Bill Belichick Among 12 Finalists for 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bill Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, has been named among the final 12 candidates for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in his first year of eligibility following a rule change reducing the waiting period to one full NFL-free season. Belichick, who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and holds the second-most career wins behind Don Shula, is competing alongside legendary coaches such as Tom Coughlin, Mike Shanahan, George Seifert, and Mike Holmgren. The selection process will next narrow the field to nine semifinalists, then to one finalist, who will be considered alongside contributors and senior candidates for induction. Belichick, now coaching at North Carolina after his Patriots tenure ended in 2023, is widely regarded as one of the greatest NFL coaches, having built a dominant Patriots dynasty and previously won two Super Bowls as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator. Other finalists include multiple Super Bowl winners and coaches known for their significant impacts on NFL strategy and coaching trees. The Hall of Fame induction requires candidates to receive at least 80% of committee votes, with between one and three final inductees possible from the combined finalist pool.