The Pro Football Hall of Fame will change its voting procedures amid controversy over Bill Belichick not being inducted into the Class of 2026 during his first year of eligibility.
Hall of Fame Chairman Jim Porter told The Associated Press that the vote will go back to the 50-member committee for in-person meetings and discussions. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation and voting process have been conducted virtually.
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In addition, voting will take place near the time the inductees are announced at the NFL Honors Game on the Thursday before the Super Bowl. This schedule change may have been made during Super Bowl week in the host city to reduce the possibility of previous discussions and results leaking, as reports circulated in the media that Belichick fell short of the 40 votes needed for the election.
Porter also said the Hall of Fame would consider releasing totals and individual votes to the public in future ballots, as the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Baseball Writers Association of America do. However, the class of 2026 will not do that.
Part of the voting process that will be reviewed is the rule that groups coaches and contributors with veteran players who have been on the ballot for years. Voters felt they had to choose qualified long-term candidates like running back Roger Craig (elected) and quarterback Ken Anderson (unelected) rather than vote for Belichick. This is considered the main reason why the six-time Super Bowl champion was not elected.
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Porter said electors on the board could be replaced if they violate the rules by publicly discussing the vote debate and the process of candidates being elected or withdrawn from the ballot.
“I’m not here to tell them who deserves it most,” Porter told Associated Press reporter Josh Dubow. “If the House is going to decide who is most deserving of a vote, we don’t need their vote. We understand that. We just want the rules to be followed.”
Five players were announced as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 during Thursday’s NFL Honors Ceremony. Quarterback Drew Brees, receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Luke Kuechly, kicker Adam Vinatieri and Craig will officially enter Canton College in Ohio on August 8.