Belichick Advances; Hall Lists Player Candidates

The Pro Football Hall of Fame named a 52-player modern-era candidate list that includes former Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams and kicker Gary Anderson. Separately, the Coach Blue‑Ribbon Committee advanced Bill Belichick to the 12-person coaching shortlist for the Class of 2026 after the Hall shortened the required retirement period for coaches to one year. Belichick, the architect of the Patriots dynasty with six Super Bowl titles and 333 career wins, joins multi‑championship coaches Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan on the coaching list. The committee will meet virtually in mid‑November to trim the coaching field to nine semifinalists and ultimately select one finalist to go before the full selection committee. Belichick’s advancement is a reputational boost even as his first season at North Carolina has been rocky (the Tar Heels are 2‑4) and he faces off‑field scrutiny.