President Donald Trump has entered the debate surrounding Bill Belichick‘s surprising omission from this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class, calling the decision “ridiculous” and linking it to recent NFL rule changes.
Donald Trump reacts to Bill Belichick snub
Donald Trump reacted after news broke that Bill Belichick would not be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Trump took to social media on January 29, criticizing both the Hall of Fame decision and, unexpectedly, the NFL’s revised kickoff rule.
“It is the same mindset that gave pro football the new and unwatchable ‘Sissy’ Kickoff Rule, that made it impossible for Bill Belichick to not be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Trump wrote. “Both are ridiculous and should be overturned!”
Trump’s comments appeared to link two unrelated issues. The Hall of Fame voting process is independent of league rule changes, and the NFL’s kickoff adjustment was introduced to revive a play that had become largely inactive. While the new rule has resulted in more returns, Trump has made it clear he dislikes how it looks.
Donald Trump’s reaction adds another high-profile voice to what many already believe: that Bill Belichick should not have been snubbed in his first year of eligibility. Despite holding the record for the most Super Bowl wins by a head coach, Belichick received a call on Friday informing him he would not be part of this year’s Hall of Fame class. “Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” Belichick asked, referring to his six championships with the New England Patriots (via ESPN).
For those curious, the snub did not come from the NFL itself but from the Hall of Fame’s voting process, which requires approval from a large panel of voters. Reports indicate that at least 40 of the 50 voters failed to select Belichick, a decision that has baffled many within the sport.
