Bill Belichick is one step closer to his name being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, despite currently coaching in college.
The NFL announced Tuesday that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach has been named among the final 12 candidates for the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
Belichick is in his first year of eligibility following last year’s rule change, which reduced the required waiting period for coaches to just one full season out of the NFL before they can be considered for the Hall of Fame.
Belichick, a Shoo-In, is Among 12 NFL Coaches
Joining Belichick among the finalists are other legendary coaches, including two-time Super Bowl winners Tom Coughlin, Mike Shanahan, and George Seifert, as well as fellow Super Bowl champion Mike Holmgren.
The remaining candidates in the running are Bill Arnsparger, Alex Gibbs, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, and Clark Shaughnessy.
Next month, a committee will trim the field to nine semifinalists before selecting a single finalist. Holmgren reached this stage last year but fell short in the final vote. The selected coach will be considered alongside one contributor and three senior candidates. Between one and three of these five finalists can be inducted into the Hall, provided they receive at least 80% of the committee’s votes.
Nobody Tops Belichick’s Coaching Resume
Belichick built the New England Patriots dynasty of the 2000s, guiding the team to six Super Bowl victories and three additional appearances between 2001 and 2018. His 333 career wins—combining regular season and playoffs with New England and the Cleveland Browns—rank second only to Don Shula’s 347.
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 11: Head coach Bill Belichick (L) of the New England Patriots shakes hands with owner Robert Kraft (R) during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Belichick announced he is stepping down as head coach after 24 seasons with the team. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Before taking over in New England, Belichick was one of the league’s top defensive assistants, winning two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. He helmed a defense anchored by Lawrence Taylor at linebacker, widely regarded as one of the most dominant units in NFL history.
Belichick Off to Rocky Start at North Carolina
Belichick departed New England after the 2023 season, two years after Tom Brady left town for Florida, winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He is now the head coach at the University of North Carolina, where the team is 2-4 in his first season and the coaching legend remains in the news for who he is dating and her role at the program.
GettyORLANDO, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after losing 34-9 against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Reports emerged in recent weeks that Belichick was looking for a way out of the gig, despite previously saying the university meant so much to him. His dad, Steve, coached there in the 1950s.
But Belichick denied the reports in the days since.
“Reports about my looking for a buyout or trying to leave here is categorically false,” Belichick said, according to ESPN. “There’s zero truth to any of that. I’m glad I’m here. We’re working toward our goals. We believe very much in the process. We need to just keep working and grinding away, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
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