The Super Bowl might be less than two weeks away, and it should be dominating headlines across the sports world, but it's Bill Belichick's snub from the NFL Hall of Fame that is getting all of the talk, and rightfully so. He was expected to be an easy first-ballot honoree, only for the voters to somehow ensure that didn't happen, and therefore to deal with the consequences from the public and NFL figures alike.
Plenty of analysts, coaches, and players have already taken to social media and television programs to express their disbelief at the news, as Belichick has accomplished far more than any head coach in league history.
Some are even taking it so far as to discredit the Hall of Fame's legitimacy, which might be considered harsh but understandable. And now, even a legendary coach like Jimmy Johnson is vowing to make a bold statement in defiance of the committee's decision.
Surely, this will not go over well with the NFL.
Jimmy Johnson is standing by Bill Belichick after news broke that he won't be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 2026
During an appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday, Johnson shared his thoughts on the controversial situation, openly supporting Belichick and his rightful place in the Hall of Fame, and vowed not to attend this year's ceremony because of the Hall's decision not to enshrine him.
Based on McAfee's initial reaction, it's clear this will have a significant impact and could create a ripple effect for this year's ceremony.
"Every voter that I've talked to has said they voted for Bill Belichick which is bullshit..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 28, 2026
A bunch of them are lying..
Nobody knows the history of the NFL more than Bill Belichick and it just pisses me off that he isn't a first ballot Hall of Famer" ~ @JimmyJohnson #PMSLive https://t.co/HrZGQ58U4P pic.twitter.com/nnxMaMEvy6
This is the kind of repercussion the NFL needs to deal with far more than just in an instance like this, because they've gotten away with questionable decisions for far too long.
But if there was ever a moment that coaches and players should come together and make a statement with more than just their words, this is the best time to do it.
Johnson not showing up for one of the most prestigious parts of any NFL offseason will be front -page news moving forward and will only remain a big headline if others join him, which they hopefully will.
That's the kind of respect that Belichick deserves for what he did for the game of professional football, and it's clear that a majority of his peers, besides Bill Polian, feel that way, too.