The Pro Football Hall of Fame faced unusual backlash after reports that Bill Belichick was not elected on his first ballot, despite being the most successful head coach in NFL history. The decision sparked speculation about personal bias, past scandals, or voters making a statement.
One voter, Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Star, publicly explained why he did not vote for Belichick. Gregorian emphasized that Belichick is an unquestioned Hall of Famer, but pointed to flaws in the Hall’s voting system, which forces voters to choose only three candidates across seniors, coaches, and contributors.
Rather than voting against Belichick, Gregorian used his limited ballot to support senior candidates Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood—players he believes may never get another realistic chance at induction due to a growing backlog of overlooked veterans.
Gregorian argued that Belichick’s induction is inevitable, while many senior candidates face “last-chance” scenarios. His explanation reframed the controversy as a structural problem with the Hall’s process, not a protest or personal slight against Belichick, and called for reforms to prevent deserving candidates from being perpetually delayed.