At least 11 voters on the Hall of Fame panel didn’t include Bill Belichick on their ballots, which required them to choose three finalists from five options. Notably, Vahe Gregorian from the Kansas City Star is one of the voters who shared his reasoning.
Gregorian explained that if the voting process had been straightforward—like it used to be—he would have voted for Belichick. Instead, he had to narrow his choices and opted for Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood, all of whom he felt were long overdue for recognition.
“I couldn’t ignore the opportunity to support these seniors,” he wrote, emphasizing that this might be their last chance for induction. Belichick, in contrast, has a much better shot at future inclusion. Gregorian wishes the voting process was different, calling out the complicated changes that now make it harder for deserving candidates to get in.
This situation raises questions about the Hall of Fame’s voting rules. The new process has replaced a simple yes-or-no vote with a competition format, which some see as flawed. Many hope the Hall will reconsider these changes for future votes, particularly for 2027.
Interestingly, discussing Belichick’s exclusion reveals broader issues in sports voting systems. In 2022, a study showed that athletes who were often overlooked in their time, like Greenwood and Anderson, still face significant hurdles in getting recognized. The sentiment that some candidates might never get another chance adds weight to Gregorian’s argument.
As the voting evolves, the conversation around fairness and merit in Hall of Fame selections is likely to continue. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these decisions shape the future of sports recognition.
For more insights on voting systems in sports, you can check out ESPN’s analysis on Hall of Fame voting trends.
