The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one step closer to righting some wrongs.
After its selection committee controversially decided against longtime New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in his first year of eligibility, the 74-year-old is now nominated for induction for a second year.
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Belichick is one of five former coaches announced as nominees by the Hall of Fame on Thursday. He is joined by Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan.
Belichick spent time in Baltimore, Detroit and Denver before joining the New York Giants in 1979. He eventually helped the team win two Super Bowls as its defensive coordinator before departing for the Cleveland Browns. He later had stints with the Patriots and Jets before returning to New England via trade in 2000.
With Belichick at the helm, the Patriots won a combined 69% 0f their regular season and playoff games between 2000 and 2023. A three-time NFL Coach of the Year winner, he left the organization with six Super Bowl wins, nine conference championships and 17 division titles under his belt. Including his tenure with the Browns, he ranks second all-time in NFL coaching wins with 333 and first with 31 postseason victories.
Under normal circumstances, Belichick should be seen as the clear favorite to emerge past the next round of voting and eventually earn the famous golden jacket in the summer of 2027. However, as the 2026 voting process showed, anything is possible.
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In arguably the most controversial decision in the institution’s history, Belichick did not garner enough votes to clear the final hurdle — a decision that drew heavy criticism and raised questions about the integrity of the vote and those making the decisions. In the aftermath, the Hall of Fame announced sweeping changes to its process.
The next step in Belichick’s Hall of Fame journey will come Nov. 17, when the committee will decide on one finalist to be presented to the full selection committee. The final vote will take place in early 2027, with the eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame class announced in the lead-up to the Super Bowl.
Also among this year’s nominees is Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who is one of five contributors still in the running.
