Bill Belichick not getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first try? That’s not just surprising - it’s seismic.
We’re talking about a coach who has eight Super Bowl rings to his name - six of them as the architect of one of the most dominant dynasties the NFL has ever seen. Over three decades on the sidelines.
The second-most wins in league history. And a reputation as one of the sharpest football minds to ever pick up a headset.
And yet, when the Hall of Fame voting committee gathered, Belichick didn’t get the 40 votes he needed from the 50-member panel. That’s right - arguably the greatest coach of all time didn’t make it in on his first ballot.
The reaction? Predictably loud - and not just from New England.
Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson, who knows a thing or two about building a championship team, didn’t mince words. He took to social media to vent his frustration, calling the decision “WRONG” and throwing shade at what he described as “small jealous voters.”
Johnson went on to say, “As a HOF coach I think Bill Belichick is the greatest of all time.” He acknowledged the presence of a great quarterback in New England - Tom Brady, of course - but pointed out that every elite coach has had a great player or two.
What sets Belichick apart, Johnson argued, is that he won in the salary cap era, through free agency, and with a relentless love for the game.
In other words, Belichick didn’t just ride a wave - he built the ocean.
There’s been speculation that Belichick’s omission may be tied to past controversies - the kind that have dogged his legacy despite his overwhelming success. Some reports have even pointed to former Colts executive Bill Polian as a possible influence in keeping Belichick out, though Polian has since gone on record to clear the air.
“I voted for Coach Belichick,” Polian said on Sirius XM Radio, adding that the Hall of Fame’s auditors confirmed his vote. “I never said he should wait a year.
That’s been confirmed by others in the room.” Polian emphasized that he’s always tried to approach his role as a selector with objectivity, and reaffirmed his belief that Belichick is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
And he’s not alone.
Troy Aikman, another Hall of Famer and a three-time Super Bowl champ, called it “a disappointing day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.” Aikman’s voice carries weight - not just because of his rings, but because of his decades of perspective on the game, both under center and in the broadcast booth.
Inside the selection room, some voters have started to speak out. Calvin Watkins, a Hall of Fame voter for the past three years, published a column explaining why voting for Belichick was a no-brainer for him.
Watkins acknowledged that some voters may have hesitated due to the scandals tied to Belichick’s tenure, but pointed to past precedent - like Julius Peppers, who made it in on the first ballot despite a suspension early in his career. As Watkins put it, “The man won six Super Bowls as a head coach, was a defensive coordinator for two more title teams, rebuilt the Patriots into a dynasty… It’s an easy decision.”
Another voter, Charean Williams, echoed that sentiment. She admitted she didn’t vote for all three of this year’s senior candidates - Roger Craig, Ken Anderson, and LC Greenwood - because she had Belichick on her ballot.
“I thought Belichick was a no-brainer,” she wrote. “I can’t explain anyone’s reasoning for not voting for Bill Belichick.
It is stunning.”
And that’s the word that keeps coming up: stunning.
Because when you step back and look at the body of work - the rings, the wins, the innovation, the consistency - it’s hard to find a more complete coaching résumé. Belichick didn’t just win.
He evolved. He adapted.
He out-thought and out-prepared his opponents for more than three decades. He built game plans that neutralized MVPs, shut down high-powered offenses, and turned unheralded players into championship contributors.
So what now?
Well, the Hall of Fame will eventually welcome Belichick - that much feels inevitable. But the fact that it didn’t happen on the first ballot has sparked a conversation that’s bigger than just one coach.
It’s about the voting process. About the idea of the “first-ballot” label.
About how we honor greatness, and whether personal biases or past controversies should cloud the view of a career that reshaped the sport.
As Cowboys insider Mike Fisher put it: “Dump the moronic concept of the ‘first-ballot HOF’er.’ If a person is HOF-worthy, they’re HOF-worthy. Period.”
Belichick’s legacy is already cemented in football history. The Hall of Fame will catch up - eventually. But for now, the decision not to induct him right away has left more than a few people scratching their heads and asking one simple question:
What more could he possibly have done?