For many athletes and coaches, the opportunity to step foot on the field of a National Football League game is an honor, but dominating the game is a feat only a select few can claim. To honor these accomplishments, the NFL established its Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, a sacred ground for current and former NFL players who held generational careers within the league. This site not only highlights the athletes on the field but also the coaches with immense schematic ability, who allowed great players to thrive. From the likes of the Dolphins’ Don Shula to the Cowboys’ Tom Landry, these head coaches trailblazed the position, earning their spot with the greats. So, when a coach wins six Super Bowl Championships, two as an assistant, three Associated Press Coach of the Year awards, and NFL records for postseason wins, division titles, and conference championships, along with many other accolades, and gets snubbed from joining this list in his first year of eligibility, something has got to change.
This, of course, is about the recent failure to induct former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who failed to become a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, something no one could have expected. Being picked within one’s first year of eligibility is only built for the cream of the crop, and many fans thought Belichick was fit for this part. All of his accolades, titles, and records add up to a career that will be remembered forever. In an interview on ESPN’s NFL Live, Adam Schefter shared his time as a HOF voter, stating how the biggest determining factor for voters was answering the question, “Can the history of the NFL be written without this person?” Looking back at Belichick’s domination and complete ownership of the Patriots, he had within the AFC and beyond, as one wanted to play them, and everyone wanted to be them.
With this domination comes doubters and haters; however, as the controversies of “Spygate” and “Deflategate” were supposedly the background noise within the voting circle, per Brad Crawford at CBS Sports. Tom Brady chimed in, saying, “I was with him every day. If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Which is completely ridiculous, because people deserve it. He’s incredible. There’s no coach I’d rather play for. If I’m taking one coach to go out there to win a Super Bowl, give me one season, I’m taking Bill Belichick. So that’s enough said.” This anger can be shared among many players, coaches, and fans alike as the masses back up Coach Belichick.
Overall, this HOF snub creates a new double standard within the HOF voting system. If the voters are going to punish Belichick for the controversies that occurred during his tenure, then they have to slander NFL greats like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, an action that probably will not happen. Just because Belichick is not the most personable person, with many enemies, does not mean he does not deserve to be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. The problem is, it happened, and there is nothing that can be done for no-ballot Belichick.
