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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick was notably absent from the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 Enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
Belichick was eligible to be selected as a first-ballot Hall of Fame member this year, but he failed to earn 40 of the necessary votes to be inducted.
Belichick's exclusion from the 2026 class led to scrutiny about the Hall of Fame voting process, as keeping the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach from being a first-ballot member is a stain on the Hall of Fame.
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Former New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri made reference to Belichick not being in Canton on Saturday. During his speech, Vinatieri made a couple of jokes at Belichick's expense, including the coach's struggles at North Carolina and his relationship with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
"Bill couldn't make it here today," Vinatieri said . "There's a lot going on at UNC right now. He may be on a recruiting trip right now, looking for the next Lawrence Taylor. I thought it was because training camp had already started, but in truth, it's because his girlfriend's cheerleading competition.
Vinatieri's jokes drew laughter from the crowd in attendance. It was a bold move for the legendary kicker to poke jokes at Belichick, who has had a rough few years after parting ways with the Patriots after the 2023 season.
Vinatieri won three Super Bowls under Belichick (all three Super Bowls were decided by a field goal). He won another Super Bowl with the Colts in 2006.
Belichick did receive some praise from Vinatieri in his speech, calling him the "greatest coach" in league history.
"Thank you for demanding excellence every single day," Vinatieri said. "Your preparation, discipline, and attention to detail shaped far more than my football career... All jokes aside, my opinion is (he's) the greatest coach of all time."
Maybe next year, Belichick can get the last laugh in Canton.
For more on the Patriots and the NFL , head to Newsweek Sports .
Former PatriotsAdam VinatieriBill BelichickHallFame
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