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Legendary former Patriots coach Bill Belichick falls short of Pro Football Hall of Fame on first ballot
- On Jan. 27, 2026, Bill Belichick did not receive the 40 votes required from the 50-person Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and was notified last Friday that he will not be inducted in Canton, Ohio, this summer.
- Voters recalled past scandals as multiple sources told ESPN that Spygate and Deflategate influenced opinions, while Hall of Famer and former general manager Bill Polian urged some voters to "wait a year" as penance for Spygate.
- With a 333-178 record including playoffs, Bill Belichick earned eight Super Bowl rings, six as head coach, plus 17 division titles and nine conference championships.
- Belichick will be eligible again next year, and longtime Hall voter Peter King said, `It pushes all three of these coaches back a year`, affecting Shanahan, Coughlin and Holmgren.
- Peter King reacted that `A lot of things happen in that room that are unexpected. And of course this is a big surprise to me,` while Patrick Mahomes and J.J. Watt questioned the result on social media.
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Polemic. It could even seem in the eyes of many to seem cocky, and even a little haughty. But what is undeniable is that Bill Belichick is the most successful head coach in NFL history. He achieved six championships, more than...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources287
Leaning Left53Leaning Right29Center103Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 28%
C 56%
R 16%
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