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Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey said Wednesday it was “unfortunate” that Bill Belichick failed to get into Canton on the first ballot, but understood why.
Bailey suggested that Belichick’s relationship with the media may have changed the way the vote came down.
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Champ Bailey before the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 6, 2024. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
“I’m surprised. I’d love to know the rationale for not voting for him, because on one hand I could see why some people wouldn’t, and on the other hand I could see why he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Bailey said on “Up & Adams.” “There are a lot of questions surrounding his time as a head coach. You had Spygate and all the other things that happened. So you have that to worry about.
“Also, he was never very kind to the media. So what I’ve understood throughout my career, and before, and certainly after, is that your relationship with the media determines a lot of the awards that you get. I don’t think that diminishes what he’s done. I mean, he’s up to an eight-time Super Bowl champion. The guy did it all from a success standpoint, but it’s unfortunate here that we’re here. deserves to be on the first ballot that I can mention that is not first ballot. There is still a Hall of Fame and he is one of them.”
Belichick notoriously kept his answers close to the vest during his career. He would have a handful of viral moments explaining X’s and O’s from time to time. For the most part, however, he was short with reporters.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in 2023. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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It wasn’t until he left the New England Patriots that his personal life became more exposed. Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson became the talk of the sports world last year when he took over the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Still, a few direct responses to the media may not be the ultimate reason Belichick wasn’t on the first ballot. One voter suggested that the process of voting in the category he was in was handcuffed.
He was caught up in the Spygate and Deflategate scandals during his time. ESPN reported that the cheating scandals played a role in some voters’ decision about Belichick’s candidacy.
Bill Belichick answers questions during the news conference after a game between the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 24, 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Belichick’s coaching staff appeared to be as strong as ever. The Patriots return to the Super Bowl with Mike Vrabel at the helm. Vrabel won three titles under Belichick. Josh McDaniels, another Belichick staffer, also serves as the team’s offensive coordinator.
