The New England Patriots ran the NFL for the better part of two decades, becoming synonymous with victory and cementing themselves as Super Bowl favorites seemingly every year. That kind of success breeds resentment, especially from the teams and fanbases that fell victim to New England’s dynasty.
However, the football world came together when head coach Bill Belichick learned that he wouldn’t be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame Snub
On Tuesday, Adam Schefter broke the news that Belichick wouldn’t be getting his day in the Canton sun in 2026. The Pro Football Hall of Fame requires 40 of 50 votes for induction, and despite the unmatchable resume, Belichick fell short.
A strong reaction from New England was inevitable, but fans, players, and media members around the league took to social media to reject the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s decision.
Among those frustrated was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible,” Mahomes said.
Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible https://t.co/EiKUeRPffn
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 27, 2026
Mahomes, who ranked first in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric in 2018, saw his breakout campaign end against Belichick’s Patriots. It was his only playoff matchup against the greatest coach of all time.
Mahomes wouldn’t get another crack at Belichick, but the contest felt like a changing of the guard. That season would belong to the Patriots, but the Chiefs were destined for greatness.
New England would go on to beat the Los Angeles Rams, winning Belichick’s sixth (and final) Super Bowl. It was a capstone on an already insurmountable resume that includes two other championships as an assistant, three AP NFL Coach of the Year awards, and all-time records for Super Bowls, playoff victories, and division championships.
It is unfathomable that Belichick will not be inducted on his first attempt, and the news has prompted discourse about the selection committee and its integrity. Canton has a history of delaying gratification for those it deems disrespectful to the game. While that has largely taken hold with polarizing wide receivers, others have been forced to wait due to an unofficial character clause.
As such, the only explanation for Belichick’s disappointing news is his proximity to scandal. Before he was tarnishing his legacy at North Carolina, Spygate and Deflategate dominated news cycles and put the Patriots under the microscope. Perhaps the committee felt strongly about Belichick’s infractions, changing the calculus on an otherwise slam-dunk case for Canton.
Just about everyone outside of that room disagrees. If nothing else, Mahomes and his peers will hope to soften this blow with an outpouring of support (and outrage) on Belichick’s behalf, giving the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback praise before the 2026 inductees hear their names called.
