Bill Belichick. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

NFL world unanimously slams Bill Belichick's 'shameful' Hall of Fame snub

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Jan 27, 2026 7:59 PM ET

While it doesn’t seem real, longtime NFL head coach Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

A report surfaced on Tuesday stating that Belichick didn’t receive 40 of the 50 required votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

It was a surprise, given his accomplishments.

Belichick has six Super Bowl wins as a head coach with the Patriots and he had another two as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants.

Belichick has the most playoff wins and Super Bowl wins of any NFL head coach, and he is second on the all-time wins list behind only Don Shula, so there is no reason why he shouldn’t be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Everyone had the same reaction to the surprising news.

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 resume that warrants First Ballot consideration!

He is the GREATEST, most ACCOMPLISHED coach of all time! This is egregious!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 27, 2026

Seriously?!

By every metric, Bill Belichick is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The fact that he wasn’t selected is more of a reflection of the voters than the coach. How can you respect the opinions of the “experts” when they blatantly disrespect legendary coach’s on-field… https://t.co/bZiqORYrkw
— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) January 27, 2026

Absolutely shameful and ridiculous https://t.co/BseeQs6m1a
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) January 27, 2026

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. pic.twitter.com/TBuyVnbZAg
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 27, 2026

There is nobody more deserving of being first ballot, no coach with more Super Bowl wins or greater reverence for the history of the game. There should be public explanation from those failing to vote for him. https://t.co/Wojlncevzq
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) January 27, 2026

Say what you want about him as UNC's coach, but the man should've been a first-ballot NFL HOFer. This is ridiculous. https://t.co/ca3qH24fOV
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) January 27, 2026

It wasn’t just fans and NFL insiders, or reporters, but Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was also puzzled by Belichick’s exclusion.

Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible https://t.co/EiKUeRPffn
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 27, 2026

Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jimmy Johnson also let his feelings be known.

PLEASE…If you did not vote for BB identify yourselves!!! Probably too much of a coward..Hide behind your SECRET BALLOT!!! https://t.co/mApEhMNg1K
— Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) January 27, 2026

The ESPN report stated that Spygate and Deflategate were issues with some Hall of Fame voters, but still, a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach not being a first-ballot choice is shocking.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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