Bill Belichick didn’t hear his name called for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this week, and let’s just say the reaction from the football world has been swift-and loud.
Though the official Hall of Fame voting results won’t be announced until February 5, multiple outlets reported Tuesday night that Belichick, in his first year of eligibility, didn’t make the cut. The news sent shockwaves through NFL circles, where Belichick’s résumé is as bulletproof as they come. Few figures in league history have reshaped the game the way he has, and for many-especially those closest to him-this snub just doesn’t add up.
Robert Kraft: “He is the greatest coach of all time”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft didn’t mince words when asked about Belichick’s omission. Speaking to WBZ-TV, Kraft made it clear that any past friction between him and his longtime head coach doesn’t change how he views Belichick’s legacy.
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick's record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said. “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League. He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
That’s not just a glowing endorsement-it’s a definitive statement from someone who worked side by side with Belichick through six Super Bowl titles, countless AFC East crowns, and nearly two decades of dominance.
Kraft himself is also a Hall of Fame finalist this year, but his focus, at least for now, is on the man who helped turn the Patriots into a dynasty.
Brady: “Give me one season, give me Bill Belichick”
Tom Brady, who spent 20 seasons under Belichick’s watch before heading to Tampa Bay, also weighed in Wednesday morning during an appearance on Seattle’s Brock and Salk radio show. And like Kraft, Brady didn’t hold back.
“I just think that to me, I don't understand it,” Brady said. “I was with him every day.
If he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's really no coach that ever should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it.
He's incredible.”
Brady, who knows a thing or two about winning, made it clear that Belichick is the coach he’d trust most in a do-or-die situation.
“If I'm picking one coach to go out there to win a Super Bowl, give me one season, give me Bill Belichick,” he said. “So that's enough said.”
Brady also took a shot at the voting process itself, comparing it to an awards show where popularity can sometimes overshadow merit.
“When it comes down to votes and popularity and all that, then welcome to the world of voting,” he added. “You may as well try out for the Oscars or whatever and get a big panel to tell you if you're good or not. It's the way it works, unfortunately.”
A relationship repaired-and a celebration still to come
Of course, the Belichick-Brady relationship hasn’t always been smooth sailing. When Brady left New England in 2020, there were plenty of reports about tension between the two.
But over time, that dynamic has shifted. When the Patriots honored Brady at Gillette Stadium, Belichick was effusive in his praise, and the mutual respect between the two has been on full display ever since.
Brady, for his part, made it clear that Belichick’s Hall of Fame moment is inevitable-even if it didn’t happen this year.
“In the end, he's going to get into the Hall of Fame. I'm not worried about that,” Brady said. “A lot of times in life, things don't happen exactly how you want them or on your timeline.”
And when that moment finally does come?
“We'll all be there to celebrate him when it does happen,” Brady said. “He's going to have a huge turnout from so many players, coaches, that appreciate everything that he did and the commitment that he made to winning and the impact that he had on our lives. And that will be a great celebration to have.”
Bottom line: Whether it’s this year or next, Belichick’s place in Canton feels like a matter of when, not if. And when that gold jacket finally gets draped over his shoulders, it’s safe to say the football world-especially those who shared the ride with him-will be there in full force.