The Detroit Lions are represented in the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, as former stars Ndamukong Suh and Herman Moore were named among the 22 inductees announced this week. Both players built remarkable college résumés long before making their mark in the NFL.
Suh’s collegiate dominance at Nebraska remains one of the most impressive defensive performances in modern college football history. During the 2009 season, he collected nearly every major defensive award available, including the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski, Outland, and Willis trophies. That same year, he earned Unanimous All-American recognition, was named AP College Football Player of the Year—an honor rarely given to defensive players—and received multiple Big 12 accolades.
He also finished as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2009, ultimately losing out to Alabama running back and Flint native Mark Ingram II. Despite that, Suh’s legacy at Nebraska is unquestioned. Over five seasons with the Cornhuskers, he compiled 212 tackles, 23 sacks, four interceptions, and four defensive touchdowns.
His college impact was later recognized when the Associated Press placed him on its First-Team All-Time All-American roster, which spans college football’s top performers from 1925 through 2025.
That elite production led Detroit to select Suh with the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. During his time with the Lions, he earned the majority of his professional accolades, including four Pro Bowl selections and multiple All-Pro honors.
Moore’s path to the Hall of Fame was built through excellence at the University of Virginia. While he played just two seasons for the Cavaliers, his final year in 1990 was especially memorable. Moore totaled 54 receptions for 1,190 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning Consensus All-American status and First-Team All-ACC recognition.
His college achievements resulted in his induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and the university honored him further by retiring his No. 87 jersey.
The Lions selected Moore tenth overall in the 1991 NFL Draft, and he went on to become one of the most productive receivers in franchise history. Moore set team records for catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns—marks that remained untouched until Calvin Johnson eventually surpassed them after joining Detroit in 2007.
Moore spent 11 of his 12 NFL seasons in Detroit, earning four Pro Bowl nods, three All-Pro selections, and leading the NFL in receptions twice, in 1995 and 1997.
Suh and Moore are part of a diverse 2026 Hall of Fame class that includes standout players and coaches such as Aaron Donald, Marvin Harrison, Eric Weddle, Terence Newman, James Laurinaitis, Garrison Hearst, Peter Warrick, Olin Kreutz, Jordan Lynch, and Mark Ingram, along with several accomplished coaches.
The formal induction ceremony will take place on December 8 at the National Football Foundation’s annual awards dinner in Las Vegas, where the Class of 2026 will officially be enshrined.
