Former NFL quarterback and current St. Michael Catholic head football coach Phillip Rivers has advanced to the next round of consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, making the cut from 128 Modern-Era nominees to 52 semifinalists.

“It’s an honor to be mentioned with those other guys,” Rivers said after a week 10 win over Orange Beach. “I don’t really pay attention to it day-to-day, but certainly thankful for the career I had.”

Rivers, in his first year of eligibility, is one of only three quarterbacks remaining in the field alongside the likes of Drew Brees and Eli Manning.

A mainstay under center for 17 seasons, Rivers ranks seventh all time in NFL passing yards with 63,440 and sixth in passing touchdowns with 421. He spent 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before finishing his career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

Rivers led the Chargers to 12 playoff games, won five of those and reached the AFC Championship Game in 2007. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns and wins.

Now a head football coach in Fairhope, Rivers has guided St. Michael to a 38-15 record since taking over in 2021. The Cardinals are one win away from their first undefeated regular season in program history and will enter the Class 4A state playoffs as a title contender.

As far as the next steps for those hoping to be enshrined, each member of the Hall of Fame’s 50-person Selection Committee will review the list and cast votes for 25 nominees to advance to the next stage. The names of those 25 players (plus ties, if any, for the 25th position) will be announced in about five weeks' time.

Eventually, 20 finalists will be presented at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting next year ahead of Super Bowl LX — 15 Modern-Era players, three Seniors, one coach and one contributor. While there is no set number of enshrinees for any class, the Hall’s selection process bylaws stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be enshrined next August in Canton, Ohio.