NFL Network chief national reporter Steve Wyche will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2026, the Hall announced on Thursday.
Wyche, a Howard University alumnus, will enter the Hall of Fame as a contributor and is joined in the '26 class by Jimmy Smith (Jackson State), Eddie Robinson Jr. (Alabama State), Nick Collins (Bethune-Cookman), Tyrone Poole (Fort Valley State) and coach Rudy Hubbard (Florida A&M).
"What we have with the Class of 2026 is an incredible showcase of excellence, leadership, and impact that continues to come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities," Black College Football Hall of Fame co-founder and 2011 inductee Doug Williams said in a statement on Thursday. "When the Black College Hall of Fame was established, its purpose was to elevate and recognize the past, present, and future of Black College Football. This class exemplifies that mission."
Wyche, who graduated from Howard in 1989 with a B.A. in journalism, quickly built an expansive reporting résumé with major outlets including the Miami Herald (covering NFL, NBA, and collegiate teams), The Washington Post (NBA/Wizards) and as a beat writer covering the Atlanta Falcons for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Wyche also worked as a correspondent for ESPN and ESPN2 during the 2007 season before before joining NFL Media in 2008.
At NFL Media, Wyche has delivered insider reporting and league analysis as a regular contributor to studio shows and as a frequent on-site reporter for marquee league events including playoff games and the Super Bowl.
Wyche has also worked to elevate the visibility of Historically Black Colleges and Universities with coverage of the HBCU Legacy Bowl and HBCU GO broadcasts.
Inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the 5th Annual Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 21, 2026, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, airing live on NFL Network at 4 p.m. ET.
The official induction cemermony will be June 6 in Atlanta.
