Brees elected to Hall of Fame as ‘pissed’ Johnson skips ceremony over Belichick snub | NFL
Six-time Super Bowl winner Coach Bill Belichick has been officially excluded from the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, likely opening the door to revisions in the selection process later this year.
Yet the New England Patriots dynasty Belichick helped lead into the 2000s and got partial vindication as former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri was inducted in his second year on the ballot.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald were elected in their first year of eligibility, and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was another headliner in the class. San Francisco 49ers great Roger Craig was the only senior candidate elected from the group of five that included Belichick.
“The fact that this will be remembered forever, what an elite club we are a part of, what respect and reverence we have for this game,” Brees said. “And the opportunity to play in that game, it was an absolute privilege.”
But Belichick’s omission, along with that of the franchise owner who hired him to spark a two-decade dynasty, Robert Kraft, remains a topic of discussion. Last week, as reports of Belichick’s omission circulated, figures such as LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes expressed shock and disappointment.
Former Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty said he would be surprised if the Hall escapes scrutiny when new members are enshrined this summer.
“I think the travesty of this whole thing is this summer, there will be a Hall of Fame induction and there will be guys who deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. And we can probably all bet that the main topic will be Bill Belichick not being there,” McCourty said this week. “And I think it’s unfortunate because there will be Hall of Fame worthy players, coaches, contributors, but because it seems like a huge mistake, we’ll only talk about the guys who didn’t make the Hall of Fame.”
Former Dallas Cowboys coach and Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson skipped Thursday’s announcement ceremony because he was “pissed off” by Belichick’s omission.
“He’s the greatest of all time. Yes, he had a great QB, but we all did,” Johnson said.
The Hall of Famer said he understood and accepted the uproar over this year’s selection process, but did not directly name Belichick.
“It is this passion that propels the game. The Hall also respects the members of the committee when they follow the rules of the selection process. It is an honor to serve as a selector,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement. “…Selecting a new class is the most important task the Hall of Fame oversees each year, and the integrity of this process cannot be questioned.”
A Super Bowl-winning quarterback under Sean Payton with the Saints, Brees (San Diego Chargers 2001-05, Saints 2006-2020) and Fitzgerald (2004-2020, Cardinals) won Gold Jackets in their first year on the ballot.
Brees ranks second in NFL history with 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns and has been selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times in addition to the Super Bowl XLIV MVP. Brees is the only member of the Saints to enter the Hall of Fame in the first ballot.
Fitzgerald was drafted third overall in 2004 and played 17 seasons for the Cardinals. He has 1,432 career receptions for 17,492 yards and ranks second in NFL history in both categories. He is sixth on the all-time list for touchdowns with 121.
“I never said, ‘I’m going to be a Hall of Fame player,’” Fitzgerald said. “It’s not something you can imagine. It’s a surreal feeling.”
Kuechly, a 2025 finalist, was in his second year on the Hall of Fame ballot. He played only eight seasons in the NFL (Panthers 2012-19) and retired due to chronic head injuries after recording 1,092 tackles, 18 interceptions, 66 passes defended, 12.5 sacks and 31 quarterback hits. He was named to the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2010s.
The versatile Craig, now 65, was elected after winning three Super Bowls with the 49ers with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice in starring roles. He was the first running back with 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1985. He scored three touchdowns in San Francisco’s Super Bowl XIX victory over the Miami Dolphins.
In Vinatieri’s second year of eligibility, the 24-year-old NFL kicker (New England Patriots 1996-2005, Indianapolis Colts 2006-2019) got the call. He holds numerous kicking records, including career scoring marks (2,673), consecutive field goals made (44), career field goals made (599), and most seasons with over 100 points (21).
His 48-yard field goal in the Super Bowl victory over the Rams in February 2002, widely remembered for the performance of 24-year-old Tom Brady and Belichick’s mix of young and old talent, virtually launched the Patriots dynasty.
