BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference on Thursday announced its 2026 SEC Football Legends class presented by T-Mobile, a group that includes former Bulldog head coach Mark Richt and other former football standouts who will be honored at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December.
The 2026 Football Legends class includes 16 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions. This year’s class includes Heisman Trophy winners, national champions, All-Americans, All-SEC selections and NFL standouts. The group represents teams that won SEC Championships, claimed Super Bowl titles and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame.
The class will be honored at the 2026 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” December 4-5 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 4 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 5.
A 2023 College Football Hall of Famer, Richt coached the Bulldogs from 2001-15 after arriving at Georgia determined to lift a program that had gone two decades without an SEC title. In 15 seasons he delivered two SEC championships (2002, 2005), five Eastern Division titles and a share of another, compiling a 145-51 record that ranked fifth nationally among active coaches in winning percentage. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in both title seasons and became one of only seven coaches to win two league championships in his first five years, also posting four straight 10-win campaigns from 2002–05. Off the field, 301 Bulldogs earned degrees under his watch, and he received the 2013 Stallings Award for humanitarian service. A noted quarterback developer, Richt guided David Greene, D.J. Shockley, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Murray to record-setting careers while sending 77 players to the NFL Draft. His teams were 60-11 against non-conference foes and 49-16 in opponents’ stadiums, building a culture of high standards and lasting unity among Georgia fans.
Below is a listing and biographies of the other 2026 SEC Football Legends:
- Alabama – Nick Saban, Head Coach, 2007-23
- Arkansas – Felix Jones, Running Back, 2005-07
- Auburn – Benji Roland, Noseguard, 1985-88
- Florida – Chris Doering, Wide Receiver, 1991-95
- Kentucky – Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver, 2008-10
- LSU – Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, 2008-10
- Ole Miss – Tony Bennett, Linebacker, 1986-89
- Mississippi State – Darius Slay, Cornerback, 2011-12
- Missouri – Sean Weatherspoon, Linebacker, 2006-09
- Oklahoma – Billy Sims, Running Back, 1975-79
- South Carolina – Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver, 2005-06
- Tennessee – John Henderson, Defensive Tackle, 1999-2001
- Texas – Ricky Williams, Running Back, 1995-98
- Texas A&M – Sam Adams, Defensive Line, 1991-93
- Vanderbilt – Casey Hayward, Cornerback, 2008-11
Alabama – Nick Saban, Head Coach, 2007-23
Nick Saban built an unmatched championship record as Alabama’s head coach for 17 years, lifting the Crimson Tide to the top of college football through an uncompromising “process.” After the 2021 College Football Playoff title over Ohio State, he passed Paul “Bear” Bryant as the only coach with seven national championships in the poll era. He finished his Hall of Fame career after the 2023 season with six titles at Alabama and seven overall. In 28 seasons as a collegiate head coach he won nearly 81 percent of his games, including a 206-29 (.877) record in Tuscaloosa, while winning nine SEC championships at Alabama and 11 total. A nine-time National Coach of the Year, Saban produced 56 first-round NFL draft picks and four Heisman Trophy winners. A former Kent State player, he was head coach at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU — where he won the 2003 national title — and the Miami Dolphins before arriving in Tuscaloosa. In 2025 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as the fifth Alabama coach so honored.
Arkansas – Felix Jones, Running Back, 2005-07
Felix Jones was one of the most explosive playmakers in the history of Arkansas football. A consensus All-American kick returner in 2007 and two-time All-SEC selection, he was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year that same season. In three years as a Razorback he rushed for 2,956 yards, sixth-most in school history, and scored 20 rushing touchdowns. He ranks second at Arkansas with more than 1,700 kick-return yards and still holds the school record in kickoff-return average. Jones shared the backfield with two-time Doak Walker Award winner Darren McFadden and Peyton Hillis; all three later enjoyed lengthy NFL careers. The Dallas Cowboys selected Jones 22nd overall in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and he went on to play six seasons in the league. Combined, his college production and professional longevity cemented him as a cornerstone of one of Arkansas’s most talented running-back groups.
Auburn – Benji Roland, Noseguard, 1985-88
Benji Roland anchored Auburn’s defensive line from 1985 to 1988, a four-year presence whose strength at noseguard defined the Tigers’ front. As a senior he earned All-America and first-team All-SEC honors, controlling the middle of the line and helping Auburn claim the 1988 SEC championship while leading the nation in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense. The Eastman, Georgia, native was part of back-to-back SEC championship teams and four consecutive New Year’s Day bowl appearances. A three-year starter for the Tigers, he finished his career with more than 200 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss, and five quarterback sacks. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1989 NFL Draft, he later played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Honored on the City of Auburn Tiger Trail, Roland is also a two-time cancer survivor whose impact on the Plains has reached well beyond the stat sheet.
