US President Donald Trump joined a chorus of disbelief after reports emerged that Bill Belichick, widely regarded as the greatest coach in NFL history, failed to secure first-ballot induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the New England Patriots and two as an assistant with the New York Giants, fell short of the 40 out of 50 votes required for first-year eligibility, according to ESPN.
Trump took to social media on Wednesday to express his disapproval, linking the snub to the NFL’s controversial kickoff rule introduced in 2024. “It is the same mindset that gave pro football the new and unwatchable ‘Sissy’ Kickoff Rule, that made it possible for Bill Belichick to not be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both are ridiculous and should be overturned!” he wrote on Truth Social.
The Hall of Fame issued a statement late Wednesday, warning that any voting members found to have violated the selection process could face removal from the committee.
Belichick’s accomplishments are unparalleled. In addition to eight Super Bowl titles, he boasts nine conference championships, 17 division crowns, and 333 total wins, including playoffs, ranking second all-time. He parted ways with the Patriots in January 2024 after a remarkable 24-year tenure. At the announcement, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, “What Bill accomplished, in my opinion, will never be duplicated.”
ESPN suggested that some voters may have withheld support as reparation for the Spygate and Deflategate controversies during the Belichick-Tom Brady era.
Reactions from sports figures were swift. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion and likely Hall of Famer, wrote on X: “Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible.” NBA superstar LeBron James posted: “Man there’s no way I read that right! Right? Ain’t no WAY Bill Belichick ain’t 1st Ballot HOF!! That’s IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!”
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, inducted in 2006 after winning three Super Bowls, described the outcome as “a disappointing day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Belichick’s absence from the first-ballot list has ignited a national debate over legacy, rules, and recognition in professional football, leaving fans and pundits questioning the Hall of Fame’s standards.
