President Trump railed Wednesday against the Pro Football Hall of Fame after it was revealed that former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will not be elected this year, his first year on the ballot.
Mr. Belichick, the second-winningest coach in NFL history, didn’t receive the 40 votes required from the 50-person panel, which includes sports writers, other media members and Hall of Famers.
“It is the same mindset that gave pro football the new and unwatchable ‘Sissy’ kickoff Rule that made it possible for Bill Belichick to not be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both are ridiculous and should be overturned,” the president posted on Truth Social.
Mr. Belichick was scheduled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — during Mr. Trump’s first term, but he turned it down after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S.Capitol.
Currently the head coach at the University of North Carolina, Mr. Belichick has amassed 333 wins during his NFL coaching career, including 19 playoff victories. He coached the Patriots, where he won six Super Bowls, and the Cleveland Browns.
He parted ways with the Patriots after the 2023 season.
SEE ALSO: Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs Belichick in his first year of eligibility
ESPN, which first reported the Hall of Fame snub, said that two cheating scandals foiled his election. During his tenure, the Patriots were caught up in two controversies dubbed Spygate and Deflategate in which opponents accused the team of cheating.
The Patriots are returning to the Super Bowl this year for the first time since Mr. Belichick coached them in the 2018 season.
