The Hall of Fame conversation around Bill Belichick just got a little more complicated.
We now know of two Hall of Fame voters who didn’t check the box next to Belichick’s name - a number that doubled from one to two this week. Mike Chappell, who represents Indianapolis on the 50-member panel, joined Kansas City’s Vahe Gregorian in passing on the legendary coach. But unlike Gregorian, Chappell used one of his three votes on Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Here’s how the process worked: Belichick, Kraft, and three senior player candidates - Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood - were grouped into a five-person pool. Each voter could choose three.
Chappell went with Kraft and two of the senior players, leaving Belichick off his ballot. His reasoning?
He pointed to Kraft’s pivotal role in building the Patriots dynasty that began in 1994, and more specifically, Kraft’s behind-the-scenes influence during the 2011 labor negotiations that ended a 100-day player lockout. That deal helped usher in a long stretch of labor peace - no small feat in a league known for its contentious labor history.
Chappell also noted Kraft’s hand in growing the NFL’s television revenue, which has ballooned over the past decade.
As for Belichick, Chappell didn’t shy away from citing Spygate as a major factor in his decision. He emphasized that this wasn’t a case of alleged wrongdoing - the NFL hit Belichick with a $500,000 fine (the maximum allowed), docked the Patriots $250,000, and stripped the team of a first-round pick for illegally videotaping Jets signals in 2007. Chappell also mentioned that Deflategate came up during the Hall of Fame discussion, adding another layer to the debate over Belichick’s legacy.
Chappell made it clear that he’s not a fan of the current voting format, which lumps coaches and contributors in with senior players. In his view, that setup forces voters into difficult trade-offs. He believes both Kraft and Belichick may have siphoned votes from each other - a dynamic that could’ve kept the coach from crossing the finish line this year.
Still, Chappell stressed that his vote shouldn’t be interpreted as a statement that Belichick isn’t worthy of the Hall. He fully expects Belichick to get in - just not this time around.
One theory Chappell pushed back on? The idea that Belichick’s often icy relationship with the media hurt his chances.
He called that suggestion “asinine,” though he acknowledged that he can’t speak for what may have influenced other voters behind closed doors. Whether Spygate was a genuine concern or a stand-in for deeper biases is something only each individual voter can answer.
At the heart of all this is a growing frustration with the current Hall of Fame voting structure. The shift away from a simple up-or-down vote on each finalist has created scenarios like this - where legendary figures can miss out due to ballot math and positional groupings rather than their actual resumes.
Belichick’s résumé, of course, speaks for itself: six Super Bowl titles as head coach, two more as a defensive coordinator, and a career that’s helped shape the modern NFL. Whether it’s this year or next, his place in Canton feels inevitable. But the process that gets him there remains a hot topic - and one that could use a closer look before more all-time greats are caught in the shuffle.