Athletes everywhere are coming out of the woodwork to defend former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after it was announced Tuesday night that the eight-time Super Bowl champion would not be bestowed the honor of becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
The historic Hall of Fame snub transcends sports. Even the most famous athlete in America, and long-time rival of the Boston Celtics, LeBron James, felt inclined to speak up on the injustice.
“Man there’s no way I read that right! Right?” James wrote. “Ain’t no WAY Bill Belichick ain’t 1st Ballot HOF!! That’s IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!”
The general consensus seems to be that with this one heinous decision, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has tarnished its reputation and legacy for eternity.
Belichick finished his career with 333 wins as a head coach, the second-most of all time. Of his 333, 296 came with the Patriots.
He won eight total Super Bowls; two as Bill Parcells’ defensive coordinator on the New York Giants, and six as the lead man in New England.
No other head coach in history has more than four.
Three head coaches in NFL history have earned the prestigious honor of first-ballot Hall of Famers: Chuck Noll, Don Shula and Tom Landry.
Belichick has as many Super Bowl rings as all three combined.
