Former Coach Of The Year Bashes Hall Of Fame Over Bill Belichick Snub

The New England Patriots are preparing for their biggest game of the season, Super Bowl LX. And yet, one of the biggest storylines ahead of the final game of the 2025 campaign has revolved around Bill Belichick‘s Hall of Fame candidacy.

Last week, a report emerged indicating that Belichick did not receive enough votes to get inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. While that typically wouldn’t be a major issue, Belichick has a laundry list of accolades that make him arguably the best coach in NFL history.

The reactions to this stunning snub have come flying in, and unsurprisingly, the Hall of Fame is getting bashed for its decision. Former Coach of the Year Mike Smith became the latest to join the chorus, labeling the Hall’s decision on Belichick’s candidacy as a “black spot.”

“My reaction was similar to everybody else’s,” Smith said on Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub in an interview with Betway. “Whether you’re a fan of the New England Patriots or not, it makes no difference. 

I know they changed the voting process recently, so I’m wondering if something got miscommunicated because there is no way that Bill Belichick is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer. This is a black spot on the Hall of Fame. They need to look at this immediately and review the voting situation. I was shocked.”

Earning entry to the Hall of Fame on your first ballot is typically only reserved for the best of the best, but simply put, there’s no way that Belichick isn’t a part of that crew. He will make it in eventually, but still, there’s no way this should have ever happened.

Smith calls for some sort of reform to the voting process that resulted in both Belichick and Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft missing out on entry into the Hall of Fame, and after this glaring mishap, he may have a point. For now, though, both Belichick and Kraft are left waiting to get into the Hall of Fame.