Belichick Misses Hall of Fame Cut - and That’s OK, For Now
When the news broke that Bill Belichick won’t be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, the initial reaction across the football world was a mix of disbelief and confusion. Six Super Bowl titles as head coach, two more as a defensive coordinator, and a résumé that reads like a masterclass in sustained success - how could that not be enough?
But as the dust settles, a different perspective is starting to emerge. If Belichick’s temporary delay means long-overdue recognition for players like Roger Craig, Ken Anderson, and L.C. Greenwood, then maybe, just maybe, the Hall of Fame process got something right - even if it doesn’t feel that way at first.
Let’s be clear: Belichick is going to get in. That gold jacket is coming, whether it’s next year or the year after.
He’s not being left out in the cold - he’s just being asked to wait a turn. And in the meantime, three players who helped define their franchises and left a lasting imprint on the game finally have a better shot at getting the honor they’ve earned.
The Hall of Fame’s Crowded Hallway
The Hall of Fame selection process is famously exclusive - and intentionally so. Only five modern-era players can be elected each year, and they need to secure at least 80% of the vote.
This year, that group includes Frank Gore, the league’s third all-time leading rusher with over 16,000 yards - 11,000 of which came during his 49ers tenure from 2005 to 2014. Gore’s case is as solid as they come.
But the situation becomes more complicated in the senior/coach/contributor category. That’s where Craig, Anderson, Greenwood - and yes, Belichick - all landed.
In that group, only one to three candidates can be elected. So when you throw a coaching giant like Belichick into the same pool as players who’ve waited decades for recognition, it creates a dilemma that’s more about timing than merit.
Reportedly, Belichick didn’t reach the 40-vote threshold out of 50 needed for enshrinement. That’s surprising, but not unprecedented.
Even Bill Walsh - architect of the West Coast Offense and three-time Super Bowl champion - didn’t get in until his fourth try in 1993. Belichick’s time will come.
It just didn’t come this year.
Why This Year Matters for the Seniors
Roger Craig isn’t just a great running back - he’s a prototype. The first player in NFL history to rack up 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, Craig was a cornerstone of three 49ers Super Bowl-winning teams under Walsh. His versatility laid the groundwork for the modern dual-threat back - think Marshall Faulk, Christian McCaffrey - and his omission from the Hall has long felt like a glaring oversight.
Ken Anderson, meanwhile, was one of the most accurate and efficient quarterbacks of his era. Under Walsh’s tutelage in Cincinnati, he flourished in the early iterations of the West Coast Offense, won an MVP, and regularly ranked among the league’s top passers. His numbers may not jump off the page in today’s pass-happy NFL, but in context, his impact was enormous.
And then there’s L.C. Greenwood - the steel in the Steel Curtain.
Before sacks were even an official stat, Greenwood was terrorizing quarterbacks off the edge for one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. He was Charles Haley before Charles Haley.
Greenwood passed away in 2013, which only adds urgency to honoring his legacy while his peers and fans are still here to celebrate it.
These aren’t fringe candidates. These are foundational players whose contributions have stood the test of time.
The Case for Belichick - and the Case for Patience
No one is questioning Belichick’s credentials. Six rings as a head coach with the Patriots.
Two more as a defensive coordinator with the Giants. A defensive mind whose understanding of football history is as deep as any coach who’s ever worn a headset.
He’s a lock. But the Hall of Fame is supposed to be exclusive.
It’s supposed to be hard. And sometimes, that means even the most obvious candidates have to wait - not because they’re unworthy, but because others are running out of time.
One voter, Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Star, explained his reasoning: he prioritized senior candidates like Craig, Anderson, and Greenwood, knowing that Belichick’s induction is inevitable. It’s a strategic choice, not a slight.
And let’s not get sidetracked by theories about “Spygate,” “Deflategate,” or Belichick’s sometimes icy relationship with the media. The voters take their job seriously. This wasn’t about punishment or politics - it was about giving long-overlooked players their due.
A System That Still Needs Tweaking
The current format - lumping senior players, coaches, and contributors into one category - invites these kinds of conflicts. It’s a structure that forces voters to make apples-to-oranges comparisons between coaches with decades of strategic brilliance and players who sacrificed their bodies every Sunday.
There’s room for improvement. A separate track for coaches and contributors might help avoid these logjams in the future.
Greater transparency in the voting process could also help fans understand how these decisions are made. But even with its flaws, the Hall of Fame remains what it’s always been: the toughest club in football to get into.
A Gold Jacket Can Wait
Belichick will get his moment. He’ll get the bust in Canton, the gold jacket - maybe even a custom gold hoodie for good measure. But this year, the spotlight might finally shine where it’s long been overdue.
For Craig, Anderson, and Greenwood, this isn’t just about recognition - it’s about legacy. It’s about making sure that the players who helped build the game get the honor they deserve before time runs out.
And if that means the greatest coach of this generation has to wait 12 more months? That’s a trade the football world can live with.