J.J. Watt Blasts Hall of Fame Voters Over Bill Belichick Snub: “What Are You Doing?”
The football world is still trying to wrap its head around the news: Bill Belichick, architect of the NFL’s most dominant dynasty, won’t be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. And if you think fans are upset, you should hear J.J. Watt.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and current CBS Sports analyst didn’t hold back during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, firing off a passionate and pointed response to the Hall of Fame selection committee’s decision. For Watt, this wasn’t just a questionable omission - it was a flat-out failure of the system.
“If you have Bill Belichick not making the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you should not have a vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Watt said bluntly. “The guy has eight Super Bowl titles; there’s only been 59 of ‘em.
… Like, what are you doing? What qualifications do you want?
How do you tell the story of the NFL without Bill Belichick?”
That’s not just frustration - that’s disbelief. And honestly, it’s hard to blame him.
Belichick isn’t just a coach with a long résumé. He’s the mind behind a two-decade run of dominance that reshaped how we think about winning in the NFL.
He trails only Don Shula in total wins (playoffs included) and built a Patriots dynasty that became the standard for sustained excellence. Six Super Bowl wins as a head coach, two more as a defensive coordinator.
Countless AFC East titles. A legacy that runs through nearly every major storyline of the 21st-century NFL.
And yet, somehow, that wasn’t enough to secure a first-ballot nod.
Watt, who hopes to one day wear a gold jacket himself, made it clear this snub doesn’t just impact Belichick - it sends a message to every future candidate. If he doesn’t make it on the first try, who does?
It’s a fair question. The Hall of Fame is supposed to honor the game’s most influential figures - the ones whose impact can’t be overstated, whose names are synonymous with winning, innovation, and legacy. Belichick checks all those boxes, and then some.
Watt’s fiery response wasn’t about stirring controversy. It was about defending what so many in the football world see as a no-brainer. He’s not just speaking for himself - he’s voicing the disbelief of players, coaches, and fans who watched Belichick redefine what it means to lead an NFL team.
And while the Hall of Fame process is never without debate, this one feels different. This isn’t about stats or rings or résumés. It’s about the undeniable truth that Bill Belichick helped shape the modern NFL - and that kind of legacy shouldn’t have to wait.