How many Super Bowls did Bill Belichick have to win to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot?
Apparently eight, including six as head coach of the New England Patriots, was not the correct answer.
In some of the most shocking football news you’ll hear all offseason, Belichick failed to make the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham reported Tuesday that he fell short of the 40 out of 50 votes he needed to be inducted.
“Belichick received a call from a Hall representative last Friday afternoon with the news that he won’t be inducted into the Hall in Canton, Ohio, this summer,” ESPN wrote. “Several sources who spoke with the coach over the weekend described Belichick as ‘puzzled’ and ‘disappointed’ by his inability to secure support from at least 80% of Hall committee members.”
Belichick had those six Super Bowls with the Pats, as well as two as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
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How did Bill Belichick not get into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot?
ESPN quoted one source as saying, “Politics kept him out. He doesn’t believe this is a reflection on his accomplishments.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has been historically more stingy about first-ballot inductees than some of the other sports’ halls, but this seems incredibly egregious.
Belichick has a career coaching record in the NFL of 333-178 as a head coach when you include the playoffs.
Those 333 wins are second all time to Don Shula’s 347.
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Patriots owner Robert Kraft is also a finalist this year, but ESPN reported that it’s “unknown” who did get in, just that Belichick didn’t.
Belichick is tied to a couple of scandals, including Spygate and Deflategate.
ESPN quoted Peter King, a 32-year voter who didn’t cast a ballot this year as saying, “Holy f—! Oh f—!… I’m very, very surprised… A lot of things happen in that room that are unexpected. And of course this is a big surprise to me.”
On the ballot, Belichick is competing against Kraft and three senior nominees: Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood. Voters could select only three finalists, which can contribute to it being tough to reach 80%.
But still, it’s quite the shock. Belichick may very well reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame eventually, but not on the first try.
