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New England Patriots legend Rodney Harrison appeared to lash out at fellow teammate Tony Dungy after Bill Belichick was voted out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the first round.
Hall of Fame voters’ decision to keep Belichick out of Canton on the first ballot sparked backlash across the NFL world. Social media began banding together to try to find the voters who decided not to give Belichick the green light.
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Rodney Harrison (left) and Tony Dungy talk on the field before the game between the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium on November 10, 2024. (Trojan Taormina/Imagn Images)
Dungy, the former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, was accused of being one of the voters who did not support Belichick. He did not reveal his vote and Harrison appeared to be speaking directly to Dungy when he defended his former head coach.
“Any list that doesn’t include Bill Belichick at the top is absolutely wrong,” Harrison said during NBC’s Super Bowl LX coverage. “And a lot of these players that we mention are great players. I played with Drew Brees, I played with Adam Vinatieri, but there’s no one more deserving than Coach Belichick.
TRUMP ELIMINATES BILL BELICHICK’S “CONTROLOUS” YEARS AMID HALL OF FAME SNUB
NBC sports broadcaster Rodney Harrison during the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills at SOFI Stadium. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
“I’ve seen his greatness. I’ve seen him design defenses to stop your (Dungy’s) offense. Just look at the players he’s hit. He’s been unbelievable. And when I look across the Hall of Fame…Tom BradyTom Brady wouldn’t be Tom Brady without Bill Belichick. And that’s what’s disappointing, coach. And you guys were wrong.”
Dungy, again, would not say whether he voted for Belichick, citing an “oath” he took to avoid discussing his behind-the-scenes actions. Outside of the category Belichick was in – along with Robert Kraft, Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and LC Greenwood – he didn’t get enough votes. Craig was elected to the Hall of Fame among these selections.
Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after giving up a first quarter touchdown to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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The Super Bowl champion’s coach challenged the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s voting procedures.
“People think we voted against Bill Belichick,” Dungy said. “We didn’t do it. In fact, the exact same vote. In fact, if the same vote had taken place, with the same total as two years ago, Bill Belichick would have been elected, as would another deserving Hall of Famer, and that’s why I’m upset. It’s not fair.”
