Former Nebraska running back Roger Craig was selected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. Craig’s induction was announced at Thursday’s NFL Honors in San Francisco, where Craig starred for nearly a decade and helped the 49ers to three Super Bowl Championships.
Craig is the sixth Husker to be inducted. Offensive linemen Will Shields and Mick Tinglehoff were both inducted in 2015, the most recent Nebraska players to enter the Hall of Fame, joining Bob Brown, Link Lyman and Guy Chamberlin.
Craig was the first NFL player to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season, accomplishing that feat in 1985. A second round selection in the 1983 draft, Craig earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1988. After eight years with the 49ers, Craig played a year for the Raiders (1991), then closed his career after two seasons (1992 and 1993) with the Vikings. Craig’s pro career came after he starred for the Cornhuskers from 1979 to 1982. He rushed for 2,446 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career, despite splitting carries his senior season of 1982 with Mike Rozier, who won the Heisman Trophy the next year.
Craig was the lone inductee from the senior finalist category. He joins Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechley and Adam Vinatieri in the Class of 2026. They will be formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday, Aug. 8, in Canton, Ohio.