Did Adam Vinatieri cross a line by taking a jab at legendary New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in this Hall of Fame speech? The debate has already split the internet, with many calling out Vinatieri for making that joke about his former coach. The question even came up in front of former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski during an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here right now talking to you if it wasn’t for Coach Belichick,” Gronk said when asked if people should leave Belichick alone. “I love Adam Vinatieri as well. I never played with him. The best kicker of all time, though.”

While Gronk admitted that Vinatieri is funny and a “great guy,” he also fielded the question of whether he would ever make a joke like that. His answer set clear boundaries.

“I would not,” Gronk said. “I mean, maybe back in the day, but I got to know my lane. And I guess Adam Vinatieri, he’s got a big lane out there.”

In his HOF enshrinement speech, Vinatieri notably mentioned Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, with whom he shares a 49-year age gap. Hudson went to Bridgewater State University, where she became the NCA Collegiate Champion in 2021 for cheerleading. After graduating, she became a part of the East Celebrity Elite cheer squad to make the World Championships in 2024. Perhaps that’s why Vinatieri’s comments landed the way they did:

“Unfortunately, Bill couldn’t make it here today,” Vinatieri said during his speech. “There’s a lot going on at UNC right now. He may be on a recruiting trip right now looking for the next Lawrence Taylor. I thought it was because training camp had already started. But in truth, it’s because he is judging his girlfriend’s cheerleading competition. … All jokes aside, in my opinion Bill is the greatest coach of all time.”

Even with Vinatieri making it clear his remarks were a joke, they didn’t go over well with the public. He even had to explain himself, appearing on the Dan Patrick Show recently because of the criticism he’s already facing.

“I wanted it to start sentimental,” Vinatieri said. “I wanted to make people laugh, and then I wanted to end it with a bang at the end. So hopefully I accomplished that. If people got offended or thought it was inappropriate, I apologize to you guys.”

In another appearance on WEEI 93.7’s The Greg Hill Show, he also explained that Coach Belichick had connected with him months ago to let him know he wouldn’t be able to attend because “camp’s going on and all that.”

Now, the Canton enshrinement speech also saw Vinatieri take a few digs at legendary quarterback Tom Brady. But appearing on the show, he also revealed Brady was one of the first to congratulate him on his phone.

“Tom called me beforehand and said, ‘I’ve got this family vacation that I lined up months and months ago, and I just really can’t get out of it. … And you know what? The very first message I got at 7:00 in the morning – after a party that ended at 3:00 a.m. – was from Brady. He was like, ‘Man, that was awesome. You stole the show. It was really, really cool. I hope you have a hangover. … We were just bantering back and forth. So, as I said before, there is zero animosity. I love all those guys.”

Three of Tom Brady’s Super Bowl rings came through Adam Vinatieri’s legs. For Brady, a small dig from his old kicker seemed like a small price to pay. Vinatieri notably added another Super Bowl ring for himself (XLI) in his first year with the Indianapolis Colts (2006), further cementing his football legacy as a future Hall of Famer.

That is perhaps why Rob Gronkowski said Vinatieri’s “got a big lane out there.” But now, fellow Patriots alums are left defending Vinatieri’s comments amid all the criticism.