SAN JOSE, Calif. — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated on Monday that the league is not involved in the voting process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and expressed his belief that Bill Belichick will be inducted in due time.
Last week, sources informed ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham that Belichick fell short of the required votes in his first year of eligibility, despite securing an unprecedented six Super Bowl titles as the head coach of the New England Patriots.
There has been speculation that Belichick’s involvement in the Spygate controversy in 2007, along with modifications to the voting system, may have led at least 11 of the 50 voters to not support Belichick.
Belichick was grouped with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and three senior players — Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood — where voters were limited to selecting three candidates, requiring 80% support for induction.
“We are not involved in it,” Goodell remarked. “Bill Belichick’s achievements speak for themselves, just like the Patriots and Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are extraordinary and have greatly contributed to this sport, and I am confident they will become Hall of Famers.”
In a comprehensive press conference at the Super Bowl, Goodell addressed a variety of topics. Other discussions included:
• Goodell indicated that the NFL and the players’ union have not engaged in “any formal discussions” regarding an 18-game schedule, adding that there have been “very little informal conversations” between the two sides.
Roger Goodell mentioned that the league and the players’ union have not had “any formal discussions” about an 18-game schedule.
He continued, stating that they have had “very little informal conversations.”
He noted that transitioning from 16 to 17 games “went quite smoothly.”
“yet, the challenges here will be somewhat different, and it will depend on many factors, including the safety of the game,” he mentioned.
Goodell proposed that discussions might also consider roster sizes and whether teams should have two bye weeks to potentially adjust for an extra regular-season game.
• Goodell additionally announced the establishment of the Paul J. Tagliabue NFL Academic Excellence Award, created in memory of the late commissioner who passed away last year. This award will be presented annually to an NFL player who exemplifies Tagliabue’s commitment to scholarship and academic success. The first recipient will be announced during Super Bowl LXI week in Los Angeles next year, along with a donation to a university of their choice in their honor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
