Hall of Fame Urged to Rectify 'Egregious Mistake' in Belichick Snub

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky calls on the Pro Football Hall of Fame to reverse its decision to not induct Bill Belichick on the first ballot.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:47pm

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ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky is urging the Pro Football Hall of Fame to reverse its decision to not induct legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick on the first ballot, calling it an "egregious mistake" that can be rectified. Orlovsky argues there is no justifiable reason for Belichick, who has the second-most wins by a head coach in NFL history and led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, to not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The Hall of Fame has never changed the results of a vote on a candidate before, but Orlovsky believes they should make an exception in this case.

Why it matters

Belichick's exclusion from the Hall of Fame on the first ballot has sparked widespread backlash, with many high-profile figures in the NFL, including players and team owners, expressing their displeasure. This decision raises questions about the Hall of Fame's voting process and whether personal biases or "bad blood" may have played a role in keeping one of the greatest coaches in NFL history out of the Hall on the first try.

The details

Belichick was part of a five-person pool of candidates separate from the 15-man modern-era ballot, in which each voter was tasked with selecting just three members to enter the Hall. Among those were three senior candidates, a contributor (Patriots owner Robert Kraft), and a coach. At least 11 Hall of Fame voters, including the Kansas City Star's Vahe Gregorian, did not vote for Belichick, with Gregorian citing a "duty-bound" decision to vote for the senior candidates who may be running out of chances to make it into the Hall.

  • The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be officially revealed on February 5 during the NFL Honors ceremony.

The players

Bill Belichick

The legendary head coach of the New England Patriots, who has the second-most wins by a head coach in NFL history and led the team to six Super Bowl championships.

Dan Orlovsky

A former NFL quarterback who now serves as an analyst for ESPN.

Vahe Gregorian

A columnist for the Kansas City Star who is one of at least 11 Hall of Fame voters who did not vote for Belichick on the first ballot.

Robert Kraft

The owner of the New England Patriots, who was included as a contributor candidate in the Hall of Fame voting.

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What they’re saying

“What a great opportunity for the Hall of Fame to make it right. And I know that — this isn't the participation trophy thing are throwing out there. There's a new voting process. It obviously is flawed. Why can't the Hall of Fame take a step back and say, 'Let's check what actually happened out here and make this right.'”

— Dan Orlovsky, ESPN Analyst

“There is not one person who has come out that's made a justifiable reason for Coach Belichick to not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. This is obviously a big deal. Unless someone does, why can't the Hall of Fame take a step back and be like, 'You know what? We reevaluated. Everyone makes a lot of good points. The process is a flawed process. Let's make sure that we do this the right way.' Because the right thing is to have him in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”

— Dan Orlovsky, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Hall of Fame will officially announce the Class of 2026, including whether Belichick is inducted, during the NFL Honors ceremony on February 5.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the need for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to closely examine its voting process and ensure that personal biases or grudges do not prevent deserving candidates, like the legendary Bill Belichick, from being inducted on the first ballot. The Hall has the opportunity to rectify this 'egregious mistake' and cement Belichick's legacy as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.