LeBron James is adding his voice to the growing outrage surrounding reports that legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick will not be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection.
On Tuesday evening, the NBA superstar took to social media to express disbelief after news surfaced that Belichick did not receive enough votes to make the Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.
"Man there's no way I read that right! Right?? Ain't no WAY Bill Belichick ain't 1st Ballot HOF!! That's IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!" LeBron wrote in a post that quickly racked up millions of views.
According to reports from ESPN, Belichick, who was the lone finalist in the coaching category, failed to secure the required 40 out of 50 votes from the Hall of Fame Selection Committee to be inducted in his first year of eligibility.
The decision shocked much of the sports world, given Belichick's historic résumé. During his 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots, he led the franchise to six Super Bowl championships, the most by any head coach in NFL history. He was also named NFL Coach of the Year three times and earned spots on both the NFL All-Decade Teams for the 2000s and 2010s.
Belichick was further honored by being selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, a group of elite coaches where every other member has already been enshrined in Canton.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame declined to comment on the reported vote, stating that it does not discuss Selection Committee decisions and will officially announce the Class of 2026 during the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 5 in San Francisco.
Belichick, who owns 333 career wins, including the postseason, just 14 shy of Don Shula's all-time record, parted ways with the Patriots following the 2023 season. In 2024, he took over as head coach at the University of North Carolina.