Sports

LeBron James Slams Bill Belichick’s NFL Hall of Fame Snub

Published

2 hours ago

28 January 2026

Bill Belichick is regarded by many as the greatest head coach in NFL history, and it’s hard to argue against that.

Belichick began his career as a defensive coach with the New York Giants in 1979, eventually ascending to the role of defensive coordinator and helping the Giants win two Super Bowls in 1986 and 1990.

Belichick earned his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns, compiling a 36-44 record between 1991 and 1995. The Nashville, Tennessee native would get another crack at a head coaching job with the New England Patriots in 2000 and made it count.

Belichick would lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl title in just his second season in charge, and would go on to win five more between 2003 and 2018, forming the greatest coach-player duo in the sport’s history with Tom Brady.

After two consecutive losing seasons and with Brady gone, Belichick stepped away from New England following the 2023 season. The 73-year-old ended his NFL coaching career with 333 career wins (second all-time) in the regular season and playoffs, owning a .676 winning percentage.

The Wesleyan product — now head coach at the University of North Carolina — is a three-time NFL Coach of the Year, and led the Patriots to nine Super Bowls in 24 seasons as head coach.

Surely this kind of career would merit a Hall of Fame call in his first year of eligibility, right?

Voters disagree, apparently, as Belichick was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 on Tuesday, prompting football fans, players and media members to express their confusion and outrage online, even spilling over into other sports.

LeBron James, Other Stars in Disbelief Over Belichick HOF Snub

L.A. Lakers superstar and NBA legend LeBron James was one of the many voices to express their disbelief over the news on Tuesday, taking to X with a furious message to voters.

“Man there’s no way I read that right! Right? Ain’t no WAY Bill Belichick ain’t 1st Ballot HOF!! That’s IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!”

Hall of Fame head coach Jimmy Johnson, who won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s, also shared his reaction to Belichick’s snub on X.

Deion Sanders, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, called the decision “ignorant.”

In an appearance on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show, former star edge rusher JJ Watt had a pointed message for the voters who kept Belichick off their ballots.

““If there are only three spots, Bill Belichick is spot number one. Point blank, period.”

Don Shula, Chuck Noll and Tom Landry are the only coaches in the Hall of Fame to have been inducted in their first year of eligibility. The three have eight Super Bowl titles between them – as many as Belichick won as an assistant and head coach in the NFL.

Tom Brady Reacts to Belichick Snub

Brady, who spent 20 years with Belichick in New England, could not believe his former head coach was not selected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“I don’t understand it. If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” he said in an appearance on Brock&Salk.

“There’s no coach I’d rather play for. If I’m picking one coach to go out there and win a Super Bowl, give me one season; I’m taking Bill Belichick.”

Brady and Belichick combined for a 219-64 regular-season record together, making it to the Super Bowl nine times and lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy on six occasions.