Utah Football’s Eric Weddle Named In 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
Jun 2, 2025, 2:51 PM | Updated: Jun 10, 2025, 4:15 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and it features Utah football legend Eric Weddle.
Weddle is one of 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Congratulations to Utah Football 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃, @weddlesbeard, for being named to the 2026 ballot for induction into the @NFFNetwork College Football Hall of Fame‼️
📰: https://t.co/TpEUzKC0z3#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/ZFuzgcpkjZ
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) June 2, 2025
Eric Weddle included in 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Eric Weddle was a force to be reckoned with the moment he stepped foot on the field at Rice Eccles Stadium. The definition of instant impact, Weddle played a big role all four years of his Utah career.
Weddle closed out his standout career at Utah with an impressive stat line: 277 total tackles (165 solo), 10 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, nine forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries (two returned for touchdowns), 18 interceptions (three pick-sixes), and 23 pass breakups.
His 18 career interceptions once set the Mountain West record and still rank second all-time in Utah history.
Weddle was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2006. He earned first-team All-MWC honors those same seasons, making him a four-time all-conference pick. He was a consensus All-American in 2006 and received Freshman All-America recognition from the FWAA in 2003.
“Eric Weddle, Utah-Defensive Back-2006 consensus First Team All-American helped Utah to a BCS bowl victory (2005 Fiesta) and its first-ever 12-0 season (2004)…Two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Year led Utes to two league titles…2003 Freshman All-American holds school record for career forced fumbles (9) and ranks second in career INTs (18).” – NFF Hall of Fame Ballot
Weddle was a key contributor to the Utes’ first undefeated season in 2004, which led to Utah’s first-ever New Years Six Bowl appearance in 2005. Utah finished that season 12-0 and earned the moniker the “Original BCS Busters” after Hawaii, Boise State, and TCU followed after them creating their own havoc to a system meant to keep them out.
He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, racking up two first-team All-Pro selections, three second-team All-Pro honors, six Pro Bowl appearances, and a Super Bowl LVI title with the L.A. Rams in 2021—after coming out of retirement to help seal the deal.
Weddle played for the Utes two more seasons after going undefeated in 2004 before eventually being picked up by the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Weddle went on to show great tenacity during his NFL career that finished up with a Super Bowl win with the Los Angeles Rams. Just weeks before the Rams played in the Super Bowl, Weddle was at home, enjoying retirement when he received the call to return and be part of L.A.’s championship efforts.
