Brees Elected To Hall Of Fame As ‘pissed’ Johnson Skips Ceremony Over Belichick Snub

Six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick was officially near retired of nan Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, apt opening nan doorway to revisions successful nan action process later this year.

Still, nan New England Patriots dynasty Belichick helped helm good into nan 2000s earned partial vindication arsenic erstwhile Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri gained induction successful his 2nd twelvemonth connected nan ballot.

New Orleans Saints backmost Drew Brees and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were elected successful their first twelvemonth of eligibility, and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was different headliner successful nan class. San Francisco 49ers awesome Roger Craig was nan lone seniors campaigner elected from nan excavation of 5 that featured Belichick.

“The truth that this will beryllium memorialized forever, what an elite nine that we’re portion of, what a respect and a reverence that we person for this game,” Brees said. “And nan opportunity to play this game, it was an absolute privilege.”

But Belichick’s omission, on pinch nan franchise proprietor who hired him to spark a dynasty lasting parts of 2 decades, Robert Kraft, stay a talking point. Last week, arsenic reports of Belichick’s omission circulated, figures specified arsenic LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes expressed daze and disappointment.

Former Patriots protect backmost Devin McCourty said he would beryllium amazed if nan Hall escapes scrutiny erstwhile nan caller members are enshrined this summer.

“I deliberation nan travesty of each of this is this summer, there’s gonna beryllium a Hall of Fame induction and there’s gonna beryllium guys who are deserving of being successful nan Hall of Fame. And we tin astir apt each stake that nan apical taxable is gonna beryllium Bill Belichick not being there,” McCourty said this week. “And I deliberation that’s unfortunate because location are going to beryllium players, coaches, contributors that are Hall of Fame-worthy, but because this feels for illustration a immense mistake, nan only talk is going to beryllium astir nan guys that didn’t get into nan Hall of Fame.”

Former Dallas Cowboys coach and Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson skipped nan announcement ceremonial connected Thursday because he was “pissed” astir Belichick’s omission.

“He is nan top of each time. Yes, he had a awesome QB, but we each did,” Johnson said.

The Hall of Fame said it understood and accepted nan uproar complete this year’s action process, but did not sanction Belichick directly.

“It’s that very passion that propels nan game. The Hall besides respects nan members of nan Committee erstwhile they travel nan action process bylaws. It is an grant to service arsenic a selector,” nan Hall of Fame said successful a release. “... The action of a caller people is nan astir important work nan Hall of Fame oversees each year, and nan integrity of that process cannot beryllium successful question.”

A Super Bowl winning backmost nether Sean Payton pinch nan Saints, Brees (2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 Saints) and Fitzgerald (2004-2020, Cardinals) earned Gold Jackets successful their first twelvemonth connected nan ballot.

Brees ranks 2nd successful NFL history pinch 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns and was a 13-time Pro Bowl action successful summation to Super Bowl XLIV MVP. Brees is nan only personnel of nan Saints to participate nan Hall of Fame connected nan first ballot.

Fitzgerald was drafted 3rd wide successful 2004 and played 17 seasons for nan Cardinals. He had 1,432 profession receptions for 17,492 yards and ranks 2nd successful NFL history successful some categories. He is sixth connected nan all-time receiving touchdowns database pinch 121.

“I ne'er group retired saying, ‘I’m going to beryllium a Hall of Fame player,’” Fitzgerald said. “It’s not thing you tin ever imagine. It’s a surreal feeling.”

Kuechly, a finalist successful 2025, was successful his 2nd twelvemonth connected nan Hall of Fame ballot. He played only 8 NFL seasons (2012-19 Panthers) and retired due to chronic caput injuries aft posting 1,092 tackles, 18 interceptions, 66 passes defensed, 12.5 sacks and 31 backmost hits. He was named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of nan 2010s.

The versatile Craig, now 65, was elected connected nan backmost of winning 3 Super Bowls pinch nan 49ers pinch Joe Montana and Jerry Rice successful featured roles. He was nan first moving backmost pinch 1,000 yards rushing and receiving successful nan aforesaid season, accomplishing nan feat successful 1985. He scored 3 touchdowns successful San Francisco’s Super Bowl XIX triumph complete nan Miami Dolphins.

In Vinatieri’s 2nd twelvemonth of eligibility, nan 24-year NFL kicker (1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts) sewage nan call. He holds galore kicking records, including nan marks for profession points (2,673), consecutive section goals made (44), profession section goals (599) and astir seasons pinch 100-plus points (21).

His 48-yard section extremity successful nan Super Bowl triumph complete nan Rams successful February 2002, mostly remembered for nan capacity of 24-year-old Tom Brady and Belichick’s operation of young and aged talent, each but kickstarted nan Patriots’ dynasty.