Deion Sanders Criticizes Pro Football Hall of Fame Voting Process

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Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, who is a Pro Football Hall of Famer himself, has criticized the voting process for the Hall of Fame. Sanders believes that the Hall of Famers should be the ones voting on new inductees, not writers. He specifically called out the exclusion of legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft, as well as former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, from the Hall of Fame.

Why it matters

Sanders' comments highlight the ongoing debate around the Hall of Fame voting process and who should have a say in selecting new inductees. As a Hall of Famer, his perspective carries weight, and his criticism of the current system raises questions about whether it needs to be reformed to ensure more consistency in the selections.

The details

Sanders told the "This Is Football" podcast that he "wouldn't want the Grinch who stole Christmas voting on a beauty pageant." He believes the Hall of Famers themselves should be the ones making the votes, not writers, because the players who made it to the Hall understand the qualifications better. Sanders specifically called out the exclusion of Belichick and Kraft, as well as Eli Manning, from the Hall of Fame, saying the voting has been inconsistent.

• On February 7, 2026, Deion Sanders shared his thoughts on the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting process.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will need to evaluate its voting process and consider Deion Sanders' suggestion of having Hall of Famers vote on new inductees rather than writers.