Bill Belichick, the greatest head coach in NFL history, will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
On Tuesday, Seth Wickersham of ESPN reported that Belichick failed to receive 40 out of the 50 votes required for induction. The decision is baffling, to say the least.
Belichick’s achievements speak for themselves. He is an eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach with six of the titles coming during his time as head coach of the New England Patriots. In addition to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy eight times in his coaching career, Belichick was also named the AP coach of the year three times.
So, what kept Belichick out in his first year of eligibility? A former Buffalo Bills general manager.
ESPN reported that Bill Polian, Buffalo’s general manager from 1986-1992, was the most vocal figure in the deliberations surrounding Belichick.
Polian reportedly used Spygate and Deflategate as talking points as to why Belichick should not be inducted this year. A voter who spoke anonymously to Wickersham said that Polian told voters that Belichick should have to wait one year as punishment for Spygate.
Belichick holds a 302-165 regular-season record (.647 winning percentage) as a head coach in the NFL. Including the playoffs, Belichick’s record is 333-178. He is currently second all-time in wins to former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula.
It’s unknown if any of the voters who opted against voting for Belichick will come forward, but the move seems petty at best.
While Belichick will not be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, it’s doubtful that he will have to wait much longer to get enshrined. Spygate and Deflategate aside, Belichick showed he was among the most brilliant minds in the game during his tenure with the New England Patriots.