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The report former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would not be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on the first ballot sparked strong reactions throughout the sports world.
According to ESPN, Belichick — who won two Super Bowl rings as a New York Giants assistant before coaching the Patriots to six titles — received 40 of the required 50 votes for induction. Belichick’s omission long raised questions about how the votes fell.
San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer Brent Jones was among those who weighed in on Belichick’s snub.
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FILE – Then-New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
“It was pretty harsh. I didn’t see that coming. I understand that he could have definitely pissed off some members of the media over the years. I think, unfortunately, punishing him for a year, I think puts a little stain on the Hall of Fame,” Jones told Pakinomist Digital.
The former 49ers tight end played a key role in San Francisco’s back-to-back Super Bowl title runs before adding a third in 1994. Jones cited Belichick’s success on the game’s biggest stage and said he believes the former NFL coach will eventually be anchored in Canton, Ohio.
“A guy who has eight Super Bowl rings … doesn’t even sound real. I have three and I think it’s outrageous and I can’t even imagine eight. Obviously he wants to get in, but it kind of made everybody in the Hall of Fame look not as good as they wanted to get into the Super Bowl and all the publicity that’s around it — and especially the new Hall of Famers.”
San Francisco 49ers tight end (84) Brent Jones spikes the ball after a touchdown during the 1989 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Candlestick Park on January 14, 1990 in San Francisco, California. (USA TODAY Sports)
Jones has been tapped to take part in the 38th edition of the annual event. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will receive the Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award at the breakfast. Each year’s recipient is recognized for exemplifying “outstanding character and leadership at home, on the field and in the community.”
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This year’s Super Bowl will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California – the 49ers’ home since 2014. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship to claim their spot in next week’s game, while the New England Patriots outlasted the Denver Broncos in a snow-filled AFC title game.
The Seahawks opened as odds-on favorites in the Super Bowl XLIX rematch. Jones believes the Seahawks could end up earning the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
“Seattle … has the best defense in the league. I think Sam Darnold has been a great story. I’ve watched him week in and week out in the NFC West, and my perspective is that the Seahawks will be this year’s champions. But the Patriots might have something to say about that.”
San Francisco 49ers tight end Brent Jones (84) watches from the sideline next to tackle Kirk Scrafford #76 during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome on October 15, 1995 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
In addition to his eight championship rings, Belichick’s coaching resume includes 333 total victories, including postseason victories. That number trails Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s 347 wins on the all-time list.
ESPN reported that Belichick was “puzzled” and “disappointed” to learn he was not selected this year. The current North Carolina football coach also questioned what more he would need to accomplish to secure the necessary support for his candidacy on the first ballot. “Six Super Bowls not enough?” he asked a colleague, sources told ESPN.
This year — and for the first time — longtime Patriots owner Robert Kraft was also a Hall of Fame finalist. It is unclear whether Kraft or other finalists were selected for the 2026 class.
Chuck Knox, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Buddy Parker and Mike Shanahan, were the other semifinalists in the 2026 coaches category.
