“The Pro Football Hall of Fame understands and respects the passionate reaction of many fans, media members and enshrinees of the Hall itself in light of published reports regarding the voting results for the Class of 2026.
“It’s that very passion that propels the game.
“The Hall also respects the members of the Selection Committee when they follow the selection process bylaws. It is an honor to serve as a selector.
“Each year, the Hall reviews the selection process and the composition of the 50-person Selection Committee. If it is determined that any member(s) violated the selection process bylaws, they understand action will be taken.
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“That could include the possibility that such selector(s) would not remain a member of the committee moving forward.
“The selection of a new class is the most important duty the Hall of Fame oversees each year, and the integrity of that process cannot be in question.”
Despite winning eight Super Bowl titles as a coach in the NFL, Belichick did not receive the 40 out of 50 necessary votes from the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection committee to gain entry into Canton this year.
Voting results made by the 50-person committee are not made public.
Belichick’s omission has drawn plenty out of outrage from former Patriots and sports futures across the world over the last day — including Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Rob Gronkowski, and LeBron James.
“I don’t understand it. I was with him every day,” Brady said during an appearance on Seattle Sports’s Brock & Salk on Wednesday. “If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer then there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it.”
“He’s incredible, there’s no coach I’d rather play for. If I’m picking one coach to go out there and win a Super Bowl, give me one season, I’m taking Bill Belichick,” Brady added. “So, that’s enough said. Outside of that, when you come down to votes and popularity and all that, then welcome to the world of voting. You may as well go try out for the Oscars or whatever and get a big panel to tell you whether you’re good or not.”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft — who has had an icy relationship with Belichick since the latter’s exit from New England in 2024 — also released a statement on Wednesday decrying the Hall of Fame’s decision.
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said. “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League.
“He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
Conor Ryan can be reached at [email protected].
