Bill Belichick, the coach with eight Super Bowl titles, will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
In the recent voting, Belichick did not obtain the required 40 out of 50 votes for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his inaugural eligibility year. Four sources with direct knowledge of the results informed ESPN of this outcome. A Hall representative reached out last Friday to convey that he would not be among the inductees in Canton, Ohio, this summer.
Sources close to the coach described him as “puzzled” and “disappointed” over not garnering at least 80% support from Hall committee members after he spoke with them over the weekend.
“Is six Super Bowls not sufficient?” Belichick asked an associate, referencing the titles he won as head coach of the New England Patriots, and the additional two he secured as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. To another associate, he inquired, “What must a guy do?”
Another insider mentioned, “Politics played a role. He doesn’t see this as a reflection of his achievements.”
Belichick did not provide comments to ESPN. A Hall spokesperson stated: “The Pro Football Hall of Fame refrains from commenting on Selection Committee voting and looks forward to announcing the Class of 2026 at the ‘NFL Honors’ on Feb. 5 in San Francisco.”
Inductees will be revealed next week during Super Bowl events.
With a coaching record of 333-178 in the NFL, including playoffs—his career wins only second to Don Shula’s 347—Belichick was widely regarded by fans and Hall voters as a sure first-ballot selection.
The voting committee consists mainly of veteran NFL journalists but also includes football figures such as former general manager Bill Polian and former coach Tony Dungy, both Hall of Famers.
This year, Belichick was a finalist alongside Robert Kraft, his former collaborator in creating the NFL dynasty in New England. This marked Kraft’s first time as a Hall finalist after 14 years of advocacy from his team’s long-time PR representative and other supporters. The rivalry between Kraft and Belichick has intensified since their split in January 2024.
It remains unclear if Kraft or any other finalist obtained the necessary votes for induction.
On January 13, voters convened from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to discuss and debate the qualifications of this year’s finalists, which also included three “seniors”: former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, 49ers running back Roger Craig, and the late L.C. Greenwood, a defensive end for the Steelers.
Multiple sources reported to ESPN that the Spygate and Deflategate cheating scandals during the Patriots’ championship era were discussed among the voters. A voter, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned that Polian, a staunch Kraft supporter and former general manager of the Bills and Colts, who were significant rivals of the Patriots during their dynasty, suggested that Belichick should “wait a year” for induction as a consequence of Spygate, the 2007 scandal that resulted in a first-round draft pick loss for the team. Commissioner Roger Goodell also levied a fine of $500,000 to the Patriots and $250,000 to Belichick.
“The only reason [for this outcome] was the cheating controversies,” a veteran Hall voter told ESPN on Tuesday. “It truly troubled some committee members.”
In a Tuesday night interview with ESPN, Polian refuted the claim that he suggested a one-year penalty for Belichick due to Spygate. He mentioned that he heard other voters “float that idea,” but did not agree or disagree with it. Polian stated he voted for Kraft and advocated for him during discussions, asserting that Kraft had no knowledge of the Spygate scheme. He also expressed uncertainty, stating he was 95% sure he voted for Belichick but could not recall if he also voted for a player, likely L.C. Greenwood.
“I was surprised to hear that Bill didn’t get in,” Polian remarked. “He warrants a spot in the Hall of Fame.”
When informed that Belichick failed to secure first-ballot Hall of Fame status, veteran voter Peter King expressed shock: “Holy f—! … I’m truly, very surprised.”
“Many unexpected things happen in that room. This comes as a great surprise to me,” King added.
The dynamics between Kraft and Belichick competing for Hall recognition in the same year are further complicated by their strained relationship following a remarkable 24 years in New England. Their public animosity has grown since their parting in January 2024, worsened by Belichick’s hiring at North Carolina, where he concluded his rookie season with a 4-8 record.
Kraft’s Patriots, now guided by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, are set to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8.
For the second consecutive year, the coaches and contributor finalists, Belichick and Kraft, are up against three senior nominees. Each voter can select only three finalists, leading to multiple sources indicating it was possible—perhaps even likely—that Kraft could be elected while Belichick might not, or the other way around.
Regarding the senior nominees: Anderson, a four-time Pro Bowler for the Bengals, won the MVP award in 1981. Craig, best known for his time with the 49ers, is one of only three NFL players to achieve 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving in a single season. Greenwood was part of the Steelers’ legendary “Steel Curtain” defense that secured four Super Bowls in the 1970s.
Belichick departed New England with records that will likely stand unmatched by any current or future coach. He achieved 17 division championships, the highest for any head coach in NFL history, and nine conference titles, the most during the Super Bowl era. He participated in 12 Super Bowls, including his time as an assistant with the Giants, and trails only George Halas (40), Shula (33), Curly Lambeau (33), and Tom Landry (29) with his 21 winning seasons as a head coach.
This year’s other semifinalists in the coaching category included Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, and Mike Shanahan.
Belichick’s failure to be inducted this year suggests that three other coaching contenders—Shanahan, Coughlin, and last year’s finalist Holmgren—will have to wait at least another year.
“This delays all three of those coaches by a year,” King noted. “You have to wonder: What will the coaches committee do next year? Will they push Belichick again? It would be quite embarrassing if they don’t. … This decision extends its impact beyond just one year.”
