NFL great Tom Brady joined the chorus of criticism levelled at Pro Football Hall-of-Fame voters, following the decision to snub Bill Belichick
The six-time Super Bowl champion head coach didn't get voted to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, which has come as a huge shock to the NFL world.
Belichick fell short of the 40 out of 50 votes needed.
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The legendary coach is said to be "puzzled" and "disappointed" by the news.
ESPN reported that Belichick asked an associate, "Six Super Bowls isn't enough?"
The man who was there for every one of those Super Bowl wins, Tom Brady, expressed shock over the decision to leave Belichick off the list as soon as he's eligible.
"I don't understand it," Brady told Seattle radio station Brock and Salk.
"If he's not a first ballot Hall of Famer then there's really no coach who should ever be a first ballot hall of famer which is completely ridiculous.
"He's incredible. There's no coach I'd rather play for.
"When it comes down to votes and popularity, well, welcome to the world of voting. You may as well try out for the Oscars," he continued.
"It's the way it works unfortunately."
The report of Belichick's snub was met with significant criticism on social media from current and past players, as well as those within NFL media.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was one of the first to slam the call as well as retired players JJ Watt and Ryan Clark.
"Insane … don't even understand how this could be possible," he said via X.
https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/2016285161659175134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/JJWatt/status/2016276953905398115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/2016278090247233995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/Realrclark25/status/2016282011791499272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Even NBA superstar LeBron James took to social media to voice his displeasure.
"Man there's no way I read that right! Right? Ain't no way Bill Belichick ain't first ballot HOF," he said via X.
"That's impossible, egregious, and quite frankly disrespectful."
https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/2016301261113655646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/Espngreeny/status/2016304058978414991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Jimmy Johnson – the legendary Dallas Cowboys coach of the 1990s – was scathing in his reaction to the news.
"I would like to know the names of the assholes who did not vote for him," he said.
"They are too cowardly to identify themselves."
https://x.com/JimmyJohnson/status/2016292830331736227
Belichick was hired by New England in 2000 and led the franchise to six Super Bowl titles and three other appearances in the title game during an 18-year span.
His 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs with New England and Cleveland are the second most to Don Shula’s 347. He won NFL Coach of the Year honours three times.
Belichick also was one of the game’s top defensive coordinators before taking over in New England, winning two earlier Super Bowls with the New York Giants.
Belichick’s career did have blemishes. He was implicated in a sign-stealing scandal dubbed “Spygate” in the 2007 season and was fined $500,000 after the team was caught filming defensive signals from the New York Jets during a game.
He formed an iconic partnership with legendary quarterback and arguably the greatest player of all-time, Tom Brady, during their time together with the Pats.
His tenure in New England ended following the 2023 season and he just finished his first year coaching in college at North Carolina.
Belichick was one of five finalists among coaches, contributors and senior players who last appeared in a game in 2000 or earlier. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was the contributor finalist, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood the players.
Between one and three of those finalists will be inducted into the Hall along with between three and five modern-era players from a group of 15 finalists.
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