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The football world was stunned Tuesday night when it was initially reported that eight-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
ESPN first reported that Belichick would not be inducted into the Hall of Fame this time. The outlet, citing sources, reported that Belichick was “baffled” and “disappointed” with the decision and was wondering what else he needed to do as a head coach to come in right away.
However, the outlet also reported that Spygate and Deflategate were points of contention and “upset some guys,” leading some to convince other voters that Belichick should be punished by waiting a year to join. The 2007 spy scandal cost the team a first-round pick and $250,000, while Belichick was fined $500,000. Deflategate resulted in a four-game suspension for Tom Brady and $1 million in fines and made its way to the United States courts.
Bill Polian speaks during the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Canton, Ohio. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ESPN reported that Bill Polian, a rival general manager during Belichick’s years with the New England Patriots, was one of the voters who told others that Belichick should “wait a year” before being brought in.
Polian denied that idea to ESPN and told Sports Illustrated that the allegations were “totally and categorically false.”
“I was surprised to find out that Bill didn’t get in. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame,” Polian told ESPN.
Polian also told SI that he “voted for” Belichick, but ESPN said Polian told them he couldn’t remember with 100% certainty if he did.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick smiles as he leaves the field during training camp in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
ESPN also said Polian “heard his fellow voters ‘raise that idea'” of a year of penance “but insisted he neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposal.”
The final list of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees will be released before Super Bowl LX. Belichick was among the candidates in a separate group in the modern era players category, along with Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, LC Greenwood and Robert Kraft.
Six of Belichick’s titles came as head coach of the Patriots and the other two as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
Belichick, currently the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, was 302-165 in his career as a head coach with the Patriots and Cleveland Browns. He and the Patriots mutually parted ways after the 2023 campaign after 24 seasons.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick announces he is leaving the team during a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on January 11, 2024. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
He had a controversial end with both the Browns and the New York Jets. The Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens under the cover of darkness, leaving the entire franchise in the city. As he was set to take over as the Jets’ head coach, he resigned as “NYJ HC” in his inaugural press conference and decided to accept the New England job.
