Bill Belichick, one of the most decorated figures in NFL history, will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer - and it all came down to a single vote.
According to reports, the legendary former New England Patriots head coach received just 39 of the 50 votes needed for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The threshold is 80%, meaning Belichick missed the cut by one vote. One.
That detail was confirmed by longtime NFL writer Gerry Dulac, who noted that under the Hall’s voting structure, candidates must receive 40 votes to be elected. Belichick, now 73 and currently coaching at North Carolina, fell just short.
To be clear, this isn’t a case of widespread rejection. The Hall of Fame process allows voters to select up to three individuals per category - coaching, contributor, and senior - and multiple reports indicate that Belichick was right on the cusp. But the fact that he didn’t get in on the first ballot is still a stunner, especially when you consider the résumé.
We're talking about a coach with six Super Bowl rings, nine conference titles, and a legacy that helped define two decades of NFL dominance. Belichick didn’t just win - he built a dynasty in New England, turning the Patriots into the league’s gold standard for sustained success. His defensive scheming, game management, and ability to adapt year after year made him one of the most respected minds the game has ever seen.
And yet, despite all that, the Hall’s voters weren’t unanimous - or at least not unanimous enough.
Kansas City Star columnist Vahe Gregorian confirmed he was one of the voters who left Belichick off his ballot. While Gregorian wasn’t the only one, the math is simple: had just one more voter checked the box, Belichick would’ve been headed to Canton this year.
Now, the wait continues. The official Class of 2026 will be revealed on February 5 during the “NFL Honors” ceremony in San Francisco. Belichick, for all his accolades and influence, won’t be among those inducted - at least not yet.
It’s a reminder that even legends aren’t immune to the nuances of the Hall of Fame voting process.