the league’s most respected passers. He earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors twice (2006 and 2008), leading the Jets to the AFC East title in 2002 and guiding the Miami Dolphins to a division championship in 2008. Over his 11-year NFL career, Pennington threw for more than 19,000 yards and was widely regarded as one of the game’s smartest quarterbacks and most accurate passers. Pennington currently serves as head football coach at Sayre School in Lexington, Kentucky, where in 2024 he guided the Spartans to an undefeated season and the program’s first-ever Kentucky Class 1A state championship.

Ermal Allan (University of Kentucky / Morristown H.S., Morristown, TN)

Ermal Allen was a rare and talented multi-sport standout at the University of Kentucky, lettering in football, basketball, golf, and track before serving four years in the U.S. Army during World War II. Drafted in 1947 by the Chicago Cardinals, Allen chose to play for the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC, earning a championship in his lone professional playing season. He transitioned into coaching at the University of Kentucky where he served as offensive coordinator (1948-1953) under Paul “Bear” Bryant and defensive coordinator (1954-1961) under Blanton Collier. In 1962, Allen joined the coaching staff of Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys, ultimately leading the Cowboys research and development/scouting efforts on two Super Bowl-winning teams (VI and XII). Ermal Allen died in 1988.

 

Mark Pike (Georgia Tech / Dixie Heights H.S., Edgewood, KY)

A standout at Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, Kentucky, Pike played college football at Georgia Tech before being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Over 12 seasons in Buffalo, he played 193 games for the Bills and was one of the NFL’s all-time premier special teams’ performers. Pike was a key member of the Buffalo teams that reached four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991-1994. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in special teams’ tackles (255) and ranks second in NFL history in that category. Mark Pike passed away in 2021.

Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Leadership

Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, Chair, Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors:
“We’re pleased to have the opportunity to honor the Class of 2026 for their outstanding football achievements while supporting the important work of the Foster Care Council of Kentucky. On a personal note, I’m very pleased to see Ermal Allen posthumously elected to the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he coached with my dad at the University of Kentucky for eight years.”

Frank Minnifield, Executive Director of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame:
“There is so much history to appreciate about this year’s class and the impact they had on their college teams, the National Football League, and their communities.”