49ers Hall of Famer weighs in on Bill Belichick’s reported Canton denial
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Former New England Patriots coach’s report Bill Belichick His exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on the first ballot sparked strong reactions in the sports world.
Belichick, who won two Super Bowl rings as a New York Giants assistant before coaching the Patriots to six championships, received 40 of the required 50 votes for the induction, according to ESPN. The omission of Belichick, a long-presumed Hall of Famer on the first ballot, raised questions about how the votes fell.
San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer Brent Jones was also among those contributing to Belichick’s disdain.
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FILE – Then-New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
“He was pretty harsh. I didn’t see anything like that coming. I understand he certainly may have angered some members of the media over the years. I’m considering giving him a year, unfortunately I think it would put a little stain on the Hall of Fame,” Jones told Fox News Digital.
The former 49ers tight end played a key role in San Francisco’s back-to-back Super Bowl title runs before adding a third in 1994. Jones touched on Belichick’s success on the game’s biggest stage and said he believes the former NFL coach will eventually be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
“A guy with eight Super Bowl rings…doesn’t even sound realistic. I have three and I think it’s outrageous and I can’t imagine eight. Obviously he’s going to get in, but it’s made everyone in the Hall of Fame probably not look as good as they want going into the Super Bowl and all the publicity around that and especially the announcement of the new Hall of Fame members.”
San Francisco 49ers tight end (84) Brent Jones spikes the ball after a touchdown during the 1989 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Candlestick Park on January 14, 1990 in San Francisco, California. (USA TODAY Sports)
Jones spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of Athletes in Action and Super Bowl Breakfast.
Jones has been selected to emcee the 38th annual event. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will receive the Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award at the breakfast. Each year’s recipient is recognized for exemplifying “outstanding character and leadership at home, on the field and in the community.”
NFL GREAT SUGGESTS BILL BELICHICK’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MEDIA MAY HAVE PLAYED A FACTOR IN THE HOF SNUB IN THE FIRST VOTING
This year’s Super Bowl is being held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the 49ers’ home since 2014. The Seattle Seahawks earned a spot in next week’s game by beating the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, while the New England Patriots edged the Denver Broncos in the snowy AFC championship game.
The Seahawks opened as odds-on favorites in the Super Bowl XLIX rematch. Jones believes the Seahawks can win the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.
“Seattle… has the best defense in the league. I think Sam Darnold is a great story. I’ve seen him every week in the NFC West and my perspective is that the Seahawks will be this year’s champion. But the Patriots might have something to say about that.”
Tight end Brent Jones (84) of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the offensive line trying to tackle Kirk Scrafford #76 during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome on October 15, 1995 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Belichick’s coaching resume includes 333 total wins, including postseason wins, along with eight championship rings. That number follows Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s 347 wins on the all-time list.
ESPN reported He said he was “surprised” and “disappointed” when he learned Belichick wasn’t selected this year. The current North Carolina football coach also questioned what more he needs to accomplish to garner the support needed for a first-ballot candidacy. “Isn’t six Super Bowls enough?” he asked a co-worker, sources told ESPN.
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This year — and for the first time — longtime Patriots owner Robert Kraft also became a Hall of Fame finalist. It’s unclear whether Kraft or any other finalists have been selected for the 2026 class.
Chuck Knox, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Buddy Parker and Mike Shanahan were the other semifinalists in the 2026 coaches category.
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