Seahawks and Patriots players discuss Belichick’s Hall of Fame case
Ahead of Super Bowl LX, Seahawks and Patriots players are weighing whether to induct Bill Belichick into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
- Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
- The Class of 2026 also includes Adam Vinatieri, Luke Kuechly, and Roger Craig.
- Former 49ers running back Roger Craig has been named a senior finalist after waiting 28 years.
- Coach Bill Belichick and contributor Robert Kraft were not selected for this year’s Hall of Fame induction.
SAN FRANCISCO – No more surprises. It’s official.
Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald were first-ballot Hall of Famers.
Leaks in recent days have revealed that Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft are surprisingly snubbed, and Brees and Fitzgerald, who rank second all-time in career passing and receiving yards, respectively, have been named to headline the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class to be announced at the NFL Honors Show on February 5th at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Adam Vinatieri, Luke Cookley and Roger Craig also headed to Canton.
The five members will be enshrined in a ceremony at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on August 8.
49ers legend Roger Craig ends 28-year wait to be inducted into the Hall of Fame
While most of the class entered selection relatively early, Vinatieri and Kukree were selected in just their second year of eligibility, while Craig finally received his hall call after waiting 28 years.
The former San Francisco 49ers running back, who became the first player in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, was inducted into the Hall of Fame as one of three finalists in the senior division.
Vinatieri, on the other hand, entered as the fifth kicker, but became perhaps the most clutch kicker of all time. During his 24-year career, he was the leading scorer for two franchises, helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls, and then won another ring with the Indianapolis Colts.
Kuechly, who played his entire eight-year career with the Carolina Panthers, topped 100 tackles in each season and had more interceptions (18) than any inside linebacker during that span.
Brees, who led the New Orleans Saints to the Super Bowl 44 MVP award, is the third QB to be selected in the past 10 years and the first since Peyton Manning in 2021. His 80,358 passing yards and 571 TDs during his 20-year career, with five 5,000-yard seasons, are big numbers that go a long way in measuring his impact.
The same can be said for Fitzgerald, who spent his entire 17-year career with the Arizona Cardinals. Fitzgerald’s career records include 1,432 receptions and 17,492 receiving yards, a total surpassed only by Jerry Rice.
Patriots’ Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft will have to wait another year
Again, high performance is only part of the equation when it comes to getting a hole call. Belichick led the Patriots to six Super Bowls and is the second-leading coach of all-time with 333 wins, but he still has to wait to be named a finalist in the coaching category as he did not receive 80% of the votes.
Belichick’s selection follows Mike Holmgren and Buddy Parker, marking the third year in a row that no final manager candidate was selected by the selection committee.
Kraft made a record 11th appearance in the Super Bowl, but was unable to advance as a contributor.
Belichick and Kraft could be finalists again next year if they are selected again by the coaches and contributors subcommittee. stay tuned.
Willie Anderson, Terrell Suggs, Marshall Yanda on 2027 Hall Ballot
Three finalists in the Modern Player category (Willie Anderson, Terrell Suggs and Marshall Yanda) have already advanced to the final seven, per Hall rules.
But for now, amidst the noise stirred up by big-time detractors, the Hall can focus on celebrating its newly elected Class of 2026.
Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow X: @JarrettBell.
