Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens has never been shy about expressing his opinion about almost anything. With Tuesday’s news that Bill Belichick would not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Owens took to X to share his opinion on the process and who may have been responsible for Belichick’s snub.
NFL Rivalry Fallout Shapes Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Vote
Bill Polian and Belichick have a bit of a rivalry that extends back to the days when both were in Indianapolis and New England. When the Indianapolis Colts were at their peak, they often butted heads with the New England Patriots in the postseason.
It appears that rivalry is not over, as Polian was instrumental in keeping Belichick out of the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. Shortly after news broke that Belichick was not elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, more news broke that Polian was instrumental in keeping him out.
Polian may have encouraged voters to penalize Belichick for his role in the 2007 “Spygate” scandal, and of course, “Deflategate,” which came up against Polian’s Colts. Responding to the development, Owens wrote on X, “Bill Polian is a joke!!”
Bill Polian is a joke!! https://t.co/bv2FlsBwCr
— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) January 27, 2026
Owens is no stranger to being snubbed from the Hall of Fame, as he was kept out of the Hall in his first year of eligibility as well. When Owens was on the ballot, the explanation for keeping him out was much more about off-field issues and a potential grudge from the media members who were voters.
On the field, Owens was one of the best players to ever play his position and certainly warranted a selection in his first year of eligibility. Owens has been outspoken about that process since becoming eligible, and about being snubbed before finally getting elected in 2018, his third year of eligibility.
Belichick, of course, should have been a no-brainer to be elected in his first year. He is a six-time Super Bowl champion as a head coach and added two more as a defensive coordinator.
Those championships also include two of the most iconic defensive performances in Super Bowl history. In Super Bowl 25, Belichick’s Giants slowed down the high-powered Buffalo Bills, led by Jim Kelly, holding them to just 19 points.
The other was in Super Bowl 36, when Belichick’s Patriots shut down the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams, led by MVP quarterback Kurt Warner.
Furthermore, the Patriots’ dynasty that began with that victory over the Rams is associated with two men. Belichick, and of course, quarterback Tom Brady. Is Brady going to have to wait for a year when he becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in three years? That seems unlikely.
This, if nothing else, appears to be one final stab by Bill Polian in their rivalry, and Owens will have no problem speaking about it for years to come.
