“[Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim] Porter wants to make sure voters are choosing the best candidates on the ballot this season,” Battista said of NFL GameDay Morning.
ESPN originally reported on Jan. 27 that Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as the Patriots’ head coach, would not be part of the Class of 2026 when he first appeared on the ballot. The news sparked swift and powerful criticism across the sport, shedding light on the voting process for coaches, participants and senior finalists.
Instead of voting up or down for each of the five finalists, the voters chose the three of the five with the most votes and everyone else over 80% entered the hall.
Former 49ers quarterback Roger Craig was the only coach/contributor/top contender to receive the necessary votes for the Hall of Fame, joining Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri in the Class of 2026 announced Thursday.