ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Ring of Fame head coaches Mike Shananan and Dan Reeves have taken the next step toward earning a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Shanahan and Reeves were among the 12 candidates in the Coach category who advanced to the next stage of the consideration for the Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.

The late Alex Gibbs, a longtime Broncos assistant coach who helped transform Denver's offensive line with an innovative blocking scheme, was also among the 12 individuals to advance in the process.

The Hall of Fame's Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee narrowed the list from 15 nominees to a group that includes Shanahan, Reeves, Gibbs, Bill Arnsparger, Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert and Clark Shaughnessy.

The committee will reduce the group to nine semifinalists later this month, and the results will be announced in early November. Then, in mid-November, the committee will select one Coach finalist for the Class of 2026. The finalist will then be presented to the full Hall of Fame selection committee for deliberation.

The winningest coach in franchise history, Shanahan led the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl victories and is one of seven head coaches in NFL history to win back-to-back titles. Shanahan, counting his time as a Broncos assistant, is one of just six head coaches to earn at least 200 wins and multiple titles with a single franchise. Shanahan also helped innovate offensive football, as his system and coaching tree extend throughout today's NFL landscape.

Reeves led the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances and five division titles during his tenure, and Denver won 60 percent of its games during his dozen seasons as head coach. With a strong resume that extends beyond his time in Denver, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls as a player or coach. The two-time AP Coach of the Year finished his head-coaching career — which included another Super Bowl appearance with the Falcons — with 201 total wins.

Shanahan and Reeves were also semifinalists for the Hall of Fame's Class of 2024 and 2025.