Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day — but a surprise decision on Bill Belichick indicates he may need to wait a bit to reach it.
ESPN reporters Don Van Natta and Seth Wickersham wrote that the legendary New England Patriots head coach missed out on the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, a surprise move.
“In voting earlier this month, Belichick fell short of the 40 out of 50 votes needed for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility, four sources with firsthand knowledge of the outcome told ESPN,” their report noted. “Belichick received a call from a Hall representative last Friday afternoon with the news that he won’t be inducted into the Hall in Canton, Ohio, this summer.”
With Belichick falling short of the elite honor of a first ballot Hall of Fame induction, Reid could now face a difficult path to getting in on his first try.
Andy Reid May Have More Work Ahead of Him
Many NFL insiders expected Belichick, one of the most accomplished coaches in league history, to reach the Hall of Fame on his first try. Belichick is third on the list of all-time regular-season wins with 302, behind only Don Shula with 328 and George Halas with 318.
Reid has 273 regular-season wins, likely needing three more seasons before he can approach Belichick’s success. The Chiefs coach also has a ways to go before catching Belichick’s Super Bowl wins, needing three more titles to reach Belichick’s all-time record of six.
Chiefs Coach Shared Praise for Bill Belichick
Reid has always been a big admirer of Belichick, saying after their teams met in December 2023 that he believed Belichick was the best coach in NFL history.
“He’s done an unbelievable job. Best in the business — ever. That’s what you’re talking about,” Reid said after the Chiefs beat the Patriots, via Spectrum News. “I don’t question it. I know how great he is, and I’ve got to deal with him by playing against him. So, nobody better. Not that I’ve gone against. Nobody better.”
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, himself a huge cheerleader of Reid, also had a lot of praise for Belichick.
“I’ve just got all the respect in the world for that guy,” Kelce said. “Every single time I go up against him – it’s the toughest job in the NFL, to go up against a Bill Belichick defense.
“He throws so much at you. He always has a lot of guys that can play smart,” Kelce added. “So hats off to Belichick for today, for making my life tough, that’s for damn sure.”
