Bill Belichick, the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach, has not been inducted as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, according to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham.
Belichick fell short of the 40 votes out of 50 required for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first eligibility.
The former head coach of the New England Patriots holds the record for the most Super Bowl victories (six), as well as the highest number of Super Bowl appearances (nine), playoff wins (31), and ranks second in overall wins (333). His lifetime NFL record of 333-178, which includes both regular and postseason games, places him behind Don Shula (347) for most career wins. He also clinched two championships while serving as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
ESPN’s Van Natta Jr. and Wickersham reported that Spygate and Deflategate, two infamous cheating scandals during the Patriots’ illustrious run, were topics of discussion among voters.
although his illustrious coaching career, many fans and Hall of Fame voters considered Belichick a sure bet for first-ballot induction. He will, however, have to wait until at least next year for a potential call to Canton, Ohio.
According to Van Natta Jr. and Wickersham, Belichick expressed his disbelief to an associate, asking, “Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” and quizzing another with, “What does a guy have to do?”
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt shared his shock at Belichick not being a first-ballot inductee, while Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes called it “insane.”
Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible https://t.co/EiKUeRPffn
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 27, 2026
I can’t be reading this right.
This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the actual NFL Hall of Fame.
There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer. https://t.co/OXhL1Sd4FM
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 27, 2026
Sometimes I scratch my head when a candidate gets in the HOF, this time I’m scratching my head on how an HOF candidate didn’t get in… https://t.co/KKqDlDvtXz
— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) January 27, 2026
Ridiculous. 🤬🤬🤬
Couldn’t have a better resume! 🐐 https://t.co/J40rY6dNua— Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) January 27, 2026
The voters have to not remain anonymous anymore. We need an explanation for why Bill Belichick, one of the greatest coaches ever with 8 SB’s, is not a first-ballot HOF’er……… No explanation will be valid but I need to know. I’m sorry man!! This is insane!
— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) January 27, 2026
Yea they trippin https://t.co/RUwAqn7Irk
— Kendrick Bourne Poly (@KendrickBourne_) January 27, 2026
This just made me mad smh https://t.co/NkWMgyFYLd
— Phillip Dorsett II (@Dorsett_4) January 27, 2026
How is this even possible https://t.co/nDFDnTIcyy
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) January 27, 2026
