In the face of the shocking snub, Belichick’s reaction was characteristically blunt, questioning the very criteria for greatness in a five-word response to an associate. With six Super Bowl titles as a head coach and two more as an assistant, Bill Belichick’s resume seemed tailor-made for a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. So what went wrong? Unfortunately, the majority of the voters didn’t stand in his support, stripping the legendary coach of a deserving honor.

“Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” Belichick asked one of the associates. “What does a guy have to do?”

The Hall’s 50-member selection committee voted on the Class of 2026 earlier this year. Belichick needed 40 votes to earn induction in his first year of eligibility. According to sources possessing direct knowledge of the vote, the former Patriots head coach came up short. A Hall representative called Belichick last Friday afternoon to let him know he would not be heading to Canton this summer.

However, Belichick chose not to lash out over the incident. The Hall of Fame, on the other hand, also didn’t come up with an explanation. According to the HOF, details of the voting procedure are kept confidential, and further updates on the new class will be officially announced on Feb. 5 during NFL Honors in San Francisco. The reveal will be part of Super Bowl week activities.

The result was a shock to many around the league. Belichick finished his coaching career with 333 wins, including the playoffs, the second-most in NFL history behind Don Shula. His extensive résumé and championships led people to assume he was a first-ballot lock.

It’s not the first time a high-profile candidate has been overlooked by the Hall of Fame. Terrell Owens had to wait three years for his induction, despite retiring with the second-most receiving yards in NFL history, as well as the third-most receiving touchdowns. He also finished eighth on the all-time receptions list. Eventually, when the time came to recognize his achievements, Owens didn’t attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Hall’s voting group is made up mostly of veteran NFL reporters, along with a small number of former football executives and coaches, including Hall of Famers Bill Polian and Tony Dungy. The vote also carried added drama. Belichick was a finalist alongside longtime New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. It was the first time Kraft, 84, reached finalist status after years of lobbying by supporters. Kraft and Belichick have been on poor terms since their split in January 2024.

Amid the ongoing debate, one major question that the fans keep asking is: Why did the voters pass on what seemed like an obvious choice?

The reason for Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub

Bill Belichick’s failure to earn a first-ballot induction stems from a larger controversy within the voting committee. The voters met for eight hours to debate this year’s finalists. According to multiple sources, the discussion around Belichick repeatedly returned to Spygate and Deflategate, the two cheating scandals that marked the New England Patriots’ dynasty years. Many voters told ESPN that those issues directly impacted the final decision.

One voter said Bill Polian argued that Belichick should “wait a year” as a form of accountability for Spygate. This was the 2007 incident that led to major fines and the loss of a first-round draft pick. At the time, the league fined the Patriots $500,000 and fined Belichick $250,000, penalties approved by commissioner Roger Goodell. Polian did not respond to requests for comment.

Another longtime Hall voter was more direct. “The only explanation was the cheating stuff,” he said. “It really bothered some of the guys.” While fan outrage grows over the snub, it still remains to be seen what names come forward during the final release.