The sporting world has erupted in fury after legendary coach Bill Belichick was sensationally snubbed from the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Belichick, an eight-time Super Bowl winner, failed to secure the necessary 40 votes for first-ballot induction in a decision that has left icons of the game baffled.
The 73-year-old, who won a record six titles as head coach of the New England Patriots, was informed of the shocking rejection on Friday afternoon.
As news of the snub broke on Tuesday evening, some of the biggest names in global sport took to social media to blast the selection committee.
NBA superstar LeBron James led the charge, admitting he was in total disbelief at the news. ‘Man there’s no way I read that right! Right?’ James posted on X.
‘Ain’t no WAY Bill Belichick ain’t 1st Ballot HOF!! That’s IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!’
LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes were among the sport stars who were left baffled by news that NFL legend Bill Belichick had been snubbed of a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Bill Belichick has more Super Bowl titles (six) than any head coach in NFL history
The sentiment was shared by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is currently chasing Belichick’s championship records.
Mahomes described the omission as ‘Insane,’ adding: ‘don’t even understand how this could be possible’.
Former defensive juggernaut JJ Watt was equally scathing, questioning the very legitimacy of the institution.
‘I can’t be reading this right,’ Watt wrote. ‘This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can’t be the actual NFL Hall of Fame’.
Watt continued his defense of the coaching great, insisting: ‘There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer’.
Another former rival player, ESPN analyst and ex-Steelers safety Ryan Clark, believes Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history.
‘Bill Belichick not being a first ballot Hall of Famer means that no coach should ever be,’ Clark wrote on X. ‘It means that the voters have decided there isn’t a coaching resume that warrants First Ballot consideration!
‘He is the GREATEST, most ACCOMPLISHED coach of all time! This is egregious!’
Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson attend Michael Rubin’s 2025 Fanatics Super Bowl Party
Notably, Belichick’s partner, Jordon Hudson, has yet to comment on the snub.
Belichick reportedly feels ‘puzzled’ and ‘disappointed’ by the outcome after failing to reach the 80-percent threshold required for enshrinement.
Sources close to the coach have pointed the finger at ‘politics’ within the 50-person selection committee, which is primarily composed of media members.
‘Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?’ one source told ESPN. ‘What does a guy have to do?’
The snub is particularly stinging given that Patriots owner Robert Kraft, with whom Belichick shared a famously fractured relationship, remains a finalist for this year’s class.
Belichick’s detractors often point to past controversies, including the infamous 2007 ‘Spygate’ scandal, as a stain on his immense resume.
Despite the setback, the North Carolina head coach remains eligible for induction for the next 20 years.
The Class of 2026 will be officially announced on February 5 in San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
