University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick has compiled an impressive head coaching resume. During his tenure as head coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick led the once hapless franchise to six Super Bowl titles in nine appearances. Belichick also earned two Super Bowl rings as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants in the late 1980s and early 1990s under head coach Bill Parcells. His rise to coaching immortality coincided with his former quarterback, Tom Brady, as both men became the most prolific head coach-quarterback tandem in NFL history with their six Super Bowl titles as members of the Patriots. Belichick’s eight Super Bowl titles are an NFL record, which should make him seemingly unanimous first ballot Hall of Famer.
That isn’t the case. On January 27, ESPN reporters Don Van Natta and Seth Wickersham reported that Belichick did not receive the required 40 of 50 votes for first ballot NFL Hall of Fame consideration. The announcement elicited feelings of surprise and indignation from the court of public opinion. Some say that some voters may have held personal grudges against Belichick because of his seeming lack of media approachability. Others might look at the SpyGate and DeflateGate scandals that found New England liable for spying on opposing teams’ practices in 2007, as well as deflating game balls to gain a competitive advantage against their opponents in 2015 as reasons to deny Belichick first ballot Hall of Fame status.
The aforementioned scandals did not absolve Belichick, Brady, or the Patriots from consequences. The SpyGate scandal resulted in the New England Patriots being fined $250,000, as well as forfeiture of their 2008 first round draft selection. Belichick was personally fined $500,000 for his involvement with SpyGate. Additionally, for his alleged involvement in illegally deflating footballs, quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 NFL season.
Were the SpyGate and DeflateGate scandals provide Belichick’s Patriot teams the foundation for their six Super Bowl titles? History and common sense say no, as New England won their first Super Bowl title after the 2001 season, and their last after the 2018 season. Belichick’s 333 victories (combining regular season and playoff wins) rank second to only Don Shula, who won 342 games during his coaching career. Belichick’s coaching resume should stand on its own.
But it’s the aforementioned scandals that cannot be discounted. Are other teams employing similar tactics? Sure they are. However, these are tactics that the NFL have deemed to be illegal. While these scandals are a miniscule part of Belichick’s legacy, they are a part of history. It’s notable that no one denies that the scandals took place. Most of the world treats them as so insignificant as to not receive any mention. In the Patriots’ case, they may or may not have contributed greatly towards their NFL dynasty. No one knows for sure. While Belichick will eventually be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, it is the uncertainty of using illegal tactics that facilitated his rise to NFL coaching immortality that prevents him from induction on the first ballot.