NFL

Mahomes, Watt heard that Bill Belichick missed out on the first HOF nod

ballervisions 2026年1月28日

Mahomes, Watt heard that Bill Belichick missed out on the first HOF nod

Eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick is not the first Hall of Famer, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham reported Tuesday.

Belichick failed to receive a bid after falling short of 40 of the 50 votes required to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

The former New England Patriots head coach has the most Super Bowl wins as a head coach (six), as well as first in Super Bowl appearances (nine) and playoff wins (31) and second in wins (333). His NFL record of 333-178, including the postseason regular season, ranks him second only to Don Shula (347) in career victories. He also won two championships as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants.

Multiple sources told ESPN’s Van Natta and Wickersham that Spygate and Deflategate, two cheating scandals that occurred at different points during the Patriots’ reign, came up in conversations between voters.

Still, Belichick’s decorated career as an NFL head coach has led many fans and Hall of Fame voters to believe he is a first-ballot lock. Instead, he’ll have to wait until at least next year to get a call from Canton, Ohio.

According to Van Natta and Wickersham, Belichick told one of his teammates: “Six Super Bowls is enough?” while asking another: “What should a boy do?”

Some of the NFL’s biggest names echoed Belichick’s thoughts, as the sports world quickly reacted to the news.

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt quickly expressed shock that Belichick wasn’t the first vote-getter, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes called it “crazy.”

You are crazy… I don’t even understand how this is possible https://t.co/EiKUeRPffn

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 27, 2026

I can’t read this properly.

This should be some Hall of Fame or something, it won’t be the real NFL Hall of Fame.

There is no single world where Bill Belichick should not be a First Ballot Hall of Famer. https://t.co/OXhL1Sd4FM

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 27, 2026

Man, there’s no way I’m reading right! OK? NO WAY Bill Belichick is not a 1st ballot HOF!! YOU DID THAT, IT’S AMAZING, and frankly DISRESPECTFUL!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 28, 2026

Sometimes I scratch my head when a candidate gets into the HOF, this time I’m scratching my head how a HOF nominee got in… https://t.co/KKqDlDvtXz

– Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) January 27, 2026

This is WRONG ..#2 winner of ALL TIME…more Super Bowls than anyone imaginable # in divisional championships…lots of jealous little voters https://t.co/Q4H5Qnz2L2

— Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) January 27, 2026

Which is funny. 🤬🤬🤬
Couldn’t have a better resume! 🐐 https://t.co/J40rY6dNua

– Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) January 27, 2026

Voters should no longer be able to be identified. We need an explanation why Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches of all time at any level of any sport with 8 SB’s not a first vote HOF’er……… No explanation will work but I need to know. I’m sorry man!! This is crazy!

– Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) January 27, 2026