Bill Belichick Hall of Fame snub draws backlash led by LeBron James, NFL stars

Bill Belichick didn’t make the Hall of Fame on his first try, and it caught a lot of people off guard.

The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach got left out in his initial year of eligibility, according to ESPN. Four unnamed sources told the outlet that Belichick failed to get the 40 votes needed from the 50-member selection panel.

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ESPN also reported that Belichick got the news during a phone call last Friday. And the Hall of Fame won’t talk about it ahead of the Class of 2026 announcement at NFL Honors on February 5 in San Francisco.

The reaction wasn’t limited to a few upset fans. A lot of people around the game didn’t like the decision at all. That pushback reached outside the NFL too, with NBA superstar LeBron James weighing in and making his stance clear.

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!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 28, 2026

So did Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman, former wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, former defensive end JJ Watt, and former safety Ryan Clark.

All of them posted their frustration after the news broke.

Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible https://t.co/EiKUeRPffn
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 27, 2026

The Disrespect to Coach Belichick is straight out IGNORANT! He’s arguably the BEST NFL COACH TO EVER COACH THE GAME! How quickly we forget the impact Coach Belichick made on all of us! @nfl WOW! #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 28, 2026

A disappointing day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) January 28, 2026

I can’t be reading this right.

This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the actual NFL Hall of Fame.

There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer. https://t.co/OXhL1Sd4FM
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 27, 2026

Bill Belichick not being a first ballot Hall of Famer means that no coach should ever be. It means that the voters have decided there isn’t a coaching resume that warrants First Ballot consideration!

He is the GREATEST, most ACCOMPLISHED coach of all time! This is egregious!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 27, 2026

Bill Belichick passed over in Hall of Fame decision

It’s tough to understand how someone with Belichick’s track record gets passed over. An eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach not getting in on the first ballot doesn’t add up for a lot of voters and fans watching this unfold.

Belichick landed in New England back in 2000 and turned the franchise around almost immediately. From 2001 through 2018, he led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins and three more championship game appearances.

Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick celebrates with granddaughter Blakely after beating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Between New England and Cleveland, Belichick finished with 333 combined regular season and playoff wins. Only Don Shula has more with 347.

He won AP NFL Coach of the Year three times. Before taking over the Patriots, Belichick helped the New York Giants win two Super Bowls as their defensive coordinator.

Utter disrespect.

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