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‘A disgrace’ — NFL world reacts to Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub
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- ‘A disgrace’ — NFL world reacts to Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub
Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer .
The eight-time Super Bowl champion coach learned his fate Friday that he won’t be one of the inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.
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The decision is a stunning one considering the success Belichick had over the course of his 49-year run in the NFL that included six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots across two separate dynasties.
Those around the NFL —including several former players who played for Belichick — reacted after the news broke. Here’s what’s being said about the decision to snub Belichick in his first year of eligibility.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
“Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible."
“Regardless of your opinion of Bill Belichick, him not being a first ballot Hall of Famer is a disgrace — and a direct indictment on the Hall of Fame itself. Just an absolute joke."
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J.J. Watt, former defensive end, current CBS analyst
“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.”
“It makes the Hall’s voting committee look ridiculous if Bill Belichick can’t get in on the first ballot. Shameful.”
Ryan Clark, ESPN analyst and former NFL safety
“Bill Belichick not being a first ballot Hall of Famer means that no coach should ever be. It means that the voters have decided there isn’t a coaching résumé that warrants First Ballot consideration!
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“He is the GREATEST, most ACCOMPLISHED coach of all time! This is egregious!”
Darius Butler, former Colts safety
“If BILL BELICHICK isn’t a first ballot HOFer who is!?”
“Wild part of the Belichick / Hall of Fame news is how much reverence and respect he has (had?) for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, itself. He’s spoken about going to Canton on visits with his father when he got the Cleveland job. There’s perhaps no greater student of NFL History.”
Devin McCourty, former Patriots safety
“Dumbest (expletive) we will see all 2026!!!”
James White, former Patriots running back
“OUTRAGEOUS!”
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Jason McCourty, former Patriots cornerback
“I need someone to explain to me what a first ballot hall of fame coach looks like if it’s not Bill!”
Jimmy Johnson, NFL Legend and former FOX NFL analyst
“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..”
“If they are using the EXCUSE of spygate that’s ridiculous...many teams (including ourselves) tried it..Howard Mudd at Kansas City who later coached for Bill Polian and Tony Dungy gave us the idea..he was the best..we didn’t get anything and stopped but many teams gave it a try.”
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JaWhaun Bentley, Patriots linebacker
“you know how big of a hater u gotta be to see somebody with 8 rings & be like...nah”
Kendrick Bourne, former Patriots wide receiver
“Yea they trippin”
Dick Vitale, ESPN basketball broadcaster
“This is absolutely ABSURD - For the @NFL Hall of Fame it is so unfair that BILL BELICHICK winner of 6 SUPER BOWLS is not a 1st ballot Hall of Fame selection.”
Damien Woody, former Patriots guard
“That’s a disgrace for whatever committee that decided this!”
David Andrews, former Patriots center
“I mean this is crazy. What are we even voting on?”
“Man there’s no way I read that right! Right? Ain’t no WAY Bill Belichick ain’t 1st Ballot HOF!! That’s IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOIUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!”
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Michael Lombardi, UNC General Manager and former NFL executive
“In my book football Done Right I strongly urged and established a criteria for head coaches to qualify for the HOF. This would remove politics from the vote and would avoid the complete injustice that occurred today. When I wrote the book I said the whole system was flawed today’s news confirms that belief.”
Logan Ryan, former Patriot defensive back
“Clearly, I think the system is flawed, and this is a major example and stain that needs to be adjusted in our voting system, because honestly, I think the NFL loses a lot of respect today. It truly (lost) a lot of respect and credibility in this voting system. I try to find one more egregious, like maybe when Ichiro (Suzuki) wasn’t like an unanimous Hall of Famer first ballot or whatever, but I can’t think of another example as egregiously bad as this all-timer right here.”
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Brian Hoyer, former Patriots quarterback
“Personal vendettas shouldn’t stand in the way of the greatest coach of all time being a first ballot Hall of Famer. Shame on the people who didn’t vote for him for not taking the emotion out of it. One of the coolest moments of y career was visiting the HOF as a team in 2019 training camp and seeing how much respect Bill had for that place and the history of our sport.”
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