The votes have been counted and yes, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were not voted into the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
But QB Drew Brees, RB Roger Craig, WR Larry Fitzgerald, LB Luke Kuechly and K Adam Vinatieri did.
Craig was one of three finalists in the Senior/Coach/Contributor category. The others are modern-era candidates.
Other finalists who advanced to the final seven modern era candidates who, as part of the Hall of Fame’s new voting process, automatically advance to the finalist stage for the 2027 class are T Willie Anderson, Edge Terrell Suggs and G Marshal Yanda.
The selection process, which combines coaches, contributors and senior candidates, has drawn controversy this year due to the exclusion of Belichick and Kraft, who were seen by many as shoe-in candidates.
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My thoughts
I got 3/4
I expected a class of 8 instead we got a class of 5
This is slightly better than last year
Once again I knew this new process wouldn’t work
If only if Deion Sanders have kept quiet about the Pro Football Hall of Fame
I’m glad Roger Craig finally made it
With the election of Roger Craig 23 of the 38 Centennial Class finalists or 60 percent of the finalists
I’m surprised Adam Vinatieri made it in just his second year but still I’m happy for him
I’m going to have to revise my statement when Tom Brady is announced as a first ballot Hall of Famer at NFL Honors in 2028
You can now join your boyhood hero your owner your head coach your tight end and your kicker
I’m shocked Ken Anderson and LC Greenwood didn’t make it
I can’t believe Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft didn’t make it
Once again it’s official the changes were a mistake you don’t treat people like this
If this does not result in change to the voting process I don’t what does
I thought this would help Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft but boy was I wrong and it is so abundantly clear that this is not going to work it’s been clear for awhile for me but now everyone including the voters are coming around there are no excuses why the Pro Football Hall of Fame should change the process
On the bright side at least we’ll have a fast induction ceremony like last year
I think there’s a lesson to be learned from this and that is when changing a voting process always consult with the voters
Jim Porter and the board have the power to fix this and they most certainly should
Good predictions from Paul and good leakage speculation from Justin.
The first HOF, Patriot domino has fallen with Vinatieri and it wont stop until possibly 2029, and we will find out if Wilfork gets his chance for election as well?
Frank Cooney was bemoaning the state of recentism in HOF voting but whether the voting system changes or not, new candidates will continue to push older, deserving candidates back and with the backlash over Belichick not joining two first year ballot electees, its doubtful any writers will push for a reduction in first-ballot eligibles.
We ALL knew that a wave of great players were, and still are, coming up for elections and unfortunately, players that were in a longer queue, may not find relief in sight. It is though encouraging when offensive linemen can advance farther than other receivers on this recent, voted class …
Andy can we please move on from deion Sanders it’s getting stale and repetitive for the last time he was talking about modern era candidates not senior candidates
Considering the new rules great class.
We got 4 moderns instead of 3 (which I thought was going to happen.
Craig should have made it decades ago (fine with belichick waiting if it means Craig made it.)
Always great when a kicker gets in.
2 first ballot no brainers
Only one I didnt want was luke (wanted to break the wr log jam)
Best thing is the backlash against belichick and kraft might force changes to this broken process.
The 5 moderns, 3 seniors, a contributor and a coach model was the right move. They just wasted it on voting down parker and powell while voting for mcmichael.
Besides if parker is turner down belichick can wait.
Robert I’m sorry I can’t help it