Roger Craig Finally Earns Hall Of Fame Glory

Roger Craig’s journey to Canton has finally reached its storied destination. Nearly three decades after his last NFL snap, the legendary San Francisco 49ers running back was officially introduced as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 during Thursday night’s NFL Honors Awards at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The moment, years in the making, was met with joy, relief, and a sense of overdue recognition for one of football’s true dual-threat pioneers.

Crowds erupted as Craig, now Hall of Famer No. 384, blew kisses to the hometown faithful, savoring the culmination of a candidacy that spanned almost 30 years. “For 28 years he waited, and he hasn’t had one more rushing touchdown, one more reception. I’m so happy for him and his family to do it in a city he’s done it most of his career,” said fellow inductee Larry Fitzgerald, reflecting on Craig’s perseverance and impact.

Craig’s induction was a highlight of an evening that saw other football icons—Drew Brees, Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri—also enshrined. But for many in the Bay Area and beyond, Craig’s moment felt like a long-overdue reckoning with history. After all, he wasn’t just another running back; he was the first NFL player ever to amass 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, a barrier he broke in 1985 with 1,050 rushing yards and 1,016 receiving yards. Only Marshall Faulk (1999) and Christian McCaffrey (2019) have matched that feat since, and McCaffrey came close again in 2025 with 1,202 rushing and 924 receiving yards.

“Roger Craig was a player who revolutionized the running back position, delivering one of the most historic individual seasons in NFL history to date,” the 49ers ownership said in a statement. “Over the entirety of his career, Roger not only amassed high-level production and statistics as both a runner and pass catcher, but he helped the 49ers reach the ultimate goal of Super Bowl Championships with iconic performances. We applaud Roger for his induction and rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Craig’s resume is a testament to his versatility and durability. Drafted in the second round by the 49ers in 1983, he became a cornerstone of head coach Bill Walsh’s innovative West Coast offense. In his eight seasons with the 49ers, Craig won three Super Bowls (1984, 1988, 1989), was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-Pro in 1988, and earned four Pro Bowl selections. He finished third in MVP voting that same year and is also a member of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.

His postseason heroics are the stuff of legend. In Super Bowl XIX, Craig scored three touchdowns—two on passes from Joe Montana—helping the 49ers secure a 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins. That performance landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated and cemented his reputation as a clutch performer on the biggest stage. “He meant everything to that offense,” Montana said last week at the San Francisco premiere for the AMC docuseries “Rise of the 49ers.”

After leaving San Francisco, Craig played one season with the Los Angeles Raiders and closed out his career with two years in Minnesota, ultimately retiring 32 years ago after 11 NFL seasons. His final stat line: 13,100 yards from scrimmage and 73 touchdowns. Not bad for a former University of Nebraska hurdles champion whose distinctive high-knee running style became his trademark.

But Craig’s wait for Hall of Fame recognition was, by any measure, far longer than it should have been. He was a finalist in both 2010 and 2020, but the Hall’s evolving selection process complicated matters for senior candidates like Craig. This year, a new rule meant the senior players, coaches, and contributors were pooled into a single five-spot ballot. Each of the 50-person selection committee members could vote for up to three candidates, and a nominee needed at least 80% approval—40 votes—to be enshrined.

Craig was the only senior player to clear that threshold, edging out fellow senior nominees Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood, as well as coach Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The exclusion of Belichick—widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history—sparked controversy and renewed calls for reform. As committee member Vahe Gregorian explained, “All of that went into why I felt duty-bound to vote for the richly deserving seniors, who most likely won’t ever have a hearing again as more senior candidates enter the pool and fresh cases get made for others. Meanwhile, Belichick is inevitable soon … as he should be.”

The new system, while ensuring overdue recognition for Craig, has drawn criticism for pitting deserving candidates against one another and potentially delaying the inevitable induction of others. “Weird, weird things can happen when the system incentivizes some voters against simply voting whom they think is most deserving of the Hall of Fame,” wrote Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. The debate is far from over, but for Craig and his supporters, this year’s outcome was a victory for perseverance and historical justice.

Craig’s induction also resonated with current and former players. Frank Gore, the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher and a first-ballot finalist this year, expressed nothing but pride for his predecessor. “I’d rather him get all the shine than both of us go in at the same time,” Gore said. “Of course I want to be in. I’m a competitor. But what can I do? Everyone respects what I did. It’s all good.”

For the 49ers organization and its fans, Craig’s enshrinement is more than just a personal achievement—it’s a validation of an era and a style of play that helped define modern football. “He’s the last piece of Bill Walsh’s offense that needs vindication and acclaim,” said former 49ers executive Carmen Policy. Even Drew Brees, who joined the Hall this year, noted how much he learned from watching the 49ers’ West Coast Offense: “You realized quickly Roger was secret sauce, not only in how he’d run the football but also, out of the backfield, he was one of the first every-down, multi-purpose backs.”

As the NFL continues to evolve, Craig’s influence is still felt in today’s game. Christian McCaffrey’s near-repeat of the 1,000/1,000 milestone with the current 49ers is a testament to the standard Craig set decades ago. “To see how dynamic Roger was, then you think of the next generation,” Fitzgerald said. “Marshall played the same way and now Christian here in San Francisco is doing the same things. It’s so cool to see him honored and have our busts next to each other for eternity.”

With his bust soon to join the legends in Canton, Roger Craig’s legacy is now forever enshrined among football’s greatest. For the man who set the standard for modern running backs, the wait is finally over—and what a celebration it is.