Roger Craig Earns Hall of Fame Enshrinement, Belichick Left Out

The former 49ers running back was the lone senior player elected, while Bill Belichick was controversially excluded from the class.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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After nearly three decades since his last NFL snap, Roger Craig has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, Craig's induction came through a new and controversial voting process that left out legendary coach Bill Belichick, sparking debate about the fairness of the system.

Why it matters

Craig's election is a deserved honor for the former All-Pro running back, who won three Super Bowls with the 49ers in the 1980s. But the process that led to his selection, and Belichick's exclusion, has raised questions about the Hall of Fame's voting procedures and whether they adequately recognize the contributions of both modern-era and senior candidates.

The details

The 2026 Hall of Fame class consists of Craig, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly and Vinatieri were elected through the traditional modern-era process, requiring 80% approval from the Hall's 50-person selection committee. Craig, however, was one of three senior players on the ballot, competing against former Bengals QB Ken Anderson, former Steelers DE L.C. Greenwood, Belichick, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Due to a recent rule change, only one of the five senior/contributor candidates could be elected, and Craig was the lone one to clear the 80% threshold.

  • Craig last played in the NFL in 1993.
  • The 2026 Hall of Fame class was announced on February 6, 2026.

The players

Roger Craig

A former All-Pro running back who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

Bill Belichick

The legendary NFL head coach who was controversially excluded from the 2026 Hall of Fame class despite his record-setting success and multiple Super Bowl championships.

Ken Anderson

A former quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals who was one of the three senior candidates competing against Craig, Belichick and others for Hall of Fame enshrinement.

L.C. Greenwood

A former defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers who was one of the three senior candidates competing against Craig, Belichick and others for Hall of Fame enshrinement.

Robert Kraft

The owner of the New England Patriots who was elected as the contributor candidate in the 2026 Hall of Fame class, competing against the senior candidates and Belichick.

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What they’re saying

“I felt duty-bound to vote for the richly deserving seniors, who most likely won't ever have a hearing again as more senior candidates enter the pool and fresh cases get made for others.”

— Charean Williams, Pro Football Talk (Pro Football Talk)

“Belichick not making it this time around will only make it harder for the senior and contributor candidates next year, and those could very well be deserving names too. It could even be Kraft again, and it's entirely possible those two split the Patriots vote this year.”

— Charean Williams, Pro Football Talk (Pro Football Talk)

What’s next

The Hall of Fame's voting process and criteria will likely face increased scrutiny and calls for reform in the wake of Belichick's exclusion from the 2026 class.

The takeaway

Roger Craig's long-awaited Hall of Fame enshrinement is a testament to his excellence as a player, but the controversial process that led to his selection, and the exclusion of Bill Belichick, has raised serious questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the Hall's voting system in recognizing both modern-era and senior candidates.