Eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham are not first-ballot Hall of Famers. informed On Tuesday.
Belichick failed to receive a bid after falling short of the 50 votes required for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
East new England Patriots A head coach has the most Super Bowl wins (six) as a head coach, as well as first place in Super Bowl appearances (nine) and playoff wins (31) and second in wins (333). His NFL record of 333–178, which includes regular and postseason records, puts him second only to Don Shula (347) in career wins. He also won two championships as a defensive coordinator New York Giants.
Multiple sources told ESPN’s Van Natta and Wickersham that Spygate and Deflategate, a pair of fraud scandals that occurred at different points during the Patriots’ dynasty, came to the fore in discussions among voters.
Nevertheless, Belichick’s decorated career as an NFL head coach led many fans and Hall of Fame voters to believe he was the first choice. Instead, he would have to wait until at least next year to get the call up to Canton, Ohio.
According to Van Natta and Wickersham, Belichick said to an associate: “Six Super Bowls aren’t enough?” While he asked another: “What’s a man to do?”
Some of the NFL’s biggest names echoed Belichick’s thoughts as the sports world quickly reacted to the news.
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt immediately expressed surprise at Belichick not being included on the first-ballot, and kansas city chiefs quarterback patrick mahomes Called it “crazy”.
Crazy… I don’t understand how this is possible https://t.co/EiKUeRPffn
– Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) 27 January 2026
I am not able to read it properly.
It has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the real NFL Hall of Fame.
There is no world in which Bill Belichick shouldn’t be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. https://t.co/OXhL1Sd4FM
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) 27 January 2026
Man, there’s no way I read that right! Correct? It’s not like Bill Belichick isn’t first ballot HOF!! This is impossible, gross and absolutely insulting!
– LeBron James (@KingJames) 28 January 2026
Sometimes I scratch my head as to when a candidate gets into the HOF, this time I’m scratching my head as to how a HOF candidate gets into… https://t.co/KKqDlDvtXz
– Cam Jordan (@camgordan94) 27 January 2026
This is just wrong..#2 wins all time…more Super Bowl #division championships than any unimaginable…too many little jealous voters https://t.co/Q4H5Qnz2L2
– Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) 27 January 2026
ridiculous. 🤬🤬🤬
There can be no better resume than this! 🐐 https://t.co/J40rY6dNua– Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) 27 January 2026
Voters no longer have to remain anonymous. We need an explanation as to why Bill Belichick, one of the greatest coaches at any level in any sport with 8 SB, is not a first ballot HOF’er… No explanation will be valid but I need to know. Forgive me friend!! This madman!
– Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) 27 January 2026
yes they are trippin https://t.co/RUwAqn7Irk
– Kendrick Bourne Pauly (@KendrickBourne_) 27 January 2026
it made me crazy https://t.co/NkWMgyFYLd
– Philip Dorsett II (@Dorsett_4) 27 January 2026
How is this even possible https://t.co/nDFDnTIcyy
– Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) 27 January 2026
