Stephen A. Smith Predicts Tom Brady Won’t Be First-Ballot HOFer

New England Patriots legends have been dominating the NFL headlines in connection to Hall of Fame snubs. Bill Belichick was the big one. New reports indicate that Robert Kraft isn’t getting into the Hall this year, either.

This gave ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reason to make an outlandish claim on Tuesday during First Take. Smith used the crazy decisions on Belichick and Kraft to theorize that the Hall of Fame committee might also prevent GOAT quarterback Tom Brady from entering the Hall on a first-ballot basis.

"Based on the trend, they're going to do it to Tom Brady too. It makes no sense whatsoever, and as far as I'm concerned, it's the Hall of Shame."@stephenasmith reacts to Robert Kraft not being selected for the Pro Hall of Fame 👀 pic.twitter.com/zTjxRR7OA1

— First Take (@FirstTake) February 3, 2026

While we’re all aware that Smith was being intentionally shock-value-y here (as is the design of First Take), this was actually a funny way for Smith to call attention to the ludicrous manner in which the Hall of Fame voters are operating these days.

While Brady not getting in on the first ballot would be beyond comprehension, it wasn’t much crazier that Belichick failed to gain entry on the first try. It was a complete travesty and joke that did much to chip away at the legitimacy of the entire Hall of Fame voting process.