South Carolina football legend again nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame
This week, South Carolina football legend John Abraham earned nomination for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. The Hall of Fame announced a list of 128 modern-era players on Wednesday, and Abraham was the only Gamecock included.
Abraham will be vying for one of 15 finalist spots. However, four of those spots will be occupied by Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri. Those four made the top seven in 2025, granting them automatic inclusion among finalists in 2026.
Later this fall, the list of nominees will reduce to 25 semifinalists before the final list of 15 finalists ahead of February’s Super Bowl.
Abraham was one of the NFL’s best sack artists during a period loaded with pass rushers.
A first-round pick of the New York Jets, Abraham played 15 seasons with the Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals. Playing as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker, he finished his NFL career with 133.5 sacks. That number is good for 13th on the league’s all-time list.
Abraham earned three All-Pro nods and five Pro Bowl selections before retiring after the 2014 season. He has been a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame in previous years but has never been a finalist.
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During his South Carolina football career, Abraham grew from an athlete to a football player. Having not played much of the sport until high school, he grew into a fearsome pass rusher who earned All-SEC honors as a senior. Abraham logged 23.5 sacks as a Gamecock. That is fourth ever at USC and second among full-time defensive ends in Columbia, behind only Jadeveon Clowney.
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In addition to Abraham’s nomination for modern-era players, there are multiple former Gamecocks who could earn nomination from the Seniors Committee or as a coach. More HOF announcements should come over the next several months.
Earlier this year, South Carolina standout Sterling Sharpe earned long-awaited induction. The former Green Bay Packer was the first Gamecock to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.