Why Bill Belichick Snub Shouldn't Be Overturned by Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bill Belichick's name will always be connected to an NFL dynasty that spanned nearly two decades. Yet that may not be enough for him to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, which is an absolute stunner.

According to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham, the 50-person Selection Committee didn't vote Belichick in on the first ballot. He fell short of the 40 votes needed (80 percent approval).

For context, Pro Football Hall of Fame voters had to choose three of five candidates from one category, which includes coaches, contributors and seniors, which some believe makes it more difficult for deserving individuals to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

Regardless, you would think Belichick deserved the sport's most prestigious honor this year for his accomplishments as a defensive coordinator and head coach.

Though there are reasons for and against Belichick to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the Selection Committee's votes should stand.

Why Bill Belichick Shouldn't Be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Voters aren't allowed to share insight on the deliberations. Among those shocked by the reported results, many believe the scandals surrounding the Patriots' dynastic run factored into Belichick coming up short on the ballot.

According to the report from Van Natta and Wickersham, voters brought up Spygate and Deflategate when assessing Belichick's resume, with Hall of Famer Bill Polian's name coming up in that regard.

"A voter who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Polian, an ardent Kraft supporter and former general manager of the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts–a chief Patriots rival during their dynasty—told some voters he believed Belichick should 'wait a year' before induction as penance for Spygate, the 2007 cheating scandal that cost the team a first-round draft pick."

In an interview with ESPN, Polian denied using Spygate as a reason to not vote for Belichick, but the 2015 Hall of Fame inductee doesn't remember "with 100 percent certainty" if he voted for the former Patriots head coach.

Remember the NFL stripped the Patriots of a 2008 first-round pick, fined Belichick $500,000, and the Patriots $250,000 after its investigation into Spygate. Moreover, the league took away a 2016 first-round pick and a 2017 fourth-round pick for Deflategate. Also, New England lost a 2021 third-round pick and was fined $1.1 million for filming the field and sideline during a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

Voters who strongly believe in upholding the integrity of the game probably couldn't overlook those penalties for unethical practices.

The Kansas City Star's Vahe Gregorian offered a different perspective as to why he didn't vote for Belichick, and it has everything to do with the other candidates.

"…I didn't vote against Belichick or Kraft," Gregorian wrote. 

"I voted for the three senior candidates: Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood."

Anderson, a longtime Bengals quarterback, led the league in multiple passing categories in different years and won 1981 league MVP. Greenwood won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and made the 1970s All-Decade Team as a key figure in the "Steel Curtain" defense. Craig, who's a three-time Super Bowl champion on the 1980s All-Decade Team, was the first player to record 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season.

Gregorian didn't necessarily make a case against Belichick, though he felt a few players were "long deserving" for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and may not get another shot at induction. 

Why Bill Belichick Should Be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File

Although it's not an apples-to-apples comparison when lining up Belichick's resume against that of three elite players, one can easily argue that he was more distinguished in his coaching role. 

As a lead skipper, Belichick won six Super Bowls, is the all-time leader in postseason victories with 31 and has the second-most wins with 333. Under his tutelage, the Patriots won 17 division titles, the most of any NFL head coach.

When you add in Belichick's time as the New York Giants defensive coordinator, his top-two scoring defenses were a significant factor in Big Blue's two Super Bowl runs in 1986 and 1990.

According to Van Natta and Wickersham's report, Belichick said to an associate, "What does a guy have to do?"

When you look back on the 73-year-old's NFL coaching career, he's put together a resume no one else may match for quite some time or ever, which should be recognized on the first ballot. 

Everyone should be shocked by the lack of support for one of the game's most accomplished head coaches. 

Peter King, a former NFL scribe who was on the Selection Committee for 32 years, pretty much summed it up in a quote to ESPN.

"A lot of things happen in that room that are unexpected. And of course, this is a big surprise to me."

Why Bill Belichick Snub Shouldn't Be Overturned by Pro Football Hall of Fame

AP Photo/Steven Senne, File

As is the case every year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will review the selection process and the makeup of the Selection Committee. It posted a statement on Wednesday, via NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has yet to overturn a vote, and it should stay that way. 

Though Belichick has a first-ballot resume, a reversal could undermine the selection process, with skeptics wondering if a candidate was snubbed for illogical reasons every year.

Also, if voters make decisions out of concern for pushback, outside pressure would taint the process. This isn't the Pro Bowl voting; the Selection Committee must uphold a standard removed from the perception of the general public.

Eventually, Belichick will be a Hall of Famer. Despite the league sanctions against the Patriots on his watch, he's still recognized in the NFL record books. The all-time leader among head coaches in Super Bowl wins won't have to wait long.

Nonetheless, whether the voters made a decision that you agree or disagree with on this matter, their call should be final, but the Selection Committee must get it right next time.