Tom Brady shares emotional reaction to Bill Belichick not being a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection

Before the football world was stunned to learn on Tuesday evening that Bill Belichick won't be a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection, fellow living legend Tom Brady campaigned for his former head coach to be inducted in Canton, Ohio, this summer.

During a Wednesday morning appearance on Seattle Sports 710, Brady reacted to arguably the most shocking development, to date, of the ongoing NFL offseason. 

Tom Brady: Bill Belichick not being a first-ballot Hall of Famer "is completely ridiculous"

"I don’t understand it," Brady said, per Seattle Sports' Zac Hereth. "I mean, I was with him every day. If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it."

Brady and Belichick famously had a complicated relationship as they helped the New England Patriots win six Super Bowl titles together from 2000 through the Patriots' wild-card playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans in January 2020. Brady made it clear via Apple TV's "The Dynasty" documentary that he left the Patriots as a free agent following the 2019 season because he "wasn't going to sign up for more of" playing under Belichick. The two have since mended fences, and Brady revealed last January that he has "a great relationship" with Belichick.

"He’s incredible," Brady continued while speaking about Belichick on Wednesday. "There’s no coach I’d rather play for. If I’m picking one coach to go out there to win a Super Bowl, give me one season, I’m taking Bill Belichick. So that’s enough said." 

Tom Brady makes Bill Belichick promise after Hall of Fame snub

Belichick’s involvement in the "Spygate" and "Deflategate" scandals was reportedly mentioned in deliberations among Hall of Fame voters. On Wednesday, Brady made a promise to Belichick about a day that inevitably will arrive for the man seen by many as the greatest head coach in NFL history. 

"When it comes down to votes and popularity and all that, then welcome to the world of voting, and you might as well try out for the Oscars and get a big panel to tell you if you’re good or not. It’s the way that it works, unfortunately," Brady added about Belichick. "He’s gonna get into the Hall of Fame. In the end, I’m not worried about that. A lot of times in life for all of us, things don’t happen exactly how you want them or on your timeline, but we’ll all be there to celebrate him when it does happen, and he’s gonna have a huge turnout from so many players, coaches that appreciated everything he did, the commitment he made to winning and the impact that he had on all our lives."