Why my vote on Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame candidacy was an easy decision

I’ve been a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the last three years. It’s something I take seriously, and it’s a privilege to be involved in the process.

Voting on the greats of the game isn’t an easy task. You’re joined by 49 others who also have their opinions on every eligible player, coach and contributor.

Sometimes you hear a player’s name and know he’s a Hall of Famer without looking at the statistics and accolades. For other players, you might need to do some convincing or conduct more research into their careers.

Over the last 24 hours, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and its voters have come under siege after ESPN, and later The Athletic, reported New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not make the Class of 2026 in his first year of eligibility. Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion as a head coach.

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The reasons behind this result are complex and won’t fully be known unless voters publicly explain their decisions. Voters are allowed to reveal for whom they voted but can’t discuss what transpired during Hall of Fame meetings, via the bylaws.

One issue is whether some voters are punishing Belichick for his role in two cheating scandals, Spygate and Deflategate. Another issue is the rules the 50 voters must follow to elect an eligible player, coach or contributor.

Candidates must receive at least 80% of the vote to get into the Hall.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame separates Modern Era players from coaches, contributors and senior players. So voters first must vote among five candidates in the coach/contributor and senior player category.

Belichick was paired with his former boss, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 49ers running back Roger Craig, Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood and Bengals quarterback Kenny Anderson.

Of that group, whoever gets at least 80% of the vote is elected. At best, maybe two or three from that group will make it.

Then there are the 15 players from the Modern Era. Again, whoever gets to that 80% is elected.

FILE - Then-New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the second half of an NFL...

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is determined to keep class sizes small and wants voters to make tough decisions.

As of today, none of the voters have been told if Belichick or anyone else was elected. Voters used to know on the day we voted on the final class, but leaks to the media last year forced the Hall to withhold that information.

At some point, voters will find out before next week’s announcement.

But after what happened regarding Belichick’s omission, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Hall decides to keep it to themselves until next Thursday, when the class will be publicly announced.

The Belichick news begs the question: Just how difficult is it to be a voter for a Hall of Fame?

I asked our own Evan Grant, Texas Rangers beat writer and a baseball Hall of Fame voter for over 20 years.

“No matter how hard you try to make it scientific, there is still a subjective element to it,” Grant said. “Numbers, longevity, accomplishments all matter, but so does something I’ve come to call ‘indelible moments.’ And those change depending on people’s eyes and memories. I wouldn’t say it’s hard to vote for the Hall of Fame; it’s a privilege. But it’s hard to please everybody with your vote. That said, I always make my vote public and try to explain my thinking to people. The Baseball Hall of Fame is, most of all, for the fans and the least I can do is be transparent about it.”

Bob Glauber is a retired NFL writer from Newsday in New York and was a football Hall of Fame voter for 17 classes.

So Bob, is it hard to vote?

“It’s very challenging, it’s a very thorough process in terms of start to finish,” he said. “You have to make some tough calls along the way because not everybody gets in. But I think generally, the right people do get in. It’s a matter of when and sometimes that wait is difficult for everyone, not only the players but for the voters, too.”

For the record, Glauber no longer votes for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he noted he would have voted for Belichick.

When it comes to myself, I understand the scandals involving Belichick might give some voters pause about making him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

However, I’m reminded how defensive end Julius Peppers was voted in on the first ballot for the Class of 2024 after a 17-year career where he earned a Defensive Player of the Year award, three All-Pro teams and was named to an All-Decade team in the 2000s and 2010s.

Peppers was suspended for the final four games of his rookie season in 2002 for testing positive for a banned substance.

Nobody held that against him.

When it comes to Belichick, he should be in the Hall of Fame. I voted for him because he’s deserving. The man won six Super Bowls as a head coach, was a defensive coordinator for two more title teams, rebuilt the Patriots into a dynasty and is one of the more respected coaches in the history of the game.

It’s an easy decision.

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