The New England Patriots are currently beginning their preparations for Super Bowl LX, but in the buildup to this game, a shocking revelation has come to light involving their former head coach, Bill Belichick. On Tuesday night, reports emerged indicating that Belichick, who is widely regarded as the greatest head coach in NFL history, did not get selected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Unsurprisingly, the uproar in the wake of this decision has been widespread, as fans, players, and other personnel across the NFL have expressed astonishment over Belichick’s exclusion from the Hall of Fame. That group includes legendary Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson, who recently took aim at the voters who decided against voting for Belichick.
Jimmy Johnson Makes Thoughts on Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Snub Clear
Even though it was only his first year on the ballot, the overarching expectation was that Belichick would be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. Belichick is without a doubt the most accomplished head coach in the NFL, as he was the primary architect of the Patriots’ dynasty that won six Super Bowls during his time in charge.
Of course, Belichick’s stint in charge of New England didn’t come without its fair share of controversy. High-profile cheating scandals Spygate and Deflategate rocked the NFL and led some to question Belichick’s credibility as a head coach, but he always found a way rise from the ashes and lead his teams to victory.
And yet, that somehow still wasn’t enough for Belichick to find his way into the Hall on his first ballot. The snub has led to outrage from football fans everywhere, and that group includes Johnson, who is a Hall of Famer himself. Johnson believes that Belichick’s snub discredits the Hall of Fame, and he ripped voters for using scandals such as Spygate as their reason for not voting for the Pats legend.
“If they’re using that excuse (Spygate) to not put Bill Belichick in the Hall of Fame, it is absolutely ridiculous,” Johnson said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “Every voter is gonna say, ‘I voted for him,’ which is bulls***. A bunch of them are lying … It’s a real shame. No one knows the history of the NFL more than Bill Belichick. No one loves the NFL more than Bill Belichick, and it just pissed me off that it wasn’t a slam dunk, him going into the Hall of Fame.”
Will Bill Belichick Ever Get into the Hall of Fame?
GettyNorth Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick
The immediate concern that everyone had in the wake of this decision was whether or not Belichick would ever get elected to the Hall of Fame. Given the response to this snub, though, it seems like a fair bet to assume Belichick will get in next year. And yet, there’s no denying that the damage has already been done by not electing him immediately.
Serious questions about the credibility of the Hall of Fame have been raised in the wake of Belichick’s stunning snub, and those questions have popped up for good reason. Regardless of what happens in the future, though, Belichick’s legacy is already set in stone, and while he didn’t make it into the Hall of Fame this year, it’s only a matter of time until he finds his way in.
Legendary Coach Bashes Hall of Fame Over Bill Belichick Snub