Tom Brady, Robert Kraft respond on Bill Belichick's reported HOF snub: 'If he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's really no coach that should ever be'
Tom Brady, Robert Kraft respond on Bill Belichick's reported HOF snub: 'If he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's really no coach that should ever be'
Chris Cwik Wed, January 28, 2026 at 8:26 PM UTC
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Legendary New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady isn't a fan of a report's news that Bill Belichick will not be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Brady made his first public comments on the situation Wednesday, saying he didn't understand the argument for keeping Belichick out of the Hall of Fame. Those were followed later in the day by Patriots owner Robert Kraft who echoed the sentiment.
Brady was asked about the reported snub during an appearance on the "Brock & Salk" radio show in Seattle.
His full response reads:
"I don't understand it. I was with him every day. If he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it.
"He's incredible. There's no coach I'd rather play for. If I'm picking one coach to go out there to win a Super Bowl, give me one season, I'm taking Bill Belichick. So, that's enough said.
"Outside of that, when it comes down to votes and popularity and all that, welcome to the world of voting. You may as well go try out for the Oscars or whatever and get a big panel to tell you if you're good or not. It's the way it works, unfortunately.
"He's gonna get into the Hall of Fame, and I'm not worried about that. A lot of times in life, for all of us, things don't happen exactly how you want them on your timeline. But we'll all be there to celebrate him when it does happen. He's gonna have a huge turnout from so many players, coaches that appreciated everything he did and the commitment that he made to winning and the impact he had on all our lives. And it will be a great celebration when it happens."
Meanwhile, Kraft told the ' Kyle Hightower in a statement:
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves. As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League. He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
In the podcast interview, Brady didn't address Spygate, the scandal that may have resulted in Belichick being snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters. The ESPN report that revealed Belichick's snub cited Spygate as a potential reason Belichick did not make it during the first year in which he was eligible. That report alleged former Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian suggested Belichick wait a year for induction as penance for the scandal.
Polian refuted that report Tuesday. While Polian initially said he supported Belichick's candidacy and voted for him, he later clarified that he wasn't sure whether he voted for Belichick.
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Belichick was fined $500,000 for his involvement in Spygate, a scandal in which the Patriots were found to have filmed opposing coaches' signals from unauthorized locations. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that was a violation of NFL rules. In addition to fining Belichick, Goodell also fined the Patriots and took away the team's first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. After the investigation, Goodell ordered the destruction of the tapes and notes uncovered on the scandal.
[Get more Patriots news: Patriots team feed]
Brady's answer in that clip doesn't address his own Hall of Fame candidacy and whether he thinks Spygate or Deflategate will play a role in whether he is inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first try. While that seems absurd given Brady's status as arguably the best player in NFL history, Belichick seemed certain to glide into the Hall of Fame before Tuesday's report.
Unlike Belichick, Brady was suspended by the NFL for his involvement in Deflategate, in which it was alleged he had footballs deliberately deflated during the AFC championship game against the Colts, making them easier to grip and throw. Brady was eventually suspended for four games and the Patriots were fined $1 million and docked two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Brady, who last played in the NFL in 2022, isn't eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame until 2028. The quarterback — who owns the NFL records for most passing yards and most passing touchdowns — looked like a lock to sail into the Hall prior to Tuesday's report.
Following Belichick's reported snub, the possibility now exists that Brady, widely considered the greatest quarterback to ever set foot on an NFL field, could also be punished for his involvement in the Patriots' scandals that occurred during his playing career.
Source: “AOL Sports”
