- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Terrell Owens Calls Hall of Fame Process 'Broken' After Belichick, Kraft Snubs
NFL legend criticizes exclusion of Patriots coach and owner from prestigious institution.
Published on Feb. 4, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Former NFL star Terrell Owens has spoken out against the Pro Football Hall of Fame's decision to exclude New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft, calling the process 'plain dumb' and suggesting that the Hall's president and voting writers should be held accountable.
Why it matters
Owens' comments highlight growing concerns about the fairness and transparency of the Hall of Fame selection process, especially given the Patriots' unparalleled success under Belichick and Kraft's leadership.
The details
Owens, a six-time Pro Bowler who was himself inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 after being passed over twice, said the exclusion of Belichick and Kraft 'shows the system is flawed' and that 'something has to be done.' He placed blame on Hall of Fame president Jim Porter as well as the voting writers, suggesting they should be 'stripped of their position' if they are not adhering to the institution's guidelines and mission.
- The Hall of Fame decisions were made ahead of Super Bowl LX on February 4, 2026.
- Owens made his comments in an interview with CNBC Sport in San Francisco prior to the Super Bowl.
The players
Terrell Owens
A former NFL wide receiver who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 after being passed over twice, and is now criticizing the Hall's selection process.
Bill Belichick
The longtime head coach of the New England Patriots, who has led the team to a record-tying six Super Bowl championships but was not selected for the Hall of Fame.
Robert Kraft
The owner of the New England Patriots, whose team's success under his leadership has not been recognized with a Hall of Fame induction.
Jim Porter
The president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, whom Owens suggests should be held accountable for the perceived flaws in the selection process.
What they’re saying
“It's just plain dumb. Something has to change.”
— Terrell Owens, Former NFL Player (CNBC Sport)
“He has to change or make some some adjustments or amendments into either the criteria or the mission statement of the Hall of Fame. Something has to be done.”
— Terrell Owens, Former NFL Player (CNBC Sport)
“Whoever put the guidelines and the bylaws in place to ultimately land coaches and athletes in the most prestigious place that you could ever be, and that's Canton. If the people that you're appointed aren't adhering to that, then something's wrong. They should be held accountable. They should be stripped of their position.”
— Terrell Owens, Former NFL Player (CNBC Sport)
What’s next
The Pro Football Hall of Fame did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Owens' criticisms.
The takeaway
Owens' outspoken comments underscore the growing debate around the fairness and transparency of the Hall of Fame selection process, particularly as it relates to the exclusion of high-profile figures like Belichick and Kraft despite their teams' unparalleled success. This controversy could prompt the Hall to re-examine its criteria and voting procedures in the coming months.
