Eli Manning Shocked Bill Belichick Didn't Make Hall of Fame

Former Giants QB says Belichick is one of the greatest coaches ever

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, expressed surprise that legendary New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Manning said Belichick's sustained success and multiple Super Bowl wins make him one of the most deserving coaches to be enshrined in Canton.

Why it matters

Belichick's exclusion from the Hall of Fame this year is seen as a major snub, given his status as one of the most successful and influential coaches in NFL history. As a two-time Super Bowl winner against Belichick's Patriots, Manning's perspective provides an interesting counterpoint from a former rival player.

The details

Manning told ClutchPoints.com that he was "shocked" Belichick did not make the Hall of Fame, saying "You have one of – if not maybe the greatest coach of all time — and what he built there in New England, and the amount of Super Bowls they went to, and AFC championships, let alone just the amount that they won, it was incredible."

  • Eli Manning was voted down by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee the last two years, but was not voted in either time.

The players

Eli Manning

A former quarterback who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, and was surprised that Bill Belichick did not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.

Bill Belichick

The legendary head coach of the New England Patriots, who has won six Super Bowls but was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.

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What they’re saying

“Bill Belichick not making the Hall of Fame is pretty shocking. You have one of – if not maybe the greatest coach of all time — and what he built there in New England, and the amount of Super Bowls they went to, and AFC championships, let alone just the amount that they won, it was incredible. I can't imagine a more deserving coach to make it in the Hall of Fame than him.”

— Eli Manning, Former NFL Quarterback (ClutchPoints.com)

The takeaway

Eli Manning's surprise at Bill Belichick's exclusion from the Hall of Fame this year underscores just how dominant and successful Belichick's tenure with the Patriots has been. As a former rival who defeated Belichick's teams in two Super Bowls, Manning's perspective provides additional credibility to the argument that Belichick is one of the most deserving coaches to be enshrined in Canton.