Overview
- Longtime selector Gerry Dulac wrote that Belichick received 39 of the 40 votes required, the clearest tally yet reported from the January 13 meeting.
- This year’s format grouped one coach, one contributor and three seniors on a single ballot with voters limited to three selections and an 80% threshold, encouraging strategic “last‑chance” choices for seniors.
- Voters Vahe Gregorian and Mike Chappell publicly said they left Belichick off, citing priority for senior candidates and, in Chappell’s case, Spygate as a factor in favoring Robert Kraft.
- Reports from The Athletic and others say deliberations dwelled on Spygate, Deflategate and Belichick’s record without Tom Brady, with Pablo Torre relaying that some voters even weighed his potential return to coaching.
- The Hall has not released official totals and warned selectors about disclosures, while backlash and calls for transparency grew, including Tom Brady saying he didn’t understand the outcome.