'He's going to burn every bridge': HOFers react to Adam Vinatieri's speech

If Adam Vinatieri‘s goal was to make his Hall of Fame speech memorable, it appears he was successful.

As the former placekicker was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of its class of 2026, he made sure to bring the jokes and roasts at the expense of former teammates.

As clips of Vinatieri’s speech went viral on the internet, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp was among the most amused members of the live audience in Canton, Ohio.

According to USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell, Sapp ran backstage cackling during the event after hearing Vinatieri’s shot at former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

“He’s going to burn every bridge going in,” Sapp said.

Five players were enshrined among the legends of the sport of football.

See key moments from the ceremony that shocked and delighted fans, beginning here with Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Roger Craig — who revealed his vascular dementia diagnosis during the ceremony. Craig was presented by former teammate Jamie Williams during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Aug. 8, 2026.

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Five players were enshrined among the legends of the sport of football.

See key moments from the ceremony that shocked and delighted fans, beginning here with Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Roger Craig — who revealed his vascular dementia diagnosis during the ceremony. Craig was presented by former teammate Jamie Williams during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Aug. 8, 2026.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Roger Craig poses with San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York.

“Two things can be true. Football gave me the opportunities beyond anything I can imagine. At the same time we know more today about brain health than when I played. I hope sharing my story encourages people to pay attention to their health and seek help when something doesn’t feel right,” Craig said during the ceremony, according to The Repository, part of USA Today Network.

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Enshrinee Drew Brees presented by former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony.

According to The Repository, Brees said his driving motivation throughout his NFL career was playing “for the love of my teammates.” Nothing was more special to him about football than sharing the camaraderie that comes with being a part of team and bonding in the locker room and team meetings. “This is where the magic happens.”

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Enshrinee Adam Vinatieri poses with his bust during the Class of 2026 ceremony. According to The Repository, Vinatieri paid tribute to the Patriots, including his legendary coach Bill Belichick and famed quarterback Tom Brady. Of Belichick, who was controversially snubbed in this year’s Hall of Fame vote, Vinatieri said “Thank you for demanding excellence every single day.”

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The record-breaking Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald poses with his bust and his son Devin Fitzgerald during the Class of 2026 ceremony. Devin, who is a freshman wide receiver at Notre Dame, served as the presenter for his father.

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Enshrinee Luke Kuechly poses with his bust. Kuechly began his speech with a vignette about each fellow member of the Class of 2026. He called Drew Brees “the best player I ever played against,” one who made trips to New Orleans frightful.

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Adam Vinatieri with Indianapolis Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade.

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Lawrence Taylor with wife Lynette Rose Gordon during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade Aug. 8, 2026 in Canton, Ohio.

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Eric Dickerson during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade.

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Drew Brees during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 enshrinees Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees, Roger Craig Adam Vinatieri and Larry Fitzgerald pose with past inductees at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 7, 2026 in Canton, Ohio.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 enshrinees Luke Kuechly, Larry Firtzgerald, Adam Vinatieri, Roger Craig and Drew Brees pose before the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

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Drew Brees receives gold jacket from Joe Montana during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Gold Jacket dinner at Canton Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center on Aug. 7, 2026.

One of Vinatieri’s former teammates, Peyton Manning, was the subject of another roast by the former kicker, though his reaction did not appear to indicate that any bridges had been burnt.

“Humble kicker,” Manning said, shrugging, after Vinatieri made a joke about the size of the former quarterback’s head, according to Bell.

Afterward, Manning took photos and hung out with Vinatieri’s family. No hard feelings.

Vinatieri’s memorable speech and roasts perhaps overshadowed the kicker’s extensive resume that led to his enshrinement this weekend. A four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time first-team All-Pro, Vinatieri holds NFL records for most points scored (2,673), most consecutive field goals made (44), most career field goals made (599) and most career overtime field goals (11).

The kicker is one of just three primary placekickers to enter Canton, joining Jan Stenerud (class of 1991), Morten Andersen (class of 2017)