A Gator football great has become a legend.

Chris Doering was selected to the 2026 SEC Football Legends Class, the SEC announced Thursday.

Along with 15 others, Doering is being honored as a standout who helped create a name for their university. This year’s class includes former coaches and players adorned with Heisman trophies, national championships and All-American and All-SEC selections. Super Bowl titles and Hall of Fame names are also sprinkled throughout.

Alabama’s Nick Saban, Kentucky’s Randall Cobb and LSU’s Patrick Peterson are just a few of the newly named legends. 

Doering’s early career has its roots in Gainesville. His first time wearing orange and blue was at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School. The wide receiver then kept the colors and walked on at Florida. 

During his 1991-95 tenure under coach Steve Spurrier, he helped the team win three SEC titles. 

For his career, Doering had 149 receptions for 2,107 yards. He holds the program-record for touchdown catches at 31 and is ranked sixth in career receptions, 10th  in receiving yards and seventh in overall touchdowns. 

His stats truly shined in his senior season when he had 70 catches, 1,045 yards and 17 touchdowns. Ultimately, his performance earned him second team All-American honors from the Associated Press and First Team All-SEC recognition from the AP and the coaches. 

Doering was drafted in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1996 NFL Draft. He totaled 10 seasons as a professional wide receiver playing for Indianapolis, Denver, Washington and Pittsburgh. 

With his inclusion as an SEC Legend, Doering joins the likes of Gator Greats Danny Wuerffel, Alex Brown, Rex Grossman, Shane Matthews, Lawrence Wright and others. 

Doering will be honored during the 2026 SEC Football Weekend of Champions from Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta. The SEC Legends Celebration will take place Dec. 4, while the group will be honored Dec. 5 before the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.