Florida – Chris Doering, Wide Receiver, 1991-95
Chris Doering, a Gainesville native, starred at wide receiver for the Gators from 1991–95. He finished with 149 receptions for more than 2,000 yards and a program-record 31 touchdown catches. He still ranks sixth in career receptions, tenth in receiving yards, and seventh in overall touchdowns at Florida; his streak of seven straight games with a scoring catch ranks fourth in school history. As a senior in 1995 he earned Second-Team All-America honors from the Associated Press and First-Team All-SEC recognition from both the coaches and AP after a 70-catch, 1,045-yard, 17-touchdown season. The 17 scores remain second on Florida’s single-season list and tied for fifth in SEC history, while his career 31 receiving touchdowns rank second in league annals. Doering helped Florida win SEC titles from 1993–95, then was drafted in the sixth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by Jacksonville and played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Colts, Broncos, Redskins and Steelers.
Kentucky – Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver, 2008-10
Known as “The Swiss Army Knife of College Football,” Randall Cobb was one of the most versatile and dynamic players in Southeastern Conference history. At Kentucky he lined up as a wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner, kickoff returner, and holder, earning first-team All-America honors and two first-team All-SEC selections. He still holds the SEC single-season record for all-purpose yardage and built a reputation for clutch play, scoring come-from-behind, game-winning fourth-quarter touchdowns against four SEC opponents and in-state rival Louisville. A three-year Wildcat, Cobb left early for the NFL and carved out a 13-year professional career with more than 10,000 all-purpose yards and a Pro Bowl selection. Even after turning pro, he returned to campus in the offseasons until he earned his degree, keeping a childhood vow to become the first person in his immediate family to graduate from college.
LSU – Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, 2008-10
Patrick Peterson, a three-year starter at cornerback for LSU, capped his college career in 2010 as the nation’s top defensive back, winning the Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award, earning consensus first-team All-America honors, while being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year. That season he posted 42 tackles, four interceptions, and six pass breakups while doubling as an elite returner, scoring twice on punts and ranking among the national leaders in punt and kickoff returns. Over 39 games and 30 starts from 2008 to 2010, the Pompano Beach, Florida, product finished with 135 tackles, 22 pass breakups, and seven interceptions, scoring touchdowns on a punt return, an interception, and a blocked field goal. As a sophomore he earned second-team All-America recognition. Arizona drafted him fifth overall in 2011. He played 13 NFL seasons for the Cardinals, Vikings and Steelers, made eight Pro Bowls, and was a three-time All-Pro.
Ole Miss – Tony Bennett, Linebacker, 1986-89
Tony Bennett, a linebacker from Alligator, Mississippi, became one of Ole Miss football’s most decorated defenders of the late 1980s. A first-team All-American in 1989 by the Gannett News Service and a second-team pick by The Sporting News, he also earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a nominee for both the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Trophy. One of four permanent captains as a senior, he helped the Rebels beat Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. Bennett was SEC Player of the Week after the 1988 Alabama game and the 1989 Memphis contest, and he later played in the Senior Bowl before being named to that game’s All-Dream Team in 1994. In four seasons he recorded 207 tackles, including 137 solos and two fumble recoveries, and led Ole Miss with 11 tackles for loss in 1989. Selected 18th overall by Green Bay in the 1990 NFL Draft, he played four seasons with the Packers and four more with Indianapolis. He was named to the Ole Miss Team of the Century (1893–1992) and inducted into the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Mississippi State – Darius Slay, Cornerback, 2011-12
Darius Slay arrived at Mississippi State after two seasons at Itawamba Community College and quickly became one of the SEC’s most disruptive corners. In two years in Starkville he totaled 63 tackles, six interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a forced fumble. His signature play was a 72-yard pick-six at Georgia in 2011, the 10th-longest interception return in school history. As a senior in 2012 he earned honorable mention All-America and All-SEC honors after leading the conference and tying for ninth nationally with five interceptions. That season he added 40 tackles and six pass breakups in addition to sealing a win over Arkansas with a late-game interception. The Detroit Lions chose him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Over 13 professional seasons he became a six-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and Super Bowl LIX champion, playing for the Lions, Eagles and Steelers before retiring in 2026 as one of the era’s most productive cornerbacks.
