Gridiron NSW brings back Hall of Fame for 2026 class

Gridiron NSW is bringing back its Hall of Fame, with nominations now open for the Class of 2026.

The state body is inviting nominations from across the game, including tackle and flag players, coaches, officials, administrators, volunteers and historic teams. Inductees will be selected by an independent committee and announced at half-time of the Gridiron NSW Grand Finals on 12 December.

Nominations close at 11:59 pm on 15 October.

For a competition with decades of history behind it, the return of the Hall of Fame gives Gridiron NSW a chance to properly recognise the people who helped build the sport long before the current growth in flag football and the NFL’s expanding presence in Australia.

There is already a significant history to draw from.

Paul Manera is one of the existing inductees. His record includes coaching the NSW Wolfpack to national championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006, serving as State Coaching Director and becoming the first Gridiron NSW player to earn a full NCAA scholarship.

Dan Cole is another established Hall of Fame name. The West Sydney Pirates credit him as an inaugural league board member, a state coach and one of the foundational figures behind the club. Their own history describes him as the only Pirates member inducted into the Gridiron NSW Hall of Fame.

The revived Hall of Fame also lands at a useful time for the local game. The 2026 Gridiron NSW season begins on 19 September, while flag football continues to expand across the state and a new men’s flag competition is being launched.

That gives the Hall of Fame a role beyond simply looking backwards. It can help document the sport’s history, connect current players with the people who built it and recognise volunteers and administrators whose contribution rarely appears in scorelines or statistics.

It is also a chance for the NSW American football community to help decide which names and teams should be formally preserved as part of the game’s history.