The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is set to be celebrated later this year, but the absence of one towering figure looms large: Bill Belichick. As the NFL community gears up for Thursday night’s NFL Honors, where the inductees will officially be revealed, Belichick’s omission is already stirring conversation - not just among fans, but among Hall of Famers themselves.
Troy Aikman, the former Cowboys quarterback turned veteran broadcaster, didn’t mince words when he joined The Rich Eisen Show. “I just think the credibility of the Hall… it’s a huge black eye for them,” Aikman said. “And I don't know what it's going to look like in August at the ceremony.”
That’s not a throwaway comment. Aikman is speaking from experience, having stood on that Canton stage himself. His concern is that Belichick’s absence could cast a shadow over what should be a moment of pure celebration for this year’s class - a class expected to include the likes of Drew Brees.
And he’s not wrong. Belichick, with his unmatched résumé - six Super Bowl titles as a head coach, countless innovations on both sides of the ball, and a legacy that spans generations - is one of the most accomplished figures in NFL history.
Leaving him out, even temporarily, raises questions. Not about his credentials, which are ironclad, but about the process that left him on the outside looking in.
Still, while the conversation around Belichick is unavoidable, it shouldn’t take away from what this year’s inductees have accomplished. Drew Brees, for instance, is a lock for enshrinement not just because of his stats - though they’re staggering - but because of the way he helped transform the New Orleans Saints from a perennial afterthought into a championship-caliber team. His impact on the city, especially post-Katrina, goes beyond football.
And then there’s Larry Fitzgerald, another expected inductee. Few players have ever combined consistency, class, and clutch performances the way Fitzgerald did over nearly two decades in Arizona. His inclusion, like Brees’, is richly deserved.
So yes, Belichick not being in this class is surprising. Maybe even frustrating.
But it shouldn't diminish the honor for those who are being inducted. The Hall of Fame is about celebrating legacies, and every player in this class has earned their place.
The ceremony in August should be about them - their journeys, their triumphs, and the indelible marks they left on the game.
Belichick’s time will come. That much feels inevitable. But for now, the spotlight belongs to the Class of 2026.