Gary Patterson Named to College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
1/14/2026 1:15:00 PM | Football
The program’s winningest coach achieved the honor in his first year of eligibility.
FORT WORTH – Following a 43-year coaching career spanning 13 programs, including 24 at TCU, Gary Patterson has been named as a member of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class, the National Football Foundation announced today.
Fittingly, for the winningest coach in program history, it was Patterson's first year on the ballot.
"Gary Patterson's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame is certainly no surprise," said TCU Director of Athletics Mike Buddie. "His profound impact on our football program, our athletic department, the city of Fort Worth, and the game itself is obvious, and we are thrilled for Gary, his wife Kelsey, and the entire Patterson family to have earned this incredible honor. Along with the thousands of players Gary impacted during his career, we congratulate him on today's news and look forward to celebrating this honor in December 2026 at the official induction ceremony."
A transformational leader as TCU's head coach for 22 seasons, Patterson compiled a 181-79 career record as he led the Horned Frogs from Conference USA to the Mountain West and then to the Big 12. His teams combined for 11 final AP Top 25 rankings, including seven top-10 finishes, a No. 2 ranking in 2010 and a No. 3 ranking in 2014. His 181 career victories rank No. 12 all-time among coaches at one school and No. 35 all-time in college football history.
Patterson led TCU to 18 bowl appearances and an 11-6 bowl record (one game canceled), highlighted by victories in the 2011 Rose Bowl, 2014 Peach Bowl and an appearance in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl. The Rose Bowl win marked the program's first ever appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game, and his 11 bowl victories tie him at No. 11 all-time for most overall bowl wins. His teams recorded 11 seasons with at least 10 wins, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2010.
Regarded as one of the nation's preeminent defensive coaches during his career, five of his defenses finished ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense during his head coaching career. He coached 21 First-Team All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, 90 First Team all-conference players while mentoring Heisman Trophy finalists Andy Dalton, Trevone Boykin and Max Duggan.
Patterson won six conference championships, guiding TCU to titles in Conference USA (2002), the Mountain West (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011) and the Big 12 (2014). He was named Conference Coach of the Year four times, including Conference USA (2002), Mountain West (2005, 2009) and the Big 12 (2014). He was named National Coach of the Year a total of 22 times, with the Associated Press, AFCA, FWAA and Walter Camp each recognizing him in both 2009 and 2014.
A former Kansas State safety and linebacker, Patterson held assistant coaching jobs at Tennessee Tech, UC Davis, Cal Lutheran, Pittsburg State (KS), Sonoma State (CA), Utah State, Navy, New Mexico and TCU before becoming the Horned Frogs head coach.
Beyond the field, Patterson co-founded The Big Good Foundation with Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges, raising more than $5 million to support education, children's health and workforce readiness in Fort Worth. The National Football Foundation Gridiron Club of Dallas presented him its Distinguished Texan Award in 2011, and Patterson served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 2020. He was inducted into the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2025 and is set to receive the Davey O'Brien Legends Award in February.
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Tickets are available HERE.
TCU and the College Football Hall of Fame
Patterson is the 10th TCU coach or student-athlete to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the first since the great LaDainian Tomlinson was inducted as a member of the class of 2014.
The nine others who preceded him include:
College Football Hall of Fame Class Facts
When the 2026 Hall of Fame Class is officially inducted in December, only 1,129 players and 241 coaches will have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.86 million who have played or coached the game during the past 157 years. In other words, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played/coached the game have earned this distinction.
Fittingly, for the winningest coach in program history, it was Patterson's first year on the ballot.
"Gary Patterson's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame is certainly no surprise," said TCU Director of Athletics Mike Buddie. "His profound impact on our football program, our athletic department, the city of Fort Worth, and the game itself is obvious, and we are thrilled for Gary, his wife Kelsey, and the entire Patterson family to have earned this incredible honor. Along with the thousands of players Gary impacted during his career, we congratulate him on today's news and look forward to celebrating this honor in December 2026 at the official induction ceremony."
A transformational leader as TCU's head coach for 22 seasons, Patterson compiled a 181-79 career record as he led the Horned Frogs from Conference USA to the Mountain West and then to the Big 12. His teams combined for 11 final AP Top 25 rankings, including seven top-10 finishes, a No. 2 ranking in 2010 and a No. 3 ranking in 2014. His 181 career victories rank No. 12 all-time among coaches at one school and No. 35 all-time in college football history.
Patterson led TCU to 18 bowl appearances and an 11-6 bowl record (one game canceled), highlighted by victories in the 2011 Rose Bowl, 2014 Peach Bowl and an appearance in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl. The Rose Bowl win marked the program's first ever appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game, and his 11 bowl victories tie him at No. 11 all-time for most overall bowl wins. His teams recorded 11 seasons with at least 10 wins, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2010.
Regarded as one of the nation's preeminent defensive coaches during his career, five of his defenses finished ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense during his head coaching career. He coached 21 First-Team All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, 90 First Team all-conference players while mentoring Heisman Trophy finalists Andy Dalton, Trevone Boykin and Max Duggan.
Patterson won six conference championships, guiding TCU to titles in Conference USA (2002), the Mountain West (2005, 2009, 2010, 2011) and the Big 12 (2014). He was named Conference Coach of the Year four times, including Conference USA (2002), Mountain West (2005, 2009) and the Big 12 (2014). He was named National Coach of the Year a total of 22 times, with the Associated Press, AFCA, FWAA and Walter Camp each recognizing him in both 2009 and 2014.
A former Kansas State safety and linebacker, Patterson held assistant coaching jobs at Tennessee Tech, UC Davis, Cal Lutheran, Pittsburg State (KS), Sonoma State (CA), Utah State, Navy, New Mexico and TCU before becoming the Horned Frogs head coach.
Beyond the field, Patterson co-founded The Big Good Foundation with Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges, raising more than $5 million to support education, children's health and workforce readiness in Fort Worth. The National Football Foundation Gridiron Club of Dallas presented him its Distinguished Texan Award in 2011, and Patterson served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 2020. He was inducted into the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2025 and is set to receive the Davey O'Brien Legends Award in February.
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Tickets are available HERE.
TCU and the College Football Hall of Fame
The nine others who preceded him include:
- LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back, 2014
- Darrell Lester, Center, 1988
- Bob Lilly, Tackle, 1981
- Jim Swink, Halfback, 1980
- Rags Matthews, End, 1971
- Ki Aldrich, Center, 1960
- Dutch Meyer, Coach, 1956
- Davey O'Brien, Quarterback, 1955
- Sammy Baugh, Halfback, 1951
College Football Hall of Fame Class Facts
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