The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its Class of 2026 during NFL Honors on Thursday night, with former 49ers running back Roger Craig adding his name to the list of NFL greats.
Craig was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska and became a key figure in San Francisco’s dynasty of the 1980s. A versatile offensive weapon, Craig was a superstar on 49ers head coach Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense, contributing as both a rusher and receiver.
In 1985, Craig became the first player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. He later led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988, helping the 49ers secure a Super Bowl title.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Craig won three Super Bowl championships with San Francisco (XIX, XXIII and XXIV). In Super Bowl XIX, he scored three touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins. Craig also totaled 410 yards from scrimmage across the 49ers Super Bowl victories, the third-most in Super Bowl history behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.
Over his 11-year NFL career, Craig recorded more than 13,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 73 total touchdowns. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team in recognition of his impact during the 1980s.
This year marked Craig’s latest appearance as a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame following years of eligibility.
