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The report that the former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would not be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in the first ballot, sparking strong reactions in the sports world.
According to ESPN, Belichick – who won two Super Bowl rings as an assistant with the New York Giants before coaching the Patriots to six titles – received 40 of the 50 votes required for induction. Long presumed to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Belichick’s omission raised questions about plummeting votes.
San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer Brent Jones was among those who weighed in on Belichick’s snub.
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FILE – Bill Belichick, then head coach of the New England Patriots, during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, file)
“It was pretty harsh. I didn’t see it coming. I understand that he certainly may have angered some members of the media over the years. I think punishing him for a year, unfortunately, I think it taints the Hall of Fame a little bit,” Jones told PK Press Club Digital.
The former 49ers tight end played a key role in San Francisco’s back-to-back Super Bowl titles before adding a third in 1994. Jones cited Belichick’s success on the game’s biggest stage and said he believed the former NFL coach would ultimately be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
“A guy who has eight Super Bowl rings…it doesn’t even seem real. I have three and I think it’s outrageous, and I can’t even imagine eight. He’s obviously going to get in there, but it kind of made everyone in the Hall of Fame probably not look as good as they would like before the Super Bowl and all the publicity that goes around that – and especially the announcement of the new Hall of Famers.”
San Francisco 49ers Tight End (84) Brent Jones scores the ball after a touchdown during the 1989 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Candlestick Park on January 14, 1990 in San Francisco, California. (USA TODAY Sports)
Jones was chosen to host the 38th edition of the annual event. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will receive the Bart Starr Athletes in Action Award during the breakfast. Each year’s recipient is recognized for demonstrating “outstanding character and leadership at home, on the field and in the community.”
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This year’s Super Bowl is being held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the 49ers since 2014. The Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship to claim their spot in next week’s game, while the New England Patriots outlasted the Denver Broncos in a snowy AFC title game.
The Seahawks opened as favorites in the Super Bowl XLIX rematch. Jones believes the Seahawks could end up winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
“Seattle…has the best defense in the league. I think Sam Darnold has been a great story. I’ve seen him week in and week out in the NFC West and my view is the Seahawks will be this year’s champions. But the Patriots might have something to say about that.”
San Francisco 49ers tight end Brent Jones (84) watches from the line of scrimmage as he tackles Kirk Scrafford #76 during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome on October 15, 1995 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (George Gojkovitch/Getty Images)
In addition to his eight championship rings, Belichick’s coaching resume includes 333 total victories, including playoff victories. That number is behind Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s 347 wins on the all-time list.
ESPN reported that Belichick was “puzzled” and “disappointed” when he learned he was not elected this year. The current North Carolina football coach also wondered what more he needed to accomplish to gain the support needed for his first-round bid. “Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” he asked an associate, sources told ESPN.
This year – and for the first time – longtime Patriots owner Robert Kraft was also a Hall of Fame finalist. It is unclear whether Kraft or any other finalists were elected to the Class of 2026.
Chuck Knox, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Buddy Parker and Mike Shanahan were the other semifinalists in the 2026 coaching category.
