NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during his state of the NFL news conference on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Matt York)
February 02, 2026 - 10:01 AM
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league has nothing to do with the vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and that he believes Bill Belichick will eventually get inducted.
A report from ESPN last week said Belichick did not get enough votes in his first year of eligibility despite winning a record six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the New England Patriots.
There was speculation that Belichick's role in the Spygate scandal in 2007 and changes to the voting process might have contributed to at least 11 of the 50 voters opting against voting for Belichick.
Belichick was in a group with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and three seniors players — Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood — with voters only allowed to vote for three candidates with 80% support needed.
“We are not involved in it,” Goodell said. “Bill Belichick's record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are spectacular. They have contributed so much to this game and I believe they will be Hall of Famers.”
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