Could Bill Belichick’s Legacy Finally Earn Him a Spot in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Bill Belichick’s quest for his inaugural ACC victory on the sidelines at the University of North Carolina continues to captivate fans and critics alike, blending his notorious off-field controversies with a painfully slow start on the gridiron. It’s a curious intersection—where his reputation for masterminding six Super Bowl triumphs with the New England Patriots rubs up against his recent coaching struggles. Yet, despite the mixed bag of drama and results, Belichick remains firmly in the spotlight, chosen among a dozen coaching legends jockeying for a spot in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. When you consider his legacy—302 regular-season wins, third all-time, and an unparalleled partnership with Tom Brady—there’s a compelling narrative about greatness in transition, redemption, and the complex journey of a coaching titan. The tumult following Brady’s exit, coupled with his fractious split from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, layers additional intrigue onto Belichick’s storied path. Alongside other luminaries like Tom Coughlin and Mike Shanahan, who also boast multiple Super Bowl rings, Belichick now embarks on a new chapter—his first eligibility for Hall of Fame induction. The process ahead will whittle down these giants, but no matter the outcome, Bill’s impact on football is indelible and endlessly fascinating. LEARN MORE

While Bill Belichick is still searching for his first ACC win as the head coach at the University of North Carolina, where his off-field drama has converged with underwhelming on-field results, he is among the 12 coaches still in the running for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Belichick won six Super Bowl titles as the New England Patriots’ head coach, teaming up with three-time NFL MVP quarterback Tom Brady to establish a two-decade dynasty. Belichick’s 302 regular-season wins ranks third all-time, behind only Don Shula and George Halas.

But Brady’s departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and Belichick’s subsequent struggles in New England, followed by his messy parting with the organization — and Patriots owner Robert Kraft in particular — have complicated his legacy.

Belichick is joined by 11 other coaches who moved a step closer to earning a spot in Canton on Tuesday: Bill Arnsparger, Tom Coughlin, Alex Gibbs, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Mike Shanahan and Clark Shaughnessy.

FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he celebrates after the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) — Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Notably, Coughlin won two Super Bowls as the head coach of the New York Giants against Belichick’s Patriots, including one during the 2007 season when the Patriots won their first 18 games.

Shanahan and Seifert also won a pair of Super Bowls in head-coaching roles. Seifert picked up where Bill Walsh left off in San Francisco and piloted the 49ers to their second straight title, with Joe Montana still running the show at quarterback. He was also at the helm when Steve Young threw six touchdowns against the then-San Diego Chargers to cap off the 1994 season. As for Shanahan, he helped John Elway ride off into the sunset with back-to-back Denver Broncos championships in 1997 and 1998.

Shanahan beat Holmgren in the first of those two Super Bowls. Holmgren won one with the Green Bay Packers the season prior. He got to another with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2005 season.

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Because of rule changes that went into effect last year, candidates in the “coach” category of the Hall only have to be retired from professional football for one full season after an election cycle has started.

This is the first year Belichick is eligible.

A blue-ribbon committee will shrink the field to nine semifinalists next month. That group will eventually be whittled down to one finalist, who will join one contributor and up to three senior candidates for a final vote. As many as three of them will reach the Hall, with each candidate needing at least 80% affirmative votes from the full committee.