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True Dough

(26,064 posts)
Tue Jan 27, 2026, 05:28 PM Tuesday

Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer!

Bill Belichick, the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach, is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

In voting earlier this month, Belichick fell short of the 40 out of 50 votes needed for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility, four sources with firsthand knowledge of the outcome told ESPN. Belichick received a call from a Hall representative last Friday afternoon with the news that he won't be inducted into the Hall in Canton, Ohio, this summer.

Several sources who spoke with the coach over the weekend described Belichick as "puzzled" and "disappointed" by his inability to secure support from at least 80% of Hall committee members.

"Six Super Bowls isn't enough?" Belichick asked an associate, referring to the championships he won as head coach of the New England Patriots. He won two more as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. To another associate, he said, "What does a guy have to do?"


https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47747076/belichick-not-first-ballot-hall-famer

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer! (Original Post) True Dough Tuesday OP
I guess Bill sounds True Dough Tuesday #1
maybe drew brees will give belichick his rampartd Tuesday #2
Right now, Belichick is persona non grata to the NFL... appmanga Tuesday #3
I thought you had to be retired five years to even be eligible. rsdsharp Tuesday #4
Not sure, but I read this: True Dough Tuesday #6
Try not cheating, Bill. lastlib Tuesday #5
Mike Florio's take: True Dough Tuesday #7
It's absolute bullshit and I don't even like Belichick tishaLA Wednesday #8
A few more reactions True Dough Wednesday #9
a right wing Maxheader Wednesday #10
There are lots of people who aren't fans of his personally, for a variety of reasons True Dough Wednesday #11
Thanks for saying that. milestogo Thursday #12
Indeed it is. True Dough Thursday #13

appmanga

(1,416 posts)
3. Right now, Belichick is persona non grata to the NFL...
Tue Jan 27, 2026, 06:02 PM
Tuesday

...but this is uncalled for. Maybe they didn't want him and Kraft on the same stage at the HOF (should Kraft be inducted), but, if this report is true, this is total bullshit.

rsdsharp

(11,852 posts)
4. I thought you had to be retired five years to even be eligible.
Tue Jan 27, 2026, 06:11 PM
Tuesday

His last year in the NFL was 2023.

tishaLA

(14,750 posts)
8. It's absolute bullshit and I don't even like Belichick
Wed Jan 28, 2026, 12:31 AM
Wednesday

And yes, he had the cheating scandal and he was an asshole to a lot of people, but one of the wining-est coaches in the history of the league doesn't merit a first ballot induction? Whoever convinced the voting members to snub him is an even bigger asshole than Belichick ever was.

True Dough

(26,064 posts)
9. A few more reactions
Wed Jan 28, 2026, 08:11 AM
Wednesday

Jimmy Johnson
@JimmyJohnson
As a HOF coach I think Bill Belichick is the greatest of all time…yes he had a great QB but we all did..he won AFTER THE salary cap and free agency plus I Know how much he LOVES THE NFL and the game..I’m pissed.

Robert Griffin III
@RGIII
If Bill Belichick isn’t a 1st Ballot NFL Hall of Famer, then NO ONE SHOULD BE.

Jordan Moore
@iJordanMoore
Bill Belichick holds these records as a coach in the NFL…
Most Super Bowl wins: 8
Most SB wins as head coach: 6
Most SB appearances: 12
Most SB apps. as HC: 9
Most playoff wins as HC: 31
Most divisional titles as HC: 17

Somehow not a first ballot Hall of Famer.

LeBron James
@KingJames
Man there's no way I read that right! Right? Ain't no WAY Bill Belichick ain't 1st Ballot HOF!! That's IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!

Bill Simmons
@BillSimmons
Belichick was the best NFL coach ever yesterday and that’s still true today and tomorrow.
The truth is — sports Hall of Fames don’t matter nearly as much anymore because we’ve screwed all of them up.

JJ Watt
@JJWatt
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.

Troy Aikman
@TroyAikman
A disappointing day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Maxheader

(4,418 posts)
10. a right wing
Wed Jan 28, 2026, 03:11 PM
Wednesday

lover and bs giver. remember when he lost the game that would have given him a perfect season and a super bowl. walk out before the game was over?

True Dough

(26,064 posts)
11. There are lots of people who aren't fans of his personally, for a variety of reasons
Wed Jan 28, 2026, 03:38 PM
Wednesday

but none of it erases his accomplishments in the NFL. He's one of the best to ever do it, even if he's a jerk.

True Dough

(26,064 posts)
13. Indeed it is.
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 11:41 AM
Thursday

They're not mass murderers, just flawed individuals. Well, we're all flawed, but they're REALLY flawed!

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