Missouri – Sean Weatherspoon, Linebacker, 2006-09
Sean Weatherspoon, a Jasper, Texas, native, became one of the most decorated defenders in Missouri football history. Arriving as a special-teams freshman under College Football Hall of Fame coach Gary Pinkel, he grew into a three-year starter, team captain, two-time All-American, and the only three-time first-team All-Big 12 defensive player in school history. He finished with 413 tackles, third most at Mizzou, plus 43.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. In 2008 he led the Big 12 in tackles and returned two interceptions for touchdowns, then earned Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP honors in an overtime win over Northwestern. As a senior captain in 2009 he again led Mizzou in tackles and was a Butkus Award finalist. The Atlanta Falcons made him the first linebacker in school history taken in the first round, 19th overall in 2010. He played seven NFL seasons with Atlanta and Arizona, reached Super Bowl LI, and was inducted into the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
Oklahoma – Billy Sims, Running Back, 1975-79
Billy Sims became one of the most electric running backs in Oklahoma history under Barry Switzer from 1975 to 1979. After limited work as a freshman and a medical redshirt in 1976, he broke through in 1978, rushing for 1,896 yards and winning the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt junior. He led the nation in rushing that season with 7.4 yards a carry, and earned unanimous first-team All-America honors. In 1979 he added 1,670 yards, including 247 against unbeaten Nebraska, finished as Heisman runner-up, and was again a unanimous All-American. He left Norman as OU’s career rushing leader with 4,118 yards (53 TDs) and led the Sooners to Orange Bowl wins over Nebraska and Florida State his final two years. Detroit made him the first overall pick of the 1980 NFL Draft. With the Lions, he was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a three-time Pro Bowler, and a first-team All-Pro in 1981 before a knee injury ended his career after five seasons. One of Oklahoma’s defining wishbone tailbacks, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
South Carolina – Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver, 2005-06
Sidney Rice, a Gaffney, South Carolina, native, was one of the Gamecocks’ most productive wide receivers under Steve Spurrier from 2004 to 2006. After redshirting as a freshman, he exploded in 2005 with 70 catches for 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors and started his career with a school-record eight straight games with a receiving score. As a sophomore in 2006 he added 72 receptions for 1,090 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a second-team All-SEC selection. In just two seasons he broke Sterling Sharpe’s school record for career receiving touchdowns with 23. Minnesota drafted him in the second round, 44th overall, in 2007. Rice played seven NFL seasons with the Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, made the 2009 Pro Bowl, and won Super Bowl XLVIII with Seattle. A 6-foot-4 target with a basketball background as the state’s High School Class 4A Player of the Year, he left Columbia as a two-year football star whose production still ranks among the program’s modern receiving standards.
Tennessee – John Henderson, Defensive Tackle, 1999-2001
John Henderson was a dominant force on the Tennessee defensive line from 1999–2001 under Phillip Fulmer. The 6-foot-7 Nashville native became a two-time consensus All-American and two-time first-team All-SEC selection. In 2000 he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman, earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and finished as a Nagurski Trophy finalist after posting 71 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, helping a Vols defense set a school record by allowing just 817 rushing yards. He was an Outland finalist again as a senior despite an ankle injury. Career totals include 165 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks, fifth in program history. Henderson helped Tennessee to a 28-9 record, the 2001 SEC East title and three straight bowls, earning outstanding defensive player honors in the 2002 Citrus Bowl. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him ninth overall in 2002. He played 10 NFL seasons for the Jaguars and Oakland Raiders and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
Texas – Ricky Williams, Running Back, 1995-98
Ricky Williams arrived at Texas in 1995 as a true freshman fullback and immediately evoked memories of Longhorn Legend Earl Campbell, breaking the Texas freshman rushing record with 990 yards and eight touchdowns. After 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, he exploded as a junior tailback in 1997, leading the nation with 1,893 yards and 25 touchdowns, winning the Doak Walker Award and finishing fifth in Heisman voting. Returning for his senior year instead of entering the NFL Draft, Williams rushed for 2,124 yards and 27 scores in 1998, set 21 NCAA records, swept national player-of-the-year honors and won the Heisman in a historic landslide. He eclipsed Tony’s Dorsett’s 22-year-old NCAA rushing record with 6,279 career rushing yards to go with 72 rushing touchdowns and 46 school records. Texas later retired his No. 34. Selected fifth overall by New Orleans in 1999, he rushed for 10,009 NFL yards and 66 touchdowns in his 11 seasons with the Saints, Dolphins and Ravens, and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Texas A&M – Sam Adams, Defensive Line, 1991-93
Sam Adams, a Houston-area native, became one of Texas A&M’s most decorated defensive linemen under coach R.C. Slocum from 1991 to 1993. A three-year letterman and three-time All-Southwest Conference pick, he was SWC Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, a first-team Freshman All-American, and later a consensus All-American. The Aggies went 30-4-1 in his career and won three straight SWC titles. After a junior season of 78 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and five forced fumbles, Adams was Sports Illustrated National Defensive Player of the Year, SWC Defensive Player of the Year, and a Lombardi Award finalist. While at A&M, he also threw the shot and discus for the track team. Seattle drafted him eighth overall in 1994. In 14 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, Ravens, Raiders, Bills, Bengals and Broncos, he earned three Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro honors, and won Super Bowl XXXV with Baltimore. He was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
Vanderbilt – Casey Hayward, Cornerback, 2008-11
Casey Hayward was one of Vanderbilt’s most productive defensive backs from 2008 to 2011, serving as a team captain his senior season while being named a 2011 second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. A two-time All-SEC pick by both the coaches and the Associated Press, he intercepted 15 passes to tie the Commodores’ career record and shared the school mark with 34 passes broken up. He picked off six passes in 2010 and seven as a senior, one shy of the single-season record, and posted 17 pass breakups in each of his last two seasons. After playing in the 2012 Senior Bowl, he was selected by Green Bay in the second round of the NFL Draft, 62nd overall. Hayward then played 11 professional seasons from 2012 to 2022 with the Packers, Chargers, Raiders and Falcons. He earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2017 and second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition in 2